Can anyone recommend this camera setup... Sony a200, the lens is 75-300mm.

I am thinking to get an slr and I need to do some indoor shots in the next month or so and thought I possibly should get one and make use of it for this purpose.

I know nothing much about cameras, a friend has this camera and recently took several photos of me and family and emailed me the photos. I would have to say the shots were excellent and very clear and these were zoomed shots from some distance away.

Anyway, I was impressed and also wondering the cost.

Second enquiry, for indoor modelling shots, very amateurish, I will be shooting indoors in a very well naturally lit house. Do I need to use extra lighting like you see with the unbrella and a bright light. If so what is a cheap and quick rigged up version of this as I will not be doing this very often and do not wish to buy expensive equipment for just a couple of days a year. Also need to do some night shots indoors.

You will probably find the lens is too long for indoor work.

75-300mm is good as a telephoto for distance shots.

I wonder why your friend is selling the camera, as it only came out at the start of 2008??

Also I wonder what happened to the 18-70mm lens supplied with the camera.....

That would be better for your indoor work.

I suggest you ask more questions and do some additional research before jumping in.

See http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08010701sonydslra200.asp for the review and price.

In a well lit room the built in flash may provide enough fill in for your needs

Thanks for the reply.

I did not realise it was such a new model, my friend is not selling it, she just happened to have this camera and took photos of us and when I saw the result of them I was impressed.

I presume she still has the smaller lens and yes I would be looking at getting them both.

But I think I do not need the latest model, nor the probable attached new model price.

Any recommendations on what is a very good last years model camera for general use that takes great photos ?

Look at the Canon 400D.