Sony Alpha A330L 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization and 18-55mm Lens

Advice on moving up from point and shoot:
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 shootingQuick start upEasy to useProfessional looking resultsInternal stabilizationCrisp imagesPlenty of functions/featuresWell built construction, solid feelingCONS:Ergonomics for left hand isn’t greatFunctions best on relatively expensive memory stickIn 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!

Awesome entry level dSLR
This is a fantastic product for an entry level dSLR user. It may be a great camera for an intermediate or advanced user too, but as I have little experience with photography, I really can’t speak to the more advanced demographic. To research my purchase I spent time in two different brick-and-mortar camera shops. When I explained that I use a point and shhot digital and that I had experience 15 years ago with a 35mm film SLR, both shops instantly directed me to the Sony Alpha line (and to the A330 in specific when I disclosed my price range). They said that for the price, its the best quality camera in town and the only camera in the range with a tilting LCD for live view (They also mentioned that SOny makes most of the sensors used in Nikon and Canon dSLRs) which has already come in handy. The menus and display options are what really sold me. The menu interface when shooting on aperature and speed priority mode are very straight forward and the location of the scroll wheel is perfect for making changes without moving yout eye from the viewfinder. Changing the aperature, shutter speed, white balance, ISO, auto-focus area and all other in-the-moment settings are very easy and therefore fast. If you remember to look and pay attention the two different LCD displays make your shot all but dumie proof (which helps me a lot) and in live view you can get a histogram and a few more options to help optomize your shot. The body feels very solid in my hand and, despite being an entry level lens, I have captuered some great wild life and macro shots in the month that I have owned the camera. I have cropped some shots up to 60% and, on a 4×6 print, you would never know it was blown up.Over all I am excited about my purchase and the quality that Sony is putting into A330.

Just to confirm, the camera was received yesterday morning and I am extremely pleased with the purchase. First off, communication was 1st class and the delivery was made as promised. The camera was well packed, with the added bonus of a wide angled lense, many thanks for that. I am very pleased with the camera, which is replacing my A200 which I purchased when Sony first lunched their DSLR range (and has been a great camera). The A330L was purchased mainly because of the Live View and the digital zoom feature, but in addition is a much improved camera. Thanks again, I am very happy with the purchase.

Item is just as describedWorks greatThank you