Sony Alpha A230L Digital SLR Camera With 18-55 mm Lens £297.40 @ Amazon

Just for people's info: this camera doesn't have Live View on the screen. ie When you are taking a photo you have to use the view finder.

Still a great camera but just so you know what to expect.

I find the Sony cameras too expensive for what they offer compared to the competition. Not even that good in low light either. I am not voting though because this is my personal opinion and has nothing to do with this deal, which maybe good.

You speaking about SLRs or their compact range?

When I asked on a few forums last year the general opinion was that you got more for your money with the Sony SLRs.

I purchased the A200 last year and am totally happy with it. Taken some great photos.

Also, I had some very postive comments about low light photos taken on hols in Rome. Dimly lit Piazza Navona, inside St Peters. Seriously very clear.

Got to disagree with pet2000. I have an a200 and find that it is fine in low light, depends on the lens used and what you are shooting tbh. Then again that's my experience with my Sony.
Good thing about Sony is the backwards compatibilty with Konica Minolta lenses from the 1980's. Check out Dyxum forum http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/results.asp?IDLensType=3
Also with adaptors you can use older 42mm fit CZJ lenses

Not a bad offer, see http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/cat22.html for best prices

The 18-55 kit lens is rated better than the 18-70 kit lens.
Liveview isn't needed tbh; bit of a gimmick most of the time. I do laugh to myself if I see a DSLR user taking pics via liveview (in the style of a digicam) rather than looking through the viewfinder.

I'd go along with that. This was my first digital SLR and I thought it seemed a bit crap but I've not missed it once. You can still review your pic on the screen after taking.

Get yourself a Minolta AF50 f1.7 - good in all light (and fast) and perhaps the 70-210 "beercan" lens - you won't be dissapointed.

edit: these lenses are 20 years old, but still auto-focus and benefit from the Sony's on-camera image stabilisation.

I had a Minolta zoom which worked great but I got sick of switching lenses on holiday so I bought the Sony 18-250 lens which gets good reviews considering it's an all rounder. You have to appreciate the limitations for this kind of lens but I'm very happy with it.

Looking to get a fast fixed lens though so will check out that Minolta.

My fiancee has an A300, and I must say the Live View has been invaluable for when taking pictures of things that are low and close to the ground e.g. of small plants or animals, or pictures above your head when you can tilt the screen down and see properly. Admittedly you could shoot and then review the photos in the LCD, but the tilting live view is really very handy for the situations I have described.

Also agree that you seem to get more for your money with Sony than other brands, although I think the price you pay is that there is a much smaller user base, and as such you may find it harder to find spares, repairs or third party accessories.

I have an Olympus E410 which has Live View and i've only ever used it once, and hated it!
With a professional camera, Live View isn't really needed (as, for starters, it's nowhere near a true representation of the picture you're trying to take most of the time!).
This is a really good deal, the lens is well-rated and the camera's pretty good too!

Sony are BETTER value than the competition. Got the A200 earlier this year - the Nikon D60 uses the same Sony sensor and the A200 got better reviews and was cheaper.

Hot deal - have some heat.

cheaper at http://www.abc-digital-cameras.co.uk...od=13323&a=cpb
as you are taking of the £50 it is £289.00 here delivered and in stock
also cheaper at warehouse express by about £1.50

price is ok but not really a bargain when £10 cheaper so why so hot???????????

why the hell would u want 'live view' when you can look through the lens?

okay can understand better angles at times, but i dont think u can beat the naked eye

I have the a200, live view not needed at all, would be a drain on the battery