Photoclubalpha

Hello, I'm returning to the world of photography after more than 20 years of absence. My favourite topics are macro (insects), travel and landscape. In those days I used Olympus OM2/OM4. Recently I read about the DRO feature of the A700 and also that it is possible to set values for ambient/flash while taking photos with a flash. The latter part is new to me but none the less interesting because taking mcaro of insects with a black background is not that interesting. Perhaps I understood the ambient/flash wrong but if it gives me the possibility to capture macro photos that look more like taken in daylight although I use a flash, then this feature is important for me.
So what does this forum suggest that I should by?

Hi,
Personally I leave DRO tuned off, but that's up to user preference really, also the A700's DRO might be more advanced than the one on my camera (A100) so it might prove more usefull in more circumstances. With balencing ambient light with flash, Minolta/Sony have a feature connected with the AEL button, you just hold it in while taking the flash photo and the camera does the rest, but be advised that if the ambient is poor and you are using a deep f/stop (something most likely in Macro photography) the camera will do a time exposure (and the background WB will most likely be a bit off if set on auto) before it does the flash exposure (I leave mine set permanently to flash on second curtain, and I can't rememer if in standard flash/shutter using the AEL button for flash/ambient balence if it still does the ambient exposure first or last, but that's no great biggie, the last curtain setting is easily set), thus a tripod will be necessary. Also keep in mind that the Minolta macro flash controller that Sony inherited has been modified by Sony so that it no longer has a user selectable four segment ring flash available, only the twin flash is now available, a good flash to be sure but not something I would take out in the bush where it can snag on things.
Greg

Where do you live? In the UK the A700 can be purchased for about £550 which is remarkable value for such a well specified DSLR

I live in Sweden. Here I can buy one for 700 £. Best price in EU is 630 £ according to my price hunter site. But you said 550! Where?

£560 actually

http://www.parkcameras.com/7622/Sony-Al ... -Body.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks. I will look into it.

sagarmatha wrote:Hello, I'm returning to the world of photography after more than 20 years of absence. My favourite topics are macro (insects), travel and landscape. In those days I used Olympus OM2/OM4. Recently I read about the DRO feature of the A700 and also that it is possible to set values for ambient/flash while taking photos with a flash. The latter part is new to me but none the less interesting because taking mcaro of insects with a black background is not that interesting. Perhaps I understood the ambient/flash wrong but if it gives me the possibility to capture macro photos that look more like taken in daylight although I use a flash, then this feature is important for me.
So what does this forum suggest that I should by?

Then, welcome back to photography and welcome to the forum.
The A700 is really a very nice camera and macro photography is much more comfortable than many other DSLRs. I even use bellows and different lenses, including M42 lenses.

Try this for a good price on A700 (£529):

http://www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/index.ph ... t_id=17324" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They say for 7 days only.

Regards, Wes Gibbon

You can even do better (as S&H is not included in the Jacobs prices, unless you pick up the camera in store) with:

http://www.cameracentrecardiff.co.uk/ad ... 86647fae72" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Woow, what a nice tread: mostly new members.
Should I feel like a fish out of water?
Welcome everyone.

Eiffel wrote:You can even do better (as S&H is not included in the Jacobs prices, unless you pick up the camera in store)

True, though via the Jacob's club (free) there is a free 2nd year guarantee for the camera body.

Peter_D
(Another new-comer to PhotoClubAlpha (who has just puchased an A700 for delivery next week from Jacobs to supplement to his existing KM5D))

Welcome! At Focus, we had leaflets to give out, but were a bit wary of asking Jacobs to do so - as they had launched their own club. Looks like it's more a buyer's benefit card than a real club though.

David