Sony Alpha A230, A330 or A380 are excellent cameras. The slightly older A200, 300 and 350 have just been replaed by the afore mentioned models so you'll likely be able to find them on sale and they'll be excellent value for money, easy to use with good image quality.
Careful with the Sony cameras. Although the cameras themselves are pretty nice, the newer lenses are not so nice (kit lens is absolutely terrible). Pick up some of the older Minolta ones (like from 1985ish). The ones that are all metal construction (like the 70-210 F4).
They do not do so well with noise reduction either, so I'd recommend turning it off and using a good editor or always staying at ISO 100/200.
I do love my A350 though, have a very nice lens collection too, all of them being the older all metal minolta ones except for 1 tamron and that POS kit lens (which is in the box it came in yet). 28-85, 35-70 (I use for macro), 70-210 F4, 100-200 (bought before I got the 70-210), 50 F1.7, and then I just got my Tamron 200-400 F5.6.
I started out with the A100 and I think it's ok. some improvements could be made (sensor with light/dark) and the weight, but it's a really cheap camera i got a few years ago.
The new A330 is fantastic. the only negative part is the grip is so tiny! I'm now looking into it... it has live view too. if you want something cheaper the A230 would do. I think that one doesn't have live view though.
I'm used to the view finder but sometimes the live view function is just essential for weird angle shots (e.g. really low/high angle shots).
natan: I agree the old kit lenses weren't much to write home about. But the new ones seem to be very nice. (kit lenses that comes with a230, a330 and a380). And they do have an extremly good range of high end lenses. the Carl Zeiss and G lenses are absolutly amazing. There are old gems as well, for chaepskate alternatives.
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Sony Alpha A230, A330 or A380 are excellent cameras. The slightly older A200, 300 and 350 have just been replaed by the afore mentioned models so you'll likely be able to find them on sale and they'll be excellent value for money, easy to use with good image quality.
Careful with the Sony cameras. Although the cameras themselves are pretty nice, the newer lenses are not so nice (kit lens is absolutely terrible). Pick up some of the older Minolta ones (like from 1985ish). The ones that are all metal construction (like the 70-210 F4).
They do not do so well with noise reduction either, so I'd recommend turning it off and using a good editor or always staying at ISO 100/200.
I do love my A350 though, have a very nice lens collection too, all of them being the older all metal minolta ones except for 1 tamron and that POS kit lens (which is in the box it came in yet). 28-85, 35-70 (I use for macro), 70-210 F4, 100-200 (bought before I got the 70-210), 50 F1.7, and then I just got my Tamron 200-400 F5.6.
I started out with the A100 and I think it's ok. some improvements could be made (sensor with light/dark) and the weight, but it's a really cheap camera i got a few years ago.
The new A330 is fantastic. the only negative part is the grip is so tiny! I'm now looking into it... it has live view too. if you want something cheaper the A230 would do. I think that one doesn't have live view though.
I'm used to the view finder but sometimes the live view function is just essential for weird angle shots (e.g. really low/high angle shots).
natan: I agree the old kit lenses weren't much to write home about. But the new ones seem to be very nice. (kit lenses that comes with a230, a330 and a380). And they do have an extremly good range of high end lenses. the Carl Zeiss and G lenses are absolutly amazing. There are old gems as well, for chaepskate alternatives.