DSLRs - anyone know anything about the Sony Alpha A200?

Hiya, thought I'd ask you lot as there seems to be a lot of knowledgeable people over here...

I'm looking into getting a DSLR this spring and having done a bit of basic research, one of the cameras I like the look (and the price) of is the Sony Alpha A200 (hopefully its not got a different name in different countries ...)

Has anyone got one? Looked into buying and decided on something different? Anything else?

Thanks

Jude

I don't have one (I'm a Canon girl myself) but a good friend of mine has the Sony A100 dSLR and loves it. She got it about 8 months before I got my XTi and I played around with her camera several times and it is a good camera, it was very easy to use. So I would assume the A200 is just as good or better, but if you can you should really go to an actual camera or electronics store that carries the different camera bodies and hold each one and see how they feel in your hand.

Again, secondhand knowledge here (I have a Canon), but there is a guy in my photo class who has one and is always telling us how superior his sony is (ie: iso up to 6400, etc). It is kind of annoying in class, but it sure does make that camera sound good!

Thanks - good to hear that someone likes the Sonys - I've had a bit of a play with this particular camera in the Sony centre and I will go to our local camera store and browse soon. I'm trying to get info so they don't try to con me too much! A friend of mine has a canon and one thing I was really impressed with about the Sony is how light it is in comparison - there's no way I could lug his canon around on top of all my kids stuff.

Which I have to giggle at, because the reason I went wtih Nikon over Canon is that the Nikon was a bit heavier/more substantial than the Canon was. I feel better with a slightly heavier camera in my hands.

It's all personal preference though

My Canon body isn't too heavy at all, especially with just my lil 50mm lens on there (which I like). But I just got an external flash and a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens and with both of those on there that baby is SO much heavier now! It's definitely going to take some getting used to! So really it depends on the lenses and the accessories you add to it that increases the weight, but you definitely want what feels the best to you

Ok, so I took the plunge ... I am now a DLSR owner

So, anyone wanna tell me how to use it ??!