I have been a few days, the Alpha 230 with the 18-55mm lens. After much back and forth, if I am a friend of the DSLR, I just slammed shut. Decisive for me (as a still old friend of analog photography) that the camera should not be loaded with as much technical bells and whistles. That's why I do not miss at the Alpha 230, the Live View function. An image is composed in the viewfinder! It's just fun to sit with his motive apart. On the other hand I can make at the Alpha 230 all settings quickly and easily, which are important for taking pictures (aperture, shutter speed, type of focusing and exposure and flash compensation). The fact that Sony has no preview button, I can get over. Most SLR users without entitlement to professionalism describe this feature anyway mostly only as a darkening of the viewfinder image. Other important advantages of this camera (just because of the price) are: - Possibility of using a wide variety of (and quality) interchangeable lenses - Unlike Bridge cameras much larger sensor in APS-C format; This is the picture quality at good. - Extensive (affordable) accessories - Mechanical image stabilizer; Also makes use cheaper Obejktive possible that no optical image stabilization. have. - Small size and light weight; I do not want to miss when traveling.
Also, some disadvantages are: - Kit lens very bright (better would be 2.8 - or expensive 2.0 and 1.4) do not - No built-in AF-light
As the disadvantages in the price but are so small, I give the Sony Alpha 230 five star.
Addendum: After numerous test recordings I can only express my enthusiasm for the built-in mechanical image stabilization. With reasonably steady hand you manage even the evening in moderately lit rooms without flash and ISO values to the 100 to 200 virtually blur-free images to make. The exposure time is partly for 1.5 seconds. Really madness.
