SONY alpha700 dslr
A700
ALL ABOUT SONY A700 DSLR
IRANSPHOTO.COM
It's been almost two years since Konica Minolta pulled out of the photo business and transferred its entire camera division to Sony, and well over a year since the first Sony DSLR (the DSLR-A100) was announced. Two years is a long time in the digital SLR market, but the three years Minolta (latterly Konica Minolta, now Sony) SLR users have been waiting for a high end model to replace the innovative Maxxum (Dynax) 7D must have felt like a lifetime. But, finally, it's here, and it looks very much like the mockup shown earlier in the year.
Like the A100, the new camera still wears its Konica Minolta heritage very much on its sleeve, and when you start to look a little more closely at the specification it's obvious that there's still an awful lot of Konica Minolta DNA in the A700. This is hardly surprising given that the circumstances behind its development.
And, just as the A100 was obviously based on - and designed to be a successor to - the KM 5D, the A700 follows on from the 7D, and - despite lots of Sony touches and an attractive new design - 7D users are likely to find using the new model reassuringly familiar.
But of course Sony doesn't only have existing system users in its cross hairs; the A700 is designed to go head to head with the latest 'prosumer' models from Nikon, Canon and Pentax. Whether the A700 offers enough to really put Sony on the DSLR map will be decided when we get to look properly at the image quality, but on specification, features and handling it certainly seems to have what it takes to play with the big boys.
Interestingly the one thing the A700 doesn't have is any form of live view; when we spoke to Sony about this the answer was simple; they believe that the compromises involved in current systems are satisfactory, and they won't implement live view until they can 'get it right'. Whether the lack of live view has any real relevance in a camera at this level remains to be seen; we doubt it.
The A700 shares many technologies with earlier Konica Minolta models (including, naturally, the lens mount), plus all those introduced in the A100 - though virtually all have been uprated or upgraded in one way or another (we've been told the A100 and A700 share virtually no components). From the sensor to the construction of the body to the GUI to the extensive feature set, this is a very different camera to the entry-level A100 (more of which later in this review). We'll start by looking at what's specifically new to this model:
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Express your creativity and shoot like a pro. The Sony α (alpha) DSLR-A700 is the perfect DSLR for serious amateurs—with 12.24 megapixel resolution to capture the full imaging precision of Sony zoom lenses, Carl Zeiss® lenses and legacy Minolta a-mount lenses. Quick response, creative style modes and high-speed shooting help you capture your creative vision, while Super SteadyShot® image stabilization conveniently works with every lens. For improved picture quality and reduced blur, the Eye-Start® Autofocus system uses an 11-point center twin-cross AF sensor for phenomenal results. All of this combined with Sony's innovative Anti-Dust Technology and a rugged magnesium alloy body and you have the ultimate DSLR for serious photo enthusiasts and amateurs alike.
12.24 MP Exmor™ Imaging Sensor
A newly designed APS-C size CMOS imager with on-chip noise-canceling before and after A/D conversion provides over 12 million pixels, drawing out the full image description power of the α (alpha) DSLR-A700’s high-performance lenses and providing spectacular detail for making big prints. Advanced on-sensor A/D conversion yields rich tonal reproduction with high signal-to-noise ratio.
Professional Lenses and Accessories
The α (alpha) DSLR-A700 accepts a superb array of precision optics, including new Sony wide-aperture zoom lenses that perform brilliantly over a broad range of focal lengths, Sony "G" Series lenses with advanced motorized autofocusing, amazingly bright Carl Zeiss® T coated lenses, and over 16 million Minolta a-mount lenses sold worldwide -- plus professional-quality flash units and system accessories to expand your creative horizons.
Super SteadyShot® Image Stabilization
Built-in technology moves the image sensor in response to camera shake, enabling every lens to benefit from automatic blur reduction -- and provides an advantage of up to 4.0 shutter speed steps to sharpen images in lower light, for hand-held shots that would normally require a tripod.
Bionz™ Image Processor
At the heart of the α (alpha) DSLR-A700 DSLR camera is the advanced Sony Bionz™ Image Processor, using hardware-based Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuitry that improves camera response time, screens out noise before RAW data conversion, handles Dynamic Range Optimization processing and prolongs battery life.
Dynamic Range Optimizer
To recover details in dark or bright areas of the picture, the α (alpha) DSLR-A700 provides multiple levels of Dynamic Range Optimization: Standard mode, to improve shadow detail using standard gamma curves; Advanced Auto mode, allowing you to select any of 5 DRO correction levels, or DRO Advanced Bracketing, that automatically takes three shots at different DRO levels with a single shutter press.
Continuous 5 Frames-Per-Second Advance at 12.24 MP
The high-speed processing power of its Bionz™ engine, a quick-response coreless motor to drive the shutter, and dual mirror stoppers to prevent mirror bounce -- they all enable the α (alpha) DSLR-A700 to capture action more effectively at either 5 or 3 frames per second, even shooting at full 12.24 MP resolution. You can also shoot continuously to the limit of available memory in JPEG Fine and Standard modes.
Advanced Pentaprism Viewfinder
With a bright focusing matte, an optical glass prism and glass lenses that prevent ghosts inside the finder, the α (alpha) DSLR-A700’s viewfinder image makes it easier to see your subject, compose your shot and adjust focus manually.
Eye-Start® Autofocus System
The α (alpha) DSLR-A700 begins its precision autofocus adjustments the moment you bring your eye to the viewfinder -- so you’ll be ready to catch the perfect moment.
11-Point Center Dual Cross AF Sensor
A newly developed Sony AutoFocus system with a large f2.8 sensor improves your ability to frame the subject and capture moving subjects with greater focusing precision -- and a focus drive clutch lets you switch seamlessly between auto and manual focusing by pressing a simple button.
Super-Accurate Exposure Control
A 40-segment honeycomb sensing system provides multi-pattern measuring for superior exposure control accuracy in a wide range of lighting conditions.
Simple Camera Control Menus
Even with all its high-tech features, the α (alpha) DSLR-A700 is amazingly simple to operate -- and a quick press of the Function (Fn) button switches the LCD display from standard menu information to a new Quick Navigation screen for camera setup via joystick and forward-back controls. The menus are easy and intuitive -- and memory function lets you save and recall personalized camera settings.
Creative Custom Settings
The α (alpha) DSLR-A700 is designed to bring out your creativity with a wide range of auto preference settings, including four basic image styles (Standard, Vivid, Neutral and Adobe RGB) and three style-box memory settings for quick setup in special events like weddings and competitive sports.
Easy-to-Use Exposure Mode Dial
The α (alpha) DSLR-A700’s top-mounted dial gives you quick access to Program Auto, Aperture priority, Shutter-speed priority, Manual and full Auto exposure setting modes -- as well as six scene selection modes that optimize camera focus, exposure, brightness, contrast and other settings for Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset and Night View/Portrait scenes.
Quick Setting Recall
The "C" button allows you to make changes more quickly by calling up Creative Style settings, Exposure compensation, Flash compensation and many more operating modes and camera functions.
Stamina® Power
To give you confidence for long shootng sessions in the field, the α (alpha) DSLR-A700 can take up to 650 shots3 on a fully charged NP-FM500H InfoLithium® battery -- with indication in percentage of about how much battery power remains.
Built-In Flash
The α (alpha) DSLR-A700 flip-up flash covers a wide focal range, synchronizes at 1/250 sec., supports red-eye reduction and slow flash features as well as manual flash mode to set flash intensity. A wireless flash signal is available for external flash synchronization.
Anti-Dust Technology
Changing lenses in a DSLR can allow dust to enter the camera -- so to help keep the CMOS imager cleaner for better pictures, the α (alpha) DSLR-A700 utilizes both static-free anti-dust coating on the imager's filter and anti-dust vibration that automatically shakes the sensor to dislodge dust each time the camera is shut off.
Rugged Magnesium Alloy Body
The α (alpha) DSLR-A700 is built to very high standards of durability and performance -- so you can shoot on location in difficult conditions with confidence that your equipment can handle the challenge.
Xtra Fine™ 3.0"1 LCD Screen with 921k Pixels
With almost 1 MP performance, it’s like having a high-resolution photo viewer built into your camera -- and the α (alpha) DSLR-A700’s amazing photo-quality screen displays sharp, bright images even outdoors with a wide viewing angle so you can share photos more easily.
PhotoTV HD Viewing with HDMI™ Output2
The α (alpha) DSLR-A700 provides direct HDMI™ output to your Bravia® HDTV and other compatible HDTV screens, so you can view and share photos in breathtaking clarity and detail. You can choose between standard 3:2 and widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio -- and with new Bravia® HDTV models, photos are automatically optimized in sharpness, gradation and color reproduction for HD display.
Wireless Remote Control
For shooting as well as viewing convenience, Sony supplies a multi-function wireless remote control with the α (alpha) DSLR-A700 -- allowing you to control HDTV photo viewing and trip the shutter by remote to put yourself in the picture.
Versatile Recording Formats
Images can be captured in RAW, cRAW (optimized for fast action), RAW+JPEG and three JPEG modes (Extra Fine, Fine and Standard), for greater versatility in every digital photo application.
