Digital SLR - Simplicity or just basic ?

[dee]

Odd.

Strictly an amateur 'considered snap shooter' , I have a Sony A35 which has excellent low light facilities and lots of bells and whistles.

However it was not the 1st Sony camera I bought to use old Minolta lenses.
This fell to one of the last DSLRs - the ever so humble cheap and cheerful A290 .
Billed as a beginners camera , however , with the Sony 35mm f1.8 it is perfectly capable and avoids too large files in RAW.

I do not need live view , nor extended ISO , neither of which my Leica M8 provides .

It's essentially an up , date of my Minolta SRT with 50mm . I actually prefer it to the A35 .

i find this simplicity , similar to my Leica Digilux 3 but without the squinty finder , quite refreshing - or am I a dinosaur ??

dee

 

[jesse1dog]

Simple is often the best!
As long as you are happy using your camera it doesn't matter what else there is around.

j

 

[Ko.Fe.]

You call it simple and basic?
My 5D has no AUTO for ISO 😛

 

[Robin P]

I had the A35 before moving on to a mirrorless system (back to SLR for the time being though 😱 ) and the CMOS sensor is definitely better than the older Sony CCDs, but I can understand why you would be happier with the simpler camera and its optical viewfinder - it's the action and wildlife photogs who really need those super fast modern sensors, not the typical RFF shooter who tends to take a more considered approach.....

 

[dee]

I was hesitant about buying so obviously entry level DSLR , but I reckoned that the A290 had reached a point where it had the advantage of several years of development and an acceptable sensor which was almost on par with the slightly better Nikon D3100 but I could use my Minolta lenses plus a new 35mm .
I realise that the A35 sensor is better , but it is a relief to return to the DSLR experience as I usually have no need of the extra facilities of the A35 .

Those entry level cameras seem to offer pretty comprehensive specifications for most general amateur photography . I must admit that the A290 is more of a cheap plastic toy than most !!

 

[Daniel Teoli Jr.]

OP, I agree. I pay big bucks for simplicity with the Leica nowadays. I hate the complex cams with loads of buttons that go off if you blow on the cam. Now they are coming out with touch screens, another terrible choice that is worse than buttons for setting things awry.