Sony Alpha A700
(The Sony Alpha A700 currently typically sells for less than $1400)
The Sony A700 is the flagship of Sony’s D-SLR line, and it’s not half shabby. One of the fabulous and much-lauded features is its HDMI output, giving you full high-def pictures on your TV - no doubt tying in with the now-famous Sony Bravia advertisements. It may or may not be a gimmick, depending on how often you use your camera to show images on a big screen, but, hell, it’s kind of an obvious one: even 1080p screens only show about 2 megapixels, so why do most video out solutions show only a tiny bit of your photo, and in terrible resolution to boot? It ain’t pretty.
Beside from being export-happy when it comes to its display, the LCD screen built in to the camera body is one of the best ones we’ve ever seen on a digital camera. Overall, though, the A700 is detracted points for build quality.
Stuff.tv:
“the A700 doesn’t feel anywhere near as solid as competitors like the virtually bombproof Olympus E-3 or Canon EOS 40D” (full review)
Trusted Reviews:
“I’d say that both Nikon and Canon have good reason to be worried. The A700 is an extremely impressive camera both in the flesh and on paper” (full review)
Camera Labs:
“Like most new DSLRs, Sony’s made the jump in screen size to 3in, but fitted the A700 with a super high resolution model sporting 640×480 resolution which is four times finer than typical 230k screens.” (full review)
DP Review:
“On the negative side there are some quirky design decisions which may or may not affect you” (full review)
DC Resource:
“If you’ve got a bunch of Minolta lenses waiting for a capable body to attach themselves to, then this is your camera. Even if you don’t, the DSLR-A700 is a very good midrange D-SLR that should definitely be considered.” (full review)
Made up your mind to buy the Sony Alpha A700?
The links below take you directly to the Sony Alpha A700 page of the retailers, and will help to find you the very hottest deals out there!
here
May 11th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I had a Minolta Stsi for my first camera and a few Minolta lenses, so when I looked into buying a D-SLR the A-100 was one of the first that I looked at. I waited almost a year for the A-700 to come out and I am glad that I did. I am absolutely in love with this camera, I have had no problems with it what-so-ever, and the picture quality is amazing. My uncle always comments on how it isn’t a Canon, (he got the 40D around the same time I got the A-700) but I think it is at least the same quality if not better. (We swapped cameras a bunch when we hung out after Christmas). If you are looking in this price range I highly recommend this camera. Especially if you have Minolta lenses.