Sony Alpha DSLR-A200K (Digital Camera with 18-70 mm Lens)

Pros: light weight, simple automatic controls, really fast focus, reasonable price.
Cons: limited function options, small hand grip, proprietary battery.

The Sony Alpha series Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras had only two models appear in the first year after the takeover of Konica Minolta's camera division and the Maxxum series SLR line. But as of 2008, this has abruptly changed as a large ...

Pros: Steadyshot image stabilization, interchangeability with Minolta lens, price, image quality overall, features
Cons: On camera flash, low light picture quality

I have always been interested in photography. My problem has been venturing farther into it and becoming serious hobbyist, due to prohibitively expensive equipment and film, not to mention dark room equipment, lab costs, etc. I’ve owned some ...

Pros: better then the 828 and just like the a100
Cons: nothing to write home about but decent

the person who wrote this was a low end dslr, is who I have to agree with. I was disappointed in the photo quality from this camera under certain conditions. Its like a high end prosumer camera and a decent startup dslr. I recently got my hands on this ...

Pros: Easy to use, great quality, lightweight, Price.
Cons: No HD output, and live view screen

I have finally joined the SLR Digital camera age. It took me a long time to figure out what one I wanted and the price I was willing to pay. I finally settled on the Sony A-200 kit which suited my needs. I have had a film SLR camera for ...

Pros: Image stablization, great pictures, low price (for a DSLR), long battery life, 10 MP
Cons: The kit lense is a little limited as far as distance goes

We just purchased this camera a week ago and we are DSRL newbies so bare with me... for a beginner this camera is great. It takes wonderful shots in the auto mode, and even has a picture manual to help a newbie user get the hang of things without a bunch of techy talk. It makes it easier to experiment when the guide is not so confusing. The pictures it takes are really amazing. We liked the A200 better and choose it over the D40 and the Rebel because it had autofocus in the body, as well as still has 10+ MP. We are really happy with the choice. It also has an image stablization which helps a great deal, and is impossible to find in cameras in this price range. We are looking for some new and better lenses, but the kit lense surprisingly isn't too bad! It seems like a better lense would be nice to take pictures farther away, but while we are still learning it really doesn't make much difference to us. I give this camera big thumbs up!

Pros: The price and handling are very good.
Cons: Everything else.

I was waiting to buy a digital SLR for many years...I have 6 different point & shoot cameras (including: Fuji E550, Kodak Z712IS, 1 Samsung, 2 Kodak's, and a Sony W80) and the Sony Alpha 200K finally met the price. I've had the camera for a month now...
I get one out of three photos in focus. Calls to Sony support did not help. Exposures can be wildly off...more than 2 or 3 stops. My big hands manage to push buttons and change settings (probably part of the first problems mentioned). Scenes with high contrast will have severe purple and red fringing (poor lens quality). Comparing similar shots with any of my point and shoots....the Sony falls down flat.

I've had some sucess with long hand held exposures...up to 0.5 seconds. But at times, the anti shake does not seem to work.

I sent the camera back to Sony for "repair" and will report my findings after return and retest.