I was delighted with it and even managed to get an adapter from Russia which would allow me to use my old Minolta lenses.
While it took me a bit of time to get used to the various settings I had fun experimenting with the various lenses and filters that I had accumulated over the years for my Minolta manual cameras.
In December I was happily taking photos of lightning with the camera perched on a tripod and running 30 sec exposures to get the maximum amount of lightning recorded.
WONDERFUL!!!!!
I turned my back for a second and the wind blew the camera on tripod over. The edge of the LCD screen cracked. DAMN!
Next day I took the camera to my local camera fixit man and he looked at it and said he could not get the part. SONY would not supply part.
I then emailed SONY South Africa to ask for assistance. This was their reply:
Kindly be advised that as Sony S.A we do not carry parts and spares therefore you will have to speak to Rectron as they are an authorized service agent for Alpha cameras.
Not quite what I wanted to hear. So I duly contacted Rectron and then because the answer was unfavourable I again contacted Sony with the following:
Last night while taking photos of lightning, my Sony alpha 330, on a tripod was blown over. The LCD screen has been damaged and I have been told by your call agent to phone Rectron, who I understand are your repair services. They have informed me that I will have to bring the camera into them and they will then give me an estimate of the cost. Their time cost of R600 per hour is exorbitant. I only bought this camera because I was told it was the only camera that could take my old manual Minolta lenses with an adapter. I have since discovered that this was a false statement made by the salesperson. Added to this the adapter that was sold to me at the time of purchase was incorrect and did not have a correcting lens so it could only convert my telephoto lenses into macro lenses. I have since purchased the correct lens adapter from Russia which works perfectly. Now, if I am to carry on using this camera I will need to buy the LCD screen, which I will fit myself. Rectron refuses to supply so I would like to ask you at Sony to supply me with the LCD screen.
The answer was:
Kindly be advised that as Sony S.A we do not carry parts and spares therefore you will have to speak to Rectron as they are an authorized service agent for Alpha cameras.
What a load of codswallop. My reply to them was:
Thank you for the lack of information. I will either dump the camera at the nearest camera shop OR I will purchase the part on line for R122.57 plus postage and fix it myself.
I find your lack of assistance atrocious and will never purchase another Sony product.
They didn't even bother to reply to me so I will obtain an LCD screen for the amount of $21.99 from Amazon.com!! South African price: R229.39 plus postage of R39.02!!!
How difficult is it to use a screwdriver which is supplied? There is even an 8 minute youtube instruction video. Granted it is in German but one can follow the video without the sound.
How can Rectron and Sony justify their existence if they are going to charge R600 plus for five minutes work?
The next camera I purchase will be a Canon and I can get an adapter for the Minolta lenses from my Russian source.
I eventually received the part and had it put in by my local camera guy for the sum of R200. Camera works wonderfully now and I didn't have to drive to Rectron.
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