The most important tip: go into a store and take the camera in hand! (Sorry Amazon). What I was well-liked at the Sony handle the slightly larger compared eg to Nikon or other - very important with heavy lenses.
Another detail: the viewfinder is smaller in models with Live View. I switched from a digital compact camera on the A300 and but notice that I almost never use Live View. In a digital one can sometimes also "blind" shoot from the hip with Continuous - delete it costs nothing. Therefore, try it if you really need (even if it sounds like a great feature) - if you Viewfinder / SLR is used, it does namely the Alpha 200 (better because viewfinder slightly larger). I find the viewfinder but ok, is probably a matter of habit.
The autofocus will work with my Tamron fine and fast, otherwise the handling is good.
The menus and operation are simple and self-explanatory, I think you need the manual not really. The most important settings can be reached really quickly through the function menu, so you can vary good also in the same scene and try different settings.
What I strongly miss more settings in the menu, for example, that you can show buttons with other functions. Since there's hopefully times a firmware update.
The camera is well made, except for the flap for the storage medium right at the handle, sometimes wobbles with me so a little (how long that will last?).
In another review I read that someone found the shutter sound too loud - I personally find good, especially in burst mode, I find it a helpful (and I never take pictures at funerals and rare in churches).
What I also found very disappointing: the video output on the television was totally washed out - because the camera display was to assess images better suited. Can also located on television have (a Loewe flat, well).
Overall: a few small flaws - but the photos are great and I love taking pictures with the Alpha 300 great fun!
