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<p>Sony A350 does do auto bracket just use the auto bracket mode.</p>

<p>Sigma 17-70 will get very close. Subject nearly touching front lens. Much better lens than 18-70. Sigma 70-300 APO will give near macro, the macro setting only works at the 300mm end though. I use a Sigma Achromatic lose up lens on the 70-300 this gives macro for not much money. You must use an achromatic lens though. Sigma used to sell this lens for their loder telephotos. It does give good results.</p>

<p>Sounds a complicated way to get a macro lens to me. Lots of Olympus OM fit lenses with a 4/3 adapter will do the job better and all the bits needed are on ebay.</p>

<p>Where are the pics?</p>

I use a Minolta 3600HS with A350 it works fine with bounce. Also has wireless off camera TTL.

I have tried the A900 at the Harrogate Sony Centre. It is a lovely camera with a fantastic viewfinder, just too dear for me.

I also use Sigma 10-20mm I find it very sharp and with almost no CA. perspective distortion is a issue with any lens as wide as this but it is only apparent when people are near the edge of the frame. Converging verticals are avoided by having the lens level or exploited for dramatic effect.

I use 3 Sigma lenses on my A350. 10-20mm, 17-70mm Macro & 70-300 APO Macro. All bought new I played around with old Minolta lenses for a while but decided that the flexibility of these three lenses and the very good optical quality made more sense. I leave my Sony 18-70 kit lens in its box. My advice is don't play around with the old lenses they carry dust will probably fail and are just a distraction. Buy 21st century optics.

Problem with all non dedicated flashguns is the lack of TTL. Buy a used Minolta 3600HS or similar and get all the functions in the camera. I have an A350 and I went through the same issues. You will only waste money in the meantime.

Diplomatic as ever Richard! Is this TC a universal fit or dedicated? I think I might buy one.

WE could download this instead. http://www.photo-freeware.net/viewexif.php

I am convinced that this is the way forward for Digital cameras. Olympus made 2 DSLR's which didn't look like DSLR's, E-330 and E-300 both were criticised for not looking like DSLR's. In fact the rangefinder styling was a big factor in low sales. Most people dont want radically different! I wonder about in body IS for the Oly version. Could tempt me back to 4/3.

This is a great leap forward. The EVF needs to be very good but apart from that it is my camera. The new Olympus lenses work AF. I feel the digital camera may have come of age. Olympus tried range-finder styling with the E-300 and E-330 they were both criticised for not looking like a DSLR. Stupid I know but it killed the E-330.

I was an E-system user for some time. The cost and range of lenses persuaded me to move to Sony. Now they are addressing the issue I am sure Sony will eventually do the same. There are more third party lenses for Sony than E-system. I leave the strategy to Sony.

I have notices almost all Sony/Minolta fit lenses have gone up in price since I bought my A350.Its supply and demand. Now there are more alpha mount cameras and a limited supply of s/h lenses the price will go up. the price of s/h Minolta lenses reflects the new price of Sony equivalents and bears no relationship to their original prices.

 

Ebay is a problem the costs are going up but it is a very effective selling tool. Paypal is expensive but it is secure and quick. I think if I advertised here I would still use Paypal for payment.

Lightroom is a good solution. Elements works if you don't like Bridge.

APS-C is a simple matter of silicon economics. Smaller sensor is cheaper, all the rest follows. However after using full frame,APS-C and 4/3 I do think APS-C is a good compromise that will only be improved by new technology.

This is correct you can only save as jpeg by reducing from 16 to 8bit. Once you have done this the save options will contain allsorts of other formats.

Elements will import them you just have to update ACR to the latest version. All current Sony are supported. It will

even do it automatically into a date folder if you like. You can copy the files using Windows you don't need all this

command line DOS left over stuff.

If you mean the SSS display in the viewfinder it will always flash.

The sigma 1.4 teleconverter is dedicated to Sigma lenses. I have fallen foul of this myself. It either wont fit or doesn't work with other lenses.

I use PSE 6 and it processes my A350 RAW files fine since I upgraded the ACR. The latest version is ACR 4.5 which you will have to get by going to Adobe DNG converter and downloading the whole thing. Its very small. Included is the ACR 4.5 which you must use to upgrade PSE 6. There are instructions on how to do this on the Adobe site. This issue applies to all new cameras with Adobe Software.

"<a href="http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2008/06/12/sony-alpha-350-a-creative-review/">A350 Creative review</a>"

Sigma 70-300 APO DG is a very good lens. Filter is 58mm. Has macro facility at 200-300. You can buy a new one for the price of a 20 year old beercan. The image quality is generally felt to equal beercan. I was advised on Dyxum not to trade my sigma for a beercan. Lacks focus limiter which would be a useful addition.

You are correct about the Nikon and Canon Image stabilisers. The image stabiliser is in the lens so every lens needs

an image stabiliser.

Sony cameras have the stabiliser built into the camera body, so any lens fitted will be stabilised. Your old Minolta

AF lenses will have image stabilisation. All Minolta AF lenses work with Sony Alpha. I have 3 Minolta, 2 Sigma and 1

Sony lenses to use with my A350.