In the wonderfull world of DSLR shooting. You will have so much fun with that great camera.
I would love to see some of your images.
And welcome here as well.

Thank you for coming and joining our site.

Wow, must have been hard to give up using that camera for so long :). Good choice on the new camera and the lens, really can't go wrong with either for most applications.

I wonder how you are liking the live view of the A300? :)

And thank you for entering the contest, its nice to have another panorama shot in there!

See you soon,

Carl

Well, regarding LiveView, the first thing you have to know is that I really enjoyed playing with the special body of the Nikon Coolpix (the 4500 has a body that is twisting in the middle which enables you to rotate the lens almost 360° and still keep the LCD and the buttons in the same position). I was using almost exclusively the LCD screen to shoot (99.9% of my pictures have been taken with LiveView).

I kept the Nikon for so long because I didn't want to get a camera with a non-tilting screen and I didn't want to upgrade to a bridge like the DSC-Hx series that were not bringing many additionnal features vs the Nikon, except the zoom. Also, the Nikon delivers some very good picture quality (you can see some pictures on my website : http://jeanmarc.grosse.free.fr ... they are all taken with the Nikon).

When I started reading the first previews of the Sony A300/350, it looked really promising. A real LiveView system, usable for every shoots without making any compromise on AF speed and user-friendliness ... it looked to be exactly what I needed to step up to the DSLR world.
At the same time, I read many comments on different forums about the "poor" OVF of the Sony and the fact that "real" DLSR users should use only OVF, LiveView is a gadget, if you want a DSC with LiveView you should purchase a bridge, ...

But I still kept on looking for the Sony because I'm used to the advantage of a LiveView with tilting screen (and also because I work for Sony Europe which enables me to purchase the products with -35% premium vs public price o:-)

Today, after 3 weeks of playing with my A300, I completely changed my way of taking pictures. Almost 95% of my pictures so far have been taken with the OVF.
I suppose that this is coming from the fact that I took almost only "holidays" pictures (landscapes, portraits of familly members) in sunny conditions ... and the OVF is much more convenient to use that the LiveView when you have the sun shining.
Also, despite what I read on other forums, I found the OVF very good (even while wearing my glasses) ... especially if I compare with the Coolpix's OVF. At the moment, I really enjoy taking pictures with a real OVF :-)))

The only issue while using OVF if that the LCD screen gets dirty really quickly. I'm planning to purchase some protecting plasting cover to try to reduce this effect ...

This does not mean that I am disappointed with the LiveView system.
It's doing exactly what I was expecting :
- you can switch very quickly from OVF to LiveView
- you can really use it for most of your pictures without any problems (it's not a gadget that looks nice on paper but that it completely useless)
- the tilting screen is good for my back, even if it does not give the same flexibility than the Coolpix

I expect to increase my usage of the LiveView when I will :
- start making more macros with the camera (but I need to purchase a real macro lens)
- start making more night pictures (but I need to purchase a real tripod ... the mini-tripod I used to have with the Coolpix is way to small for a DSLR body)

But at the moment, an additionnal lens or a big tripod are not part of the smartest purchase I can do (to say it with other words : if I keep on putting money in this camera, my wife will kill me :-)))))))))
It's safer for me to wait a few weeks / months more until the purchase does not get me in trouble ;-)

I had a Nikon Coolpix 5700. It was a nightmare to use. Sold it and bought a a100 and
now I have an a700 and waiting for the FF from Sony to be released.
Dan

Congratulations. Especially that you're in one of my favorite cities - during spring, too! Now that you have your Alpha, you can visit Boulevard Beaumarchais and shop for used lenses in most any of the stores. I think Boulevard Beaumarchais is a must see destination for any photog on holiday. The last time I visited, there were innumerable used Minolta lenses (as well as Nikon, Canon etc) - http://www.photographe-professionnel.fr/magasins-vente-location-photo.ht...

Since you are starting out - stick with the current zoom for bit, to learn the camera. But, when you are ready, you may consider adding to your repertoire - you might consider one (or all) of these three 50mm 2.8 macro, 50mm 1.4, and/or and a Wide Angle; either the Sigma 10-20 or a Tamron/Sony/Minolta 11-18. (I picked up a Minolta 11-18 from a store on BD Beaumarchais, ODEON PHOTO )

That should hold you for a bit; until you realize you've become a lens addict. If that happens to you, and if you are married then know that the total costs for every lens is twice it's retail price.

Here is why I say this.
If you are newly addicted to lenses, you might actually be tempted to tell your wife the following statement: "We shouldn't go out to dinner anytime soon, because I want to save for a new lens." That is not a good idea.

Just note, if you try this approach, the glaring look that you'll receive from your wife is not a look of admiration-because-you-are-fiscally-responsible. No, that glaring look that you're receiving from your wife is the look that says: You DO have a mistress and her name is Alpha!

Instead, from now on, resign yourself to extra dinners out, more flowers, and a couple of gifts for every lens you're considering. So, that lens that's on sale for 200 EUR - know that it'll really cost you 400 EUR - lenses that cost 350 EUR...700 EUR and so forth.

Also, retrain yourself to opening car doors for her. Do not ever get into the car first because you'll become tempted to strap your camera gear into the passenger seat - That is a bad idea, too. If you do that, you will be receiving some more of those glaring looks. To be clear, these glaring looks do not say: I admire you because you are a good steward of the things you own. Instead, these glaring looks might be conveying the 'loving' message of: Try that again and I will wrap this Smart Car around your head.

Enjoy your new camera.