Should I buy a Sony Alpha A300K or a Canon Digital Rebel XSi?

Question

I plan buying a Digital SLR instead a Point-and-Shoot camera. Before somebody say to me I won't be able to put it in my pocket, I do not care about portability.

I love Sony and I also know how great Canon is. For me it is hard to compare both, so I am asking here for help with my purchase.

I am not an expert with photos, but I am really serious with their quality. So I found two cameras which I can afford (see in the title) and that I believe are one of the best I can find today. Please answer the questions, so I'll be sure I will have the best choice:

Which one is the best for starters like me? Why?

Which one has the best quality? Why? (I do not care with mega pixels)

Which one has the best video mode?

What about the Live View?

What about lenses? I do not know anything about it...

I'd also like to have advices for dummies like me and if you had any experience with the A300K or the XSi, share with us. Be sure until next week I'll choose the best answer. Earn it!

Answer 1

The Pavlovian response is nearly always CANON! NIKON! as though there were no other choices. Fortunately, you've done some research and found that there are alternatives.

One thing to consider is that Sony has their version of Image Stabilization/Vibration Reduction (IS/VR) in the camera body. This means that every lens used will have that benefit. Canon and Nikon incorporate their IS/VR in the lens so you have to pay extra for it with every lens. Yes, there is evidence that having it in the lens gives slightly better results. If you will go to http://www.shutterbug.com and type 'konica-minolta 5d' in the Search box you'll find a test of that camera (a direct ancestor of the Sony DSLR cameras). During the test, the author took a picture of a yacht at anchor, using a 36mm equivalent lens. He took one with the IS/VR Off and one with it On. Both pictures look the same - UNTIL a small section is enlarged. The one taken with the IS/VR On is much sharper. So IS/VR is useful even with shorter focal lengths.

Advantage: Sony A300

Everyone talks about the number of lenses available for Canon and Nikon as though the lens selection for the A300 is limited. Actually, the lens selection for the A300 is vast - it can use every Minolta Maxxum AF lens made since 1985. Plus, Sony has a line of Carl Zeiss lenses available. Don't forget that every one of these lenses will have the benefit of the in-camera IS/VR. Canon and Nikon can't say that.

The Live View of the A300 works with the auto focus. The screen also flips down or up. So if you're in a crowd and have to hold the camera over your head to get the picture just flip the screen down and you can compose and shoot. If you're shooting macro pictures of mushrooms and have the camera at ground level just flip the screen up, compose and shoot. IMO this is a valuable feature.

Advantage: Sony A300

Once you make your purchase, plan to spend some time to really READ & STUDY the Owner's Manual. A company called The Magic Lantern publishes a companion book that should be useful as you learn to use your A300. You can find it at amazon.com.

Good luck!

"Pictures are not taken, they are made." Ansel Adams.

"Best wide-angle lens? Two steps backward. Look for the 'ah-ha' ". Ernst Haas

"If your pictures aren't good enough you aren't close enough." Robert Capa

Answer 2

1) JMO, but I'd pick the XSi. Better sensor (though that's up for debate), better image quality, more features (it's been referred to as 40D junior, a semi pro camera).

2) You'd think that the MP on the Canon would affect noise. No such thing, even at 1600 ISO you're noise free. IQ is flawless for a stater DSLR.

3) There's no video mode on SLR cameras. You shoot pictures only.

4) Live view is useless on SLRs unless you're using a tripod and/or composing a shot. That's when it comes in handy. Other than that forget you have live view.

5)Canon has a wide variety of lenses and they're cheaper (you can always go with a third party like Sigma or Tamron to add to your camera)

6)   Spent some time with the XSi and loved it. It's a perfect starter DSLR.

Answer 3

For starters, I think both dslrs are fine and would not be a problem to handle.  Quality-wise, I think both are also excellent.

When it comes to lenses, I think most would agree that Canon has the widest range of lenses for all types of photography.  

Both dslrs would probably come with a kit lens (18-55mm) which you'd get to use for about 6 months to 1year.  after that, you may decide to purchase additional lenses to improve your talent and images.  You'd find out that Canon has cheaper lenses (excluding the L-series professional ones) compared to Sony.

Answer 4

Canon.

Its even better than the nikon in the same class..