i just placed my sony a200 + free bag + tripod up for sale at rm1200..

do you guys think it's reasonable? =/

jalan yap kwan seng is the road beside public bank...public bank is right opposite klcc...

---

Added on April 9, 2009, 9:35 am
a200k - with 18-70 kit lens
a200w - with 18-70 and 75-300 kit lens
a300k - with 18-70 kit lens and live view

a200 and a300 are the same except a300 comes with live view and a smaller view finder...
my advise, go try all other brands and then decide urself:)

for RM2000, u can probably only try D60, 1000D. ( i wont recommend D60 because there are 3 focus point only)

Yeah, stay away from 1000D..Felt like a toy..no offense..their higher end model is much better in term of ergonomic wise.

D60 is better i think but you might want to look at the features first :
1) You're female right, then weight might be an issue for you (sorry if not laa..lol) and D60 is much2 lighter than a300.
2) The menu is very informative and this will help new user a lot.
3) The AF-assist will help u a lot. (before u own the flash gun..lol)
4) The sound of shutter itself I consider to be very pleasing compared to SNAPPY sound of sony.
5) The focusing of the 18-55 VR kitlens is somewhat much more silent than sony 18-70 kitlens. Maybe because they use in-lens motor (the SWM i think  they called it)
6) Finally, as for other Nikon camera, the choices and availability of lenses and other accessories will be abundant in Malaysia. But choices may be limited since they doesn't have the built in focusing motor. So, the earlier AF lens cannot autofocus and you'll need the newer AF-S lens. (But rarely i seen this as a problem for D60 user)

Sony a300.

1) 9 focus point VS the basic 3 focus point of that of D60 might help u a lot. (but I rarely use other focus point except for the center one..lol).
2) Yeah..live view and its fast too! (some specifically bought this model because of this quick live view)
3) Built-in anti-shake facility. So no matter what lens attached, there will always gonna be anti-shake. (nikon called it VR while Canon called it IS)
4) As for sony system, the higher end model of flash gun is cheaper compared to Nikon and Canon one. You may want to take this into account.
5) Oh yeah, it is cheaper! So u r paying for more bang for your bucks!

Pegi kedai rasa2 la.. Molest skit the camera and see what model you like. You will take GREAT picture with any brand of DSLR anyway. 

p/s: As for the focus point, IMHO, sooner or later you will find out that using the center one give you a better control.

@alpha_company

IF u r getting sony..i would suggest u get the A300 single kit lens package first. Unless u already know/define your shooting style..else i don see a reason to get the telephoto just becos its slightly cheaper..if u don shoot things from far..the lens would b wasted and incurs more cost to u...for my case im glad i didnt get the twin lenses package bcoz i rather find the need to zoom so far..and y A300 not A200?for this..i think liveview would b suitable for u..since u r newly converted to DSLR so u might find urself shooting from ur LCD at the early stage(altho i recommend to shoot using viewfinder and gesture helps to reduce weight of the camera too)..but as a girl..i believe u wont want to shoot in those awkward positions..so this is when liveview comes really handy..

actually im the only Sony user among my friends..so after 5 months of observation..this is wad i think..

1)sony built in stabilizer is REALLY a godsend...u would not worry about those really exp lenses with built in IS/VR stabilizer..

2)sony has lesser choice of lenses especially for old minolta lenses..if u need one..the only way is to get a 2nd hand..(altho the choice is lesser..but i feel that its enough to cover everything)

3)sony has lousier ISO performance as compared with others(but for me i always shoot in low ISO..so it doesnt affect me at all =p )

4)D60 is lighter than A300..u have to feel it yourself..we cant possibly tell u which weight suits u more..some prefer slightly heavier gear...some find it tiring after prolong shooting(especially with big lenses).

5)i don really like the shutter sound of A300 as compared with D80/450D(haha..this is just a personally pref)
personally..i think its good to go down n test out both set..see which one feels more comfortable to u..afterall u r the one who need to use it..
brand wise is usually not a big issue...all brands hav their own pros n cons..if u comparing camera at similar league..they usually hav similar spec n performance..and im sure there r helpful ppl from all the brands when u need it...so at the end of the day..its ur skill and shooting style that determine the quality of ur photo..camera is jsut a tool...

AF-S is a type of lens which has built-in autofocus motor...not for stabilizing ur shot. Nikon stabilizer is called Vibration Reduction(VR). D60 need AF-S to focus because the camera itself does not have motor to autofocus.

All Sony uses built-in image stabilizer which is in the body rather than the lens..it is called 'Super Steady Shot'.

Im not sure whether sony lenses have built-in auto focus motor or not...need other sifu to explain..i want to know too.

AlphaBeta, some Sony lenses have a built-in auto focus motor - they have Super Sonic Motor (SSM) in their name.

Sony/Zeiss lenses with SSM:
CZ 16-35mm F2.8 SSM
CZ 24-70mm F2.8 SSM
Sony 70-200mm F2.8G SSM
Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G SSM
Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6G SSM
Sony 300mm F2.8G SSM

Some Sigma lenses also have a built-in auto focus motor for Sony mount - they have Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) in their name.

Sigma lenses with HSM in A-mount (already exist and can be bought):
Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG HSM
Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC HSM
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM Macro

achew, the Sony 35mm F1.4G does not have SSM.

1. every sony camera has built-in auto focus motor...don worry..it works on every lens.
2. Yes..more expensive..but i think now most of the lenses nikon comes out with are AF-S lenses..
3. no u dont need to...like i said..it has built-in autofocus motor in the camera body. You cant choose to get lens with built-in or without it..sometimes they are with the motor and without.. you cant opt for a lens without it.

@alpha_company

IF u r getting sony..i would suggest u get the A300 single kit lens package first. Unless u already know/define your shooting style..else i don see a reason to get the telephoto just becos its slightly cheaper..if u don shoot things from far..the lens would b wasted and incurs more cost to u...for my case im glad i didnt get the twin lenses package bcoz i rather find the need to zoom so far..and y A300 not A200?for this..i think liveview would b suitable for u..since u r newly converted to DSLR so u might find urself shooting from ur LCD at the early stage(altho i recommend to shoot using viewfinder and gesture helps to reduce weight of the camera too)..but as a girl..i believe u wont want to shoot in those awkward positions..so this is when liveview comes really handy..

actually im the only Sony user among my friends..so after 5 months of observation..this is wad i think..

1)sony built in stabilizer is REALLY a godsend...u would not worry about those really exp lenses with built in IS/VR stabilizer..

2)sony has lesser choice of lenses especially for old minolta lenses..if u need one..the only way is to get a 2nd hand..(altho the choice is lesser..but i feel that its enough to cover everything)

3)sony has lousier ISO performance as compared with others(but for me i always shoot in low ISO..so it doesnt affect me at all =p )

4)D60 is lighter than A300..u have to feel it yourself..we cant possibly tell u which weight suits u more..some prefer slightly heavier gear...some find it tiring after prolong shooting(especially with big lenses).

5)i don really like the shutter sound of A300 as compared with D80/450D(haha..this is just a personally pref)
personally..i think its good to go down n test out both set..see which one feels more comfortable to u..afterall u r the one who need to use it..
brand wise is usually not a big issue...all brands hav their own pros n cons..if u comparing camera at similar league..they usually hav similar spec n performance..and im sure there r helpful ppl from all the brands when u need it...so at the end of the day..its ur skill and shooting style that determine the quality of ur photo..camera is jsut a tool...

when u r comparing the entry level of sony with entry lvl of nikon..they both are equall...u cant really tell the difference.
but when it comes to higher end camera..i *think* nikon is better...

1st of all the MPX of D60 is merely 6.4 mpx while A300 has 4.0 MPX more so the detail should be more in A300.....
Live View with tilting LCD is very handy in many situations...

means more technology is in the a300...for example...u get to play with wireless flash using the a300 it has a built-in flash commander.. D60 u need to buy an external flash trigger to play with wireless flash.