As a long standing photographer, I would describe myself as a semi-professional. I take 90% of my pictures for myself and for that I use a range of equipment from 35mm and medium format film to digital. I will even use a Camera/Phone if I want a quick shot of something. I am often asked by friends and acquaintances about what is the best camera? The stock answer is always "the one that is in your pocket", but the real answer often takes a few more questions, like "what do you want to use it for?". So when somebody says they want to spend about £100/£150 on a 'Real' camera my answer is to get a DSLR. You can buy these on eBay for around £100 and there are loads on offer. Sony with their heritage from Minolta are a great manufacturer and they also make very many of the Sensors, the heart of any digital camera or camera phone for other manufacturers. (The new Apple iPhone 7 has a Sony Exmor sensor.) The Alpha series of cameras of which this A500 is a part has a long heritage of lenses going back to film days. The great advantage is that they all fit this camera and get the full advantage of not only the AutoFocus but the SteadyShot system that reduces the effect of camera shake when hand held and gives sharper pictures. This A500 was a great buy, it has only taken around 11,000 images which for this type of high end camera is great as the shutter life is around 100,000. The automatic modes for a 'Newbie' are a great way to get great pictures every time and it has the tools to allow the photographer to grow. Sony still provide all the software and manuals electronically for most of their cameras and you also can get a copy of the leading edge 'raw image' processing software from Phase One that is freely downloadable for this and other Sony cameras. I paid £20 to add a standard lens to this camera and I was off and running. Most pictures these days end up on the web so the resolution is way beyond what is needed. If you want to go to print, and please do as a picture in the hand is far better than an image on a screen, then you can get a great print from 2 mega-pixels at 6 X 4 or 7 X 5, so this camera is more than adequate. So this is a great camera for a beginner who wants to learn or for me a a semi-professional as a backup camera to my newer systems and I recommend this type of camera to most people.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Amazing camera, everything seems to work. I have been taking amazing photos of the snow and wintry scenes, which look good on the TV.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
To utilise the features of the camera, a handbook / user manual is a must, without one it's 'the blind leading the .......' It is a good job versions of the manual are available to purchase on line otherwise ........
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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