Best entry level dslr (sony alpha a33 and nikon d3100)?
I was looking for one that isn't too expensive. Please help! I'm liking the sony alpha a33 and nikon d3100. Others are good too thanks
A33 has a electronic viewfinder, that alone would convince me to leave it alone.
Of all the entry level cameras, only the A33 and D3100 can auto-focus in the video mode.
Nikon has been making professional cameras since 1959 and thus have a huge array of lenses to choose from.
Sony bought the camera division of Minolta and have a smaller list of current lenses
Here are links to the lenses available for both
I would highly recommend you buy the Nikon D3100. Sony is OK too but, it is nothing compared to Nikon.cheers!
Fhotoace is a Nikon user and consistently wrong on Sony matters. The Sony has MORE auto-focus lenses available for it than the Nikon D3100. The Nikon lacks an auto-focus motor so you have to buy specific lenses for it.
The Sony takes every Minolta AF lens made since 1985, as well as third-party lenses from other manufacturers, there are hundreds.
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/
The Nikon D3100 is s-l-o-w to autofocus in video, the Sony A33 is much faster.
The Sony A33 has a 100% coverage Electronic View Finder, basically you see in the viewfinder what the photograph is going to be like BEFORE you take the picture.
The Sony A33 has a much quicker live-view function. It is actually usable compared to other brands.
The Sony A33 also has 7fps continuous shooting, panorama mode, multi-shot noise reduction, automatic smile detection and every lens you put on it will be image stabilised.
A33 vs D3100 is a no-brainer, except to the Nikon fan-boys.
Suppose you buy the D3100 and someone gives you several Nikon AF lenses from one of Nikon's 35mm AF film cameras. You can use them but they won't auto focus on the D3100 because Nikon didn't include a focusing motor in the camera body.
Suppose you buy the A33 and someone gives you several Minolta Maxxum AF lenses from one of Minolta's Maxxum AF 35mm film cameras. You can use them on the A33 and they will auto focus as they should because Sony included a focusing motor in the camera body.
Sony also has their version of Image Stabilization (SuperSteadyShot Inside) in the camera body so any lens you use becomes an IS lens. That isn't possible with the D3100 because Nikon has their version of IS (called VR - Vibration Reduction) in some but not all of their lenses.
Although some criticize the Electronic View Finder (EVF), thanks to the translucent mirror technology of the A33 you can view the scene even as you release the shutter. There's no "mirror blackout" since the mirror never moves. Plus, the EVF gives you 100% coverage of the scene compared to approximately 95% with the D3100 optical viewfinder.
My vote goes to the Sony A33.