[pcsyeung]

I am considering to buy Minolta A1 or Sony V1. Both are 5m pixels with good photo quality and fast focusing.

Actually, my first choice is A1. However, I have seen some comments on the noise, overheat & "hang" problems of the camera which make me to consider buying the another dc?

I know SONY V1 providesphoto with low noise which is my 2nd choice.

Which one do you recommend if I may make a few large prints (8R) for night shots??

[zeusho]

I think V1 is good, as I have printed some 8R photos before, the quality is excellent without any photo processing.

[dnamc2]

假設 F717 同 v1 的 noise 都同級的話...那麼 V1 的 noise control 不會好 A1 太多

相反 A1 的功能就比 V1 多好多

如果 for 日常用途覺得後制麻煩....買 v1 吧

如果你興趣係影相，A1 既功能將會係好好玩....而後制亦將會係你既興趣...如果吾介意後制.....應該都吾會介意花多一點時間用軟件去 noise 吧 :)

[zeusho]

Here's some samples for your reference.

http://www.pbase.com/zeusho/sony_v1_photos

[dnamc2]

這是 A1 與 G5 在 ISO 100 的 noise compare

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/minoltadimagea1/page18.asp

當然 A1 沒有 ISO 50

V1 和 G5 都有

但自從有 neatimage 這類軟件出現之後 noise 並不是一個大問題了

若要追求純淨的畫面.. 只好買 DSLR

[insane]

pcsyeung,

Go for V1 if you want smaller size, aleady have (or don't mind) memory stick, and don't like to spend time nor enjoy doing post processing afterwards. V1 sharp photos and good color will please you greatly.

A1 is feature rich. But if you don't like spending time experimenting with various settings, these extra buttons and dials can bug you at times. However, if you like to be in total control on lots of things yourself, or want something that will grow with your skills, then you will love the A1. By the way, once you get to know what new avenues the anti-shake can open up for you, you are sold.

[insane]

pcsyeung,

Just one point I forgot to mention. My suggestion is NOT to read too much into this "overheat" and "hang" problem of the Ax. In my humble view, they have been blown way out of proportion. Mind you, to some, these are deal breakers. But to many others, it is some of the minor issues you will have to live with in order to get an otherwise excellent camera. Afterall, there will never be a perfect digicam per se. Just something very close to it. Go check out the latest article in luminous landscape on "digicam vs, DSLR", and you will find out why extremely expereinced photographers like Michael Richeman love the Minolta Ax series.

Don't be influenced by the discussion here in DC fever. Go check out other forums like the Minolta forum under dprevew. You will get a fairer sample of responses there. While people with problems tend to hang out more often in forums like that. When specifically asked whether they love their Ax, a vast majority responsed very positively. This happens to every brand of cameras. But the point I am trying to make is the complaints in forum often give people an partial, and at times unfair, image of a product. Call that human nature. Intelligent readers like you will no doubt can tell the differnece.

whatever you choose. happy shooting, and be content with your purchase. But before your purchase, do ask yourself whether you will mostly be a point-and-shooter, or is someone who are really interested in putting in the time and effort to try out different settings using the new tool you will be acquired. Be frank with yourself. If your own honest opinion is the former, the Sony and Canon are best for you since their out-of-camera shots are just great. Their pictures all have the "pop" (especially if you love saturated colors) many find very appealing, and there is no need to fine-tuning on your PC. But if you like natural colors, and don't like your digicam to do all the sharpening and color boosting in-cameran for you that you can not undo later, go for the Minolta. Sony and Minotla represent two completely different design approaches. Each will fit certain group of camera users better. The answer of which camear is best for you rests entirely with your own goodself.

[zeusho]

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/digicams-vs-dslrs.shtmlTo pcsyeung朋友：

不如你去各陳列室試機，試一段時間，才決定買那一部機，如果只是在這裡問各朋友的意見，因各人的喜好不同，很難給你一個中肯的意見。

提供各Review給你參考一下：

Dpreview

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/minoltadimagea1/
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscv1/

DC Resources

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/minolta/dimage_a1-review/index.shtml
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dsc_v1-review/index.shtml

imaging resource

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A1/A1A.HTM
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/V1/V1A.HTM

Steves Digicams

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/a1.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/v1.html

另外，insane朋友提議你看的 "digicam vs DSLR"：

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/digicams-vs-dslrs.shtml

我提議你看 "The Case of the Nit Picking Pixel Peepers"：

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/peepers.shtml

[zeusho]

更正：

To pcsyeung朋友：

不如你去各陳列室試機，試一段時間，才決定買那一部機，如果只是在這裡問各朋友的意見，因各人的喜好不同，很難給你一個中肯的意見。

提供各Review給你參考一下：

Dpreview

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/minoltadimagea1/
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscv1/

DC Resources

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/minolta/dimage_a1-review/index.shtml
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dsc_v1-review/index.shtml

imaging resource

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A1/A1A.HTM
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/V1/V1A.HTM

Steves Digicams

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/a1.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/v1.html

另外，insane朋友提議你看的 "digicam vs DSLR"：

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/digicams-vs-dslrs.shtml

我提議你看 "The Case of the Nit Picking Pixel Peepers"：

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/peepers.shtml

[pcsyeung]

Thanks all for your comment. I got more valuable ideas to make the decision now.

[gapman]

Of course A1 la ! Sony DC are trend to blue color ! Also V1's battery is too too weak !