Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
I no longer have this camera. It was my first digital camera and I got a lot of good use from it — a great beginners education and some very nice photos indeed. I bought it after an in-depth review of its competition — specifically similar cameras produced by Nikon and Canon. Here is a nice description of the origins and characteristics of the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
From DP Review:
In July 2005 Konica Minolta and Sony made an announcement that they were to jointly develop digital SLR cameras. This agreement hinted at shared technology between the two companies such as auto focus, metering and Anti-Shake coming from Konica Minolta and sensors, electronics and batteries from Sony. Some six months later Konica Minolta dropped a bomb on the camera market by announcing that they were withdrawing from the camera business and had transferred certain camera assets including the Maxxum/Dynax lens mount and related SLR technologies to Sony.
Almost a year on since that first announcement we have the new Sony Alpha DSLR-A100, a compact, ten megapixel (CCD) digital SLR with a (Konica) Minolta lens mount, Anti-Shake (now Super SteadyShot) and a definite cross-breed appearance. It’s fair to say that while this camera may share some components with previous Konica Minolta digital SLR’s Sony’s involvement has brought external styling, build quality and finish up to a higher standard. The lens mount is to be called the ‘Alpha mount’ and Sony has announced no less than 19 lenses which will carry the Sony Alpha branding (although many are based on existing Minolta lenses).
Other professional reviews
Sample images by Peppy Doggett (click on image to see photo post)
