|
|
|
|
Home > Sony Alpha A330L 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization and 18-55mm Lens
|
|
Sony Alpha A330L 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization and 18-55mm Lens
|
 (6 Reviews)
|
|
|
| |
Most Helpful Customer Reviews:
Add Your Own Review |
 Four Stars, September 21, 2014
By matt farmer
|
|
Really enjoying my Sony camera
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Sony A330, February 26, 2011
By Adam Caron
|
|
[Updated: see bottom]
I purchased this camera after reading so many positive reviews, but I have to say I'm somewhat disappointed and unimpressed. I am not a professional photographer by any means, or even a talented amateur. Really, I was replacing a older Sony Cybershot p&s and all I really wanted was a camera that would be fast and responsive for normal family photos. Maybe I was wrong to expect the DSLR to replace my point and shoot with no bumps in the road, but that is the expectation that I went into this purchase with. I'll also preface this being saying that perhaps my lack of experience is partially to blame for my complaints/issues/problems/concerns, but I don't think it's unrealistic to expect a $400 DSLR on auto to perform *at least* as well as any P&S would in the past 5 years costing significantly less. Alright, on to the obligatory Pros & Cons:
Pros:
* Startup time: Very fast. This is one of the items I wanted and cannot complain. Its ready almost immediately.
* Battery life: Very good. About what should be expected for a Lithium of its size. no complaints there either.
* Dual card slots: not that anyone would choose a memory stick over SD if they can avoid it, buts its nice to have both, especially if you already have some MS lying around (like me, from our older Cybershot and a Sony camcorder.)
* Photo quality: Seems excellent when I can get the photos to come out clear (see below.) I am not printing posters or photographing for magazine publication so my expectations (and needs) were low anyways so take this with a grain of salt.
* Zoom: I know this certainly isn't specific to this camera, but I enjoy the manual zoom rather than "pushbutton" zoom you get on every P&S.
* Anti-shake: Seems to work well - I have very unsteady hands and it always seems to come out clear anyways, except for the subject movement because...
Cons:
* Low light sensitivity: This is probably my biggest problem. I had seen other people complain about "low light" issues, but coming from a basic P&S I didn't realize that "low light" basically meant "indoors under any lighting conditions."
My living room (combo living room and kitchen open area) is about 400 sqft and has a total of 22 ceiling lights. Even with every light on, without the flash on the camera always wants to slow down the shutter speed to multiple second lengths. The anti-shake works excellent but my dogs/wife/child don't like to sit perfectly still for several seconds while unwrapping christmas gifts so this often results in nice sharp backgrounds with a big blur in the middle. If I put the camera into manual (which my wife would most definitely not put up with) I can get keep it at a normal speed but the exposure is too dark to be usable (which I do realize the very-smart camera had already figured out.) Ok, so why don't I just use the flash? On to...
* Flash: the flash is nice and powerful. Way too powerful to be used indoors for any photo I have been able to take. It is so harsh that much of the photo gets washed out in white. I have since purchased the Sony version of the Gary Fong Puffer and this has helped quite a bit but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth that I need a $20 piece of enormous white plastic clipped onto my camera to take a photo indoors.
* Autofocus speed: While its decent and acceptable, its not really much faster at autofocusing (again, indoors under "low light") than my 5 year old Cybershot was. Same for the cycle time on flash - faster, but not by much. I will say that cycle time without the flash is blazing fast though, much faster than the P&S could dream for.
So, in summary, it is a decent camera, but seems to require to many work-arounds. I simply wanted a fast P&S replacement, but it doesn't seem like that is going to happen.
[UPDATE:] having used the camera for a couple of years now, I feel I might have been a bit harsh in my original review and have decided to up it to 4 stars. Some of my whining was simply from inexperience with it.
Outdoors in full daylight autofocus is near instantaneous. Indoors is fast, faster than I gave it credit for really, but still could be better.
Battery life is mediocre but within range of what Sony claims. The live-view really sucks the battery, but they tell you that up front. A second battery is a must.
I do need to comment that the current price of $600 (as of 8/2012) is absurd. My purchase price of $400 at the time (late 2010) was reasonable.
Performance is much better with the viewfinder than with the live view. I still use the live view most of the time because I'm not a photographer and hate the viewfinder thing, but for action shots the viewfinder is a must. The difference is night and day. The auto-review seems to introduce a lag before it'll let you go back to record mode.
"Auto" still is too slow for animals and kids, but running in Shutter-priority easily fixes that. After forcing the shutter speed I want, the camera does a decent job of setting everything else. Aperature priority works well too, though the kit lens is too slow to make any use of it. Ironically, I find this much easier to work with than the myriad "Scene" modes so popular. Maybe I'd like them more if I was taking pictures regularly of: A Mountain, A Flower, The Moon, or A Face. Oh, or a Sprinter. I saw one camera that boasted 26 scene modes. Really? That is supposed to make things easier than what amounts to about 3 items you need to set manually? But I digress.
Autofocus selection is quite random and not very good at guessing at all, but using spot focus works well and it tracks well.
It would be nice if the camera rotated photos when held vertically since it's sensors can obviously detect that, but oh well.
Primary reason for upping the reason from 3 to 4: the availability of Minolta lenses. I see more and more DSLR and DSLR wannabees being released (including models from Sony) with proprietary lenses that all inevitably cost more than the camera itself. Thanks to the use of used A mount lenses on this camera, I was able to get a 50mm/1.7, 28-200, 28-80, and 100-300 for a combined total of $175. If I had purchased an E mount NEX model, one 55-200 would have cost me $250 new, and that is one of the more reasonable ones.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
 Great product! very efficient seller too!, September 12, 2010
By Guerrock
|
|
This was a great purchase and the seller was very accurate as for shipping times and prices. I would certainly reccommend buying from him
0 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Advice on moving up from point and shoot:, August 11, 2010
By Kate
|
|
I am by no means a professional photographer. I was sick of my point and shoot taking so long to start & the delay between each picture. It's ridiculous & plain doesn't work with my toddlers. I also was sick of paying photographers hundreds of dollars a couple of times a year to do photographs of my kids. This will save me a bundle, two trips to the photographer & it's paid for. Google how to do professional portraits at home, you'll be amazed at what you find. The accessories you'd need/want are so inexpensive. A light disc can be had for under $20, for example.
Having said that, if you are looking to move up to an SLR from a P&S model, this is a great option. It received stellar ratings from Consumer Reports, earning their best buy logo. I have never used an SLR and read lots before purchasing this camera. I took it out of the box and as soon as the battery was charged, I was shooting away. The camera comes with an ultra simple quick-start guide & a full owner's manual. This is helpful when you can't wait to start shooting.
When purchasing this camera for photographing kids/sports, spend the extra $20-30 and get the pro-stick duo memory card made by Sony. I am always skeptical of the need to purchase name brand, but the additional speed the Sony card gives this camera is exceptional. I had a generic memory card from my point and shoot. It works in the camera, but slows down shots, especially in sports mode. Since this is very important to me, it is well worth it. If you were going to say, take pictures of landscapes and flowers, maybe not so much.
In hand the camera feels sturdy and comfortable. However, there isn't a great place to hold on with your left hand. I think they sell grips for this purpose, but it isn't a deal breaker, so I'll just let it go for now and see if I get used to it. In the regard of hanging on with just a couple fingers from your left hand, it's much the same as you would do with a little point and shoot.
Let's be honest 10.2 megapixels is plenty! How big do we really need to print our pictures? The price difference between this and 12 just doesn't make it worth the extra definition.
PROS:
Price (especially on amazon)
Quick shooting
Quick start up
Easy to use
Professional looking results
Internal stabilization
Crisp images
Plenty of functions/features
Well built construction, solid feeling
CONS:
Ergonomics for left hand isn't great
Functions best on relatively expensive memory stick
In conclusion, I will keep my cheapy point and shoot in my purse for emergencies. When I know I want quality photographs, this is my new go-to!
26 of 26 people found the above review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Went looking for Nikon, left with Sony, August 04, 2010
By KenS
|
|
This is a great camera. When I went shopping for a DSLR. I was looking for
certian features. I wanted ease of use, a good range of additional lens, and a
giant leap from a point and shoot. The Sony fit these needs. It takes great
pictures. The live view was a nice touch.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Sony Alpha a330L, July 25, 2010
By V. Martinez
|
|
My son writes this review:
I won't elaborate on all the features and stuff of this camera, which can easily be found on the internet. I will just mention my feelings of this camera.
First of all, the ergonomics. I was a little nervous about the hand grip because of all the bad comments it had received. When I was finally able to hold it for longer period of time, i found that there are subtle grooves on the hand grip that help the fingers. The hand grip could be a little bigger, but no complaints.
i love the camera as a whole, except for the placement of some of the buttons, namely the Menu, AV and the button next to the Live-view switch.
The optical viewfinder is a little small, but is fine. It is also noticeable that the optical viewfinder doesn't give 100% coverage, but one just has to get used to it and frame accordingly.
Love the camera, just remember to try the camera out before you buy it.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
