Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 review

[honoratkarl]

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Product Description

Sony Alpha DSLR

Change the way you shoot pictures with Sony's new Translucent Mirror Technology DSLR camera. The SLT-A55V Alpha DSLR camera features professional-grade continuous shooting at 10 fps and visibly faster, more accurate focus in Live View and HD Movie modes. Compose your shots on either the LCD monitor or electronic viewfinder with ...

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[rml695]

I'm very curious how the A77 will do as this camera's successor. One thing I'm unsure about is this translucent mirror technology. However, on paper, it sounds like the A77 is one heck of a package. It'll be interesting to see how it does in practice.

[SaulTiberiusNads]

Great review, Gordon! I have this camera and I can't fault it :)

[THEDEXTROUS]

I'm a beginner and I have this camera, and I'm going to 70 - 200mm G lens

[rhddrifter86]

WTF are all you NIKON fanboys talking about? You do know that SONY supplies the image sensors to nikon. THEY USE THE SAME SENSORS!

[SaulTiberiusNads]

A very fair review. I like Gordon Laing - he's a top bloke! I'm thinking of getting the A700, you know. At the moment I have the A200 and it's a great little camera for the money. Toodle-pip. Nads :)

[vh280495]

Hey, visit Cameralabs(.com) it's a great forum!

[LuisAugusto2]

I'm talking about the body itself, and canon is a liar, some of their USM models are slower than screw drive lenses, they are only less noisy.

But, yes, Sony SSM is barely used now, tough the new lenses are starting to use it (like the 70-300 G, which isn't too expensive)

[anticimexxx]

-They are building still black tele-lenses even if some pro´s have heat problems with this black coatings, pure cussedness.

-They have „pro" lenses with an useless open apperture performance and selling this lenses overprice.

.....

So tell me, why is nikon doing the best job at the moment?

[pdf101]

D3, D300

tell me which cam has got better AF (which you can 100% rely on) than D3/D300 ?

useless at open apreture...

what lens are you talking about?

70-200 2.8 VR (?), 200-400 f/4 (?) or maybe 600 f/4 ???

[anticimexxx]

get lost boy, you are no discussion worth

[pdf101]

oh, am I not?

I'ts just you not having

any evidence to prove your anguments...

[LuisAugusto2]

Well, in regard of the focusing speed, the A700 is faster than both Canon 40D and D300

[pdf101]

I have no idea,

even is it does canon and nikona hace got more

USM/SWM at NORMAL price...

[anticimexxx]

And to answer your question, nikon does nothing more than to pretend, this was always so.

-First they said no to FF because of the APS-C advantage, now they have one FF body with an pixel antvatage of 0 pixels compared to the d2x(s). Pixels don't matters you say? They do, i do a lot of crop work (many pros do that), and i dont want to carry a 400 f2.8 or 500 f4 arround whent it´s hot outside, more pixels, more crops and less big lenses.

[pdf101]

+more noise

[anticimexxx]

haha :)

Yes, in your head.

[ATonetwothree]

Can you do a review on the Sony 50mm F/1.4?

I am really wanting to purchase it but I have no money.

[cameralabs]

Sorry, I have no immediate plans to test this lens, but you can see some resolution results from it in our 10 Mpixel group test at the cameralabs website.

[rilobest]

what about night focusing? the same annoying flashes before focusing and shoot the picture?

[MilesB1975]

I prefer the A700 all-round over my Nikon D-200.

[MilesB1975]

The Kit Lenses are Sony made, there is a huge range of lenses for this camera, including Zeiss ones if you prefer top-shelf glass.

[nicktabus1000]

i think the only reason somebody would by this is because they have minolta lenses

[anticimexxx]

Idiot!

Sony Is Doing the Best Job at the moment.

[pdf101]

I don't agree with you,

tell me which sony camera beats the D300 or D3 ?

[anticimexxx]

I woked a long time with Canon, Nikon and Olympus. I also know the D300 and D3, and yes, the Alpha 700 is better than the D300, and i think the A900 will be better than the D3.

You are a typical Nikon Photographer, aren't you? You dont know the other Cameras and Lenses but anyhow you think that Nikon is doint the best job, correct?

[pdf101]

no, you're not ;)

i'm pentaxian,

but I still think that Nikon does the best job

at the moment...

[anticimexxx]

Do you remember the old analog minolta times? With the Alpha System, i feel like back in this times, and this (i dont know if YOU know how great minolta was) makes me more than just an optimist, for the first time after the dynax/maxxum 7/9 era, photography makes me smile and love my job again.

[qwe1231]

This from a guy who videoed the unpacking of his XTi. Rofl.

[hanzakbar]

a Toy a very very expensive Toy..

Sony claims that the actual lens is made by Tamaron. hmm i wonder why not CARL ZEISS.

Anyways, Gordon i totally forgot my username and password for the Website and i cant fill the form out forgot your password as i dont remember my username? i needed reviews and ask some photographers in forms so any suggestions?

[moluscon]

I think the most important question, at least to me... how does this compare with nikon d300... sony vs nikon?

what would you recomend?

[cameralabs]

You'll have to wait for our D300 review!

[hanzakbar]

Sony vs Nikon. lol

Nikon from the past i dont know how many years had been taking CCD sensors from Nikon. That is what Nikon Claimed until they introduced D200

Shocked?

[hanzakbar]

from sony**

[revowithin]

if u can afford a700... go for it

[poy78]

Hi Gordon! I'm new to digital photography and planning to have my dslr next month. I'm considering a100 or a700. I need a camera which I can grow with considering that I'm planning to focus on documentary photography and photojournalism. Between these two, which one would you recommend for me and what lenses are essential for these fields? I need your help...

[cameralabs]

Hi poy78, it depends on your budget and what features you want - and which you prefer the look and feel of. We've got quite a few A100 owners and A700 fans on the Cameralabs forum if you fancy joining and asking there about bodies and lenses...

[hanzakbar]

Hi Gordon,  Correct me if i am wrong, Sony DSLR takes the Minolta lenses aren't they? i am not very aware of the old Minolta lenses, Does the problem as of the Nikon D40x (as they can not take the old lenses due to the auto focus problem) does it apply on one of the Sony ones?

[cameralabs]

The limitation with the Nikon is because the D40(x) doesn't have a built-in focusing motor for older lenses. The A700 does have a built-in focusing motor and should work with Minolta AF lenses, but you should still check for compatibility with specific models if they're important to you.

[barryfitzgerald29]

Hi Gordon, just to come back on that one aka NR.

I did notice some mention of it, and a jpeg v raw test shot. What I meant in particular was pre applied NR to RAW, very noticeable at high ISO mostly. I know I have been pretty outspoken on this issue (lol)

Had I been a reviewer, I would have been tempted to punish it for that a bit. After all, RAW is of not that much use if noise processing has already taken place. Just my own take on that one.

[cameralabs]

Good point Barry. As you know Sony makes a big deal about applying NR early on in the signal chain on the A700 and pitches this as a benefit. However if you can't access the RAW data without NR applied, then you are limited in what you can do later - especially as they seem to be up to their watercolour tricks again. I'll look into it and update the review with any findings.

[b0bd0le]

lens price for the alpha system is so ridiculous

$2000 for a 70-200mm 2.8f NON IS

[wowiejunior]

i really don't fin sony DSLR appealing, im so loyal to canon

[barryfitzgerald29]

I have to wonder why there is no mention of noise reduction in the review, esp RAW NR. Pretty important issue for many of us.

[cameralabs]

Hi Barry, I've published some RAW conversions made with Sony's software and ACR in our Outdoor and Studio resolution results pages on the Cameralabs website. Sony's RAW software does allow you to adjust various aspects of the NR on RAW files, but I wasn't impressed with the overall quality of its output. Others may have more mileage with it though.

[cameralabs]

PS - note, the RAW conversions we published were at 100 ISO. I believe ACR may not do such a good job with the A700's RAW files at higher ISOs.

[CanOfSpam]

Erm, seems like you editet in some parts from the preview. Got a massive feeling of deja vu.

Personally I didnt like the Sony. And whats funny is every review brags about the screen... Thats fine and all, but personally I like my 40d and its focus functions.

But Sony will be a "serious" competitor after 4-5 more models I think. But I dont like there "gadjet" feel. And not to mention the Sony curse...it will most likley break after the warrenty goes out...haha!

[cameralabs]

Hi CanOfSpam - I mentioned below that the first seven minutes were taken from the preview video! Hope you found the new verdict useful though...

[cameralabs]

Hello! Please note this video has the same first 7 minutes as our earlier preview, but as promised now includes a new verdict of a final production model. You can also find full results for this camera against the EOS 40D and EOS 5D at the Cameralabs website.