I'm now using a Sony SLT-A65
Sony SLT-A33 (DEAD)
This past fall (2010) we purchased a Sony SLT-A33 with the kit lens, a 18-55mm zoom, and the 70-300mm zoom lens. It's the new translucent mirror camera which allows for phase detection focusing in live view and for recording movies. Granted, their is a sacrifice of light with this system, but since this is a shared camera for around the house (taking pictures of kids is much easier with a live view screen), for the price and features, so far we've been quite pleased.
This is a cut-away image of how the light path works in the camera with the translucent mirror.
I recently added this lens to my camera bag.
And since then, I've sold it. I was not happy with it at all. It focused very poorly, and not just at the far end. The guy I sold it to was planning to use it to see if he wanted to end up spending more money in the future on an expensive lens.
Tamron AF 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 LD Asph IF 185D |
Other Things...
Tripod
Velbon Sherpa Tripod - It has a nice oil head for smooth movement which is good for when I use it for video, but also for panning with your still camera as you follow something around to try and capture it with that one picture chance. I was happy to get this one brand new at a "Cash Converter" store for quite cheap - they were selling a whole batch of them.