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Sony's Alpha line of cameras and lenses is built on the legacy of
the Minolta system, although Sony is relatively new to the world of
DSLRs. The Sony Alpha A700 (12 MP), appears to be the
logical successor to the Minolta Maxxum 7D, a high-end prosumer
DSLR. The most obvious current competitors are the Nikon D300 (12 MP)
and the Canon EOS 40D (10 MP).
A notable and very useful feature is the in-body
stabilization system of Sony Alpha DSLR cameras, which both Canon and
Nikon DSLRs lack. The system effectively converts any compatible
Dynax/Maxxum/Alpha lens from Minolta or Konica Minolta into image
stabilized lenses by moving the sensor slightly to compensate for the
movement of the image, rather then moving the image via the lens, as
both Nikon (VR) and Canon (IS) have chosen to do. The obvious
advantage of in-body stabilization is that it works with all lenses
and you only have to pay for it once. The Nikon and Canon systems have
the advantage that they stabilize the image in the viewfinder as well
as on the sensor, which makes image capturing a little easier, but the
disadvantage is that you have to pay for it in each lens. The best of
both worlds would be a system with both body and lens stabilization,
giving the user the freedom to chose which system to use, though I
suspect that may be a long time coming from both Nikon and
Canon. Pentax has also chosen "in-body" stabilization.
The Sony Alpha A700 is priced at $1400, landing between the Canon
EOS 40D ($1299) and the Nikon D300 ($1799). It does lack the "live view"
system, which is present on both the D300 and 40D. It has a slower
maximum frame rate (5fps) than either the EOS 40D (6.5fps) or the D300
(6/8fps). Both the Canon and Nikon DSLRs use a 14-bit A/d conversion
system. Sony hasn't yet published details on the A/D converter in the
Alpha A700, but I suspect it's 12-bits or they would probably have
commented on it.
You can preorder the Sony Alpha A700 at amazon.com and help to support photo.net.
Here's what Sony has to say about the new Alpha A700 DSLR:
SONY’S NEW D-SLR CAMERA SETS HIGH PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 5, 2007 — Sony is expanding
its a (Alpha) digital SLR system with the
introduction of the DSLR-A700
camera, which is aimed at photo enthusiasts or serious photo
hobbyists.
The new model features advanced imaging technologies and
ultra-responsive operation, as
well as a lightweight, dust- and moisture-resistant, magnesium alloy
construction common
to enthusiast-class D-SLR cameras.
Like Sony’s mainstream DSLR-A100 model, the new A700 unit
incorporates Super
SteadyShot Inside image stabilization in the camera body and is
compatible with most
Minolta Maxxum mount lenses in addition to Sony lenses.
"Discerning photo enthusiasts will be impressed with the
rugged construction and
outstanding performance of the A700, said Phil Lubell, director of
marketing for digital
cameras at Sony Electronics. "We also expect that this new camera
will re-define the
post-capture experience with HDMI™ output for high-quality
playback of images on
high-definition televisions."
Picture Quality
The camera’s new 12.2-megapixel Exmor™ CMOS sensor
conducts analog-to-digital
(A/D) signal conversion and dual noise reduction right on the sensor
itself. Noise
reduction is applied to analog signals before A/D conversion and the
resulting digital
signals are then subject to a second round of noise reduction.
According to Lubell, "These digital signals are virtually
immune to external noise
and interference."
Clean, noise-free digital signals are then sent to the newly
developed BIONZ™
processing engine. Lubell said this engine has been optimized to
process data-rich picture
information at high speeds, and to reduce picture noise in the RAW
data stage before final
image compression and encoding. The results are high-resolution,
detailed images with rich
tonal reproduction.
Extraordinary Responsiveness
The A700 camera is engineered to be fast and ultra-responsive so as
to become "a
virtual extension of your own senses," Lubell said,
"capturing fleeting moments
as you see them."
A newly developed, auto-focus system features 11 wide-area sensors,
including a center
dual cross sensor comprised of two horizontal and two vertical line
sensors for
exceptional AF precision. An F2.8 line sensor leverages the brightness
of fast aperture
lenses for even greater precision. Lubell said that extraordinary
focusing speed has been
realized through improved algorithms and a high-torque focusing drive
motor.
The large, bright, viewfinder uses a precision-ground optical glass
pentaprism and a
high refractive index eyepiece lens to provide 0.9x viewfinder
magnification and 95
percent frame coverage. Manual focusing is aided by an interchangeable
spherical acute
matte focusing screen.
The camera has a high-performance vertical traverse shutter with a
maximum shutter
speed of 1/8,000th of a second to freeze fast-moving
action. A high-power
coreless motor charges the shutter and mirror mechanism, allowing
continuous shooting at
up to five frames per second. In JPEG fine or standard mode,
continuous shooting is
limited only by the capacity of the media card (sold separately),
while up to 18 frames
can be captured in RAW.
Expanded Creativity
The new camera features fourteen creative styles, including night
view, autumn leaves
or vivid, which can be selected to enhance images. These effects can
then be fine-tuned by
customizing contrast, sharpness, zone matching and other
parameters.
Sony’s Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO) function has been updated
on this model so
users can choose the desired level of detail recovered in areas of
shadow. The advanced
mode offers the option of five levels of user selectable
correction. Additionally, DRO
bracketing creates three images from a single capture with three
different levels of DRO.
There is an extensive array of customization options to personalize
the camera to match
shooting styles. The unit’s quick navigation interface can be
accessed instantly with
the four-way multi-selector, and selected parameters can be adjusted
directly by control
dials.
Up to 28 camera settings can be stored in one of three user
memories for instant
recall. The unit’s custom function button can be assigned to 15
frequently-accessed
functions.
With the supplied remote capture application, the camera can be
controlled from a
compatible PC via USB without even touching the camera, and files can
be stored on the
computer instead of the media card.
High-Quality Pictures on an HDTV
The A700 model features an HDMI output for connection to HDTV sets,
putting a
high-resolution spin on the conventional photo slideshow.
When connected to a Sony BRAVIA LCD HD television, photos are
optimized for viewing
with the new "PhotoTV HD" mode. This mode brings the look of
actual printed
photography to the television, reproducing high-quality digital photos
by fine-tuning such
image parameters as sharpness, gradation and color specifically for
photographs.
The exceptional viewing experience of this camera also extends to
viewing photos on its
3-inch LCD screen. The screen’s size and ultra-sharp resolution
(921K) makes it
possible to check focus and image quality with much greater
accuracy.
A Flexible System
The camera will be introduced with two new lenses, bringing
Sony’s lens and
teleconverter catalog up to 23 models. Supplied as a standard kit
lens, the new DT 16-105
mm f.3.5 – 5.6 lens features a distinctive zoom range (35mm
equivalency of 24 –
157.5 mm); compact, lightweight design; and internal focusing. The
other addition is a
powerful and compact high-magnification DT 18 – 250 mm f3.5
– 6.3 lens. Sony is
also planning to introduce a specialty 70 -300 mm f4.5 – 5.6 SSM
G telephoto lens
featuring super sonic wave motor auto focus drive system for smooth
auto focusing in
Spring 2008.
Sony’s full line of accessories will also expand to include a
new vertical grip.
Equipped with buttons and switches for the most essential control
functions, it offers the
same ease of operation and handling as when shooting vertically. It
houses two
InfoLithium batteries (sold separately), which will automatically
switch to the second
battery when the first one runs out. Remaining charges of both
batteries are displayed on
the camera’s LCD screen.
Memory That Keeps Up With The Camera
The model also features separate slots for Memory Stick Duo™
media cards
compatible with the Memory Stick PRO-HG™ high-speed data transfer
standard, as well
as CompactFlash™ Type I/II media cards compatible with the new
Ultra Direct Memory
Access standard for up to 300x write speeds. Sony is also
introducing new 300x high-speed CompactFlash™
memory cards, ideal for
high-end photographers requiring fast write speeds. The new
models, available in
2GB or 8GB capacity, expand Sony’s current line of
CompactFlash cards that also
include 66X and 133X speeds, with capacities ranging from 1GB to
4GB.
The DSLR-A700 camera body, DT 16 – 105 mm lens, and DT 18-250
mm lens will be
available for about $1,400, $580 and $550, respectively. The
DSLR-A700K kit with an 18-70
mm lens will be available for about $1,500, and the DSLR-A700P kit
with the 16-105 mm lens
will be available for about $1,900. The camera body and DSLR-A700K kit
will ship in
October and the DSLR-A700P kit in November. All will be available at
sonystyle.com, Sony
Style retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), at military base
exchanges, and at
authorized dealers nationwide.
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 a (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 a (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 a (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 a
(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 a (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 a (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 a (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 a (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 a (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 a (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 shooting sessions in the field, the
a (alpha) DSLR-A700
can take up to 650 shots on a fully charged NP-FM500H InfoLithium
battery -- with
indication in percentage of about how much battery power remains.
Built-In Flash
The a (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 a (alpha) DSLR-A700
utilizes both static-free
anti-dust coating on the CCD filter and anti-dust vibration that
automatically shakes the
CCD to dislodge dust each time the camera is shut off.
Rugged Magnesium Alloy Body
The a (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.
XtraFine™ 3.0”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 a (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™ Output
The a (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 a (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.
Powerful Supplied Software
The a (alpha) DSLR-A700 comes with a powerful RAW conversion and
image management
system and newly developed RAW software that gives you the power to
handle large volumes
of RAW data while taking full advantage of the sophisticated imaging
capabilities of the a
(alpha) DSLR-A700.
Dual Media Options
For image capture with optional media you may already own, the a
(alpha) DSLR-A700 has
built-in slots for both CompactFlash™ Type I/II media and Memory
Stick Duo™
media or high-capacity Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media.
Sony A700 Specifications
Imaging Device
12.24 (effective) APS Exmor™ Sensor; 23.5 x 15.6 mm; RGB
primary color filter
Megapixel
12.24 MP
Bionz™ Engine
Yes w/ Dynamic Range Optimizer. DRO Modes include Off, Standard,
Advanced Auto, Advanced
Manual, Advanced 3-frame bracketing. Advanced Manual include 5
adjustable levels.
LCD
3.0" TFT (921k pixels) LCD with Clear Photo™ design
Microphone
No/ No
Viewfinder
Optical: TTL, 0.9x, 95% coverage
White Balance
Auto plus 6 Modes (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten,
Fluorescent, Flash); +/- 3-step
adjustable Kelvin temperature control (2500-9900k w/19-step
Magenta/Green compensation.
Self Timer
Yes (10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off)
Burst Mode
Selectable Hi (5 FPS), Lo (3 FPS); JPEG Standard/Fine ?
Unlimited to capacity of media;
JPEG Extra Fine ? 8; cRAW (compressed) ? 24; cRAW+JPEG ? 12; RAW ?
17; RAW+JPEG ? 11.
Color Mode(s)
Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Adobe RGB, Clear, Deep, Light,
Portrait, Landscape, Sunset,
Night view, Autumn, B/W, Sepia (Except for Adobe RGB, all other
color modes use the sRGB
color space)
Red-Eye Reduction
Yes: On/ Off
Memory Stick PRO™ Media Compatibility
Tested to support up to 8GB media capacity; does not support
Access Control security
function
Red-Eye Reduction-2
On/Off (all modes)
Scene Mode(s)
Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Sunset, Night view/portrait
Movie Mode(s)
N/A
AF Illuminator Light
Yes, On/Off Select
Multi-Pattern Measuring
40-segment honeycomb pattern; Multi-segment, Center Weighted,
Spot
Histogram Display
Yes; RGB display; Playback only
Output(s)
Video: Yes, NTSC/PAL Selectable
USB Port(s)
Yes, Supports USB 2.0 Hi-speed
Flash Mode(s)
Manual Pop-up: Auto, Fill-flash, Rear flash sync, Wireless off
camera flash (with Flash
HVL-F56AM, F36AM)
Flash Effective Range
Manual popup; Approx. GN 12 (in meters at ISO 100); Coverage of
up to 16 mm (in focal
length); Approx. 3 sec. recycling time; Flash-ready
indicator.
Shutter Speed
30 ~ 1/8000 sec 55 step, Bulb
Exposure
Manual Exposure: Yes, w/EV indicator
EV Compensation
=+/-3.0 EV, 0.3 EV / 0.5 EV steps selectable
ISO
Auto/160/200/400/800/1600/3200/4000/5000/6400
Lens Type
Interchangeable A mount
Focus
Auto Focus: TTL Phase Detection
Focus-2
Multi-point: 11 Area, 11 Line, 5 center twin-cross lines
Focus-3
Auto Focus Mode: Yes
Focus-4
Wide focus area (Auto, 11 areas), Spot focus area, Local focus
area (11 local areas
selectable)
Image Data Converter SR ver.2.0, Image Data Lightbox SR ver.1.0,
Remote Camera Control
ver.1.0 (all Windows & Macintosh), Picture Motion Browser
Ver.2.1.02 (Windows only).
Operating System Compatibility
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, XP Home and Professional,
Vista; Macintosh OS
X (v 10.1.3 or later). OS must be installed at the factory.
Its a shame that Sony didn't keep Minolta's dual dial on top, but that may be due to the challenges of weather/environmental sealing. I'm looking forward to seeing some images at ISO 1600, 3200 and 6400.
It's too bad they didn't use the same battery. I guess that's a small nitpick though. So they added another slot for Memory Stick media, does this mean automatic backups are possible, like some of the high-end canons?
'Dynamic Range Optimization'...will this be based on the much talked about and used HDR images and required software that are now appearing....as well as the Image Merge in Photoshop?.
yep... same sensor as the nikon d300 and the d3
the image processing is double layered for better noise control... the number 1 gripe of the a100 after frames per second and pc sync
The A700's sensor is not the same as the D300's... the A700's is a 12.2 MP, while Nikon's is 12.3 MP. Besides, as different manufacturers use different firmware and make all kinds of modifications on the sensors they use, I don't think it's correct to say that the A700 and D300 share the same sensor, even if both are made by Sony. Look at the difference in performance between the A100's sensor and Nikon's D80. Both 10 MP Sony CCDs, but the end result is much different.
And the D3 sensor is full frame. Much different from either the D300 or the A700.
I just bought this camera, and I'd have to say it's the best handling DSLR that I've come across, and the noise is very low. It looks like Sony has a real winner, and I'm thankful that all of my Minolta glass has a home (now it's time to buy Sony 70-200 2.8 SSM!)
This review had no experimental results. It was a reprint of the marketing release.
Suspect this camera is a basic point & shoot with interchangeable lenses. It probably has basic 10 bit A/D conversion.
Sony products tend 2 B very poor value covered with a lot of new words like Exmor, Bionz, Bravia, Durabis. There are still people who like Sony's emphasis on symbolism and style on top of basic technology. Suspect we'll see more of this trend as dollars lose value.
Wow, what an asinine blanket statement about Sony. This camera happens to be incredible. Do not forget that Sony makes nearly every DSLR sensor (aside from Canon's.) People unfortunately relate Sony to $90 mp3 players, rather than to the $100,000+ HD/video cameras that nearly every movie on the big screen is filmed with. They've taken over where Minolta left off, and have put pressure on Nikon and Canon in a little over a year. I'd take the A700 over the 40D in a second. Wait, I already did! I can't wait for A900 next. Bring on the 5D killing full-frame!
I agree with Douglas. The A700 is a terrific camera and Sony will likely surprise a lot of people who think it is targeting only the low end market. They are dedicating a lot of resources to building up the professional and serious amateur line of cameras and lenses. The A700 and coming A900 will give Sony a couple of very competitive DSLRs in the marketplace along with the recent Zeiss lenses, new G lenses and more. Building back up the Minolta A mount franchise.
I'm on side with Jeff and Doug. Jack's comments are nonsense. I was a Minolta guy for nearly 40 years and left my Maxum 7 for the 7D two years ago -- and 38,000 pictures ago. Yesterday, I took delivery of the a700 -- clearly the son of 7D, just better -- and am thrilled with the technology in this serious camera that will raise some eyebrows over at Nikon (Sony sensors) and Canon. Hey, N&C make great gear but Sony will do serious battle with the big two with their entry into high-end SLRs. Will Sony ever be N or C? Probably not, but they are in the business of serious camera making.
The a700 is quiet, noise free to 1600, fast to focus and images are crisp.
I am a proud owner of the A700 (have used Minolta since 1985). the A700 is replacing the D7. I am impressed with the fast and quiet image capture, the incredible detail I get in the picture and the capability to use all my Minolta and Sigma lenses.
I definitely agree with Clive, Jeff and Doug. TheA700 is a serious camera and the fact that you don't have to pay Canon/Nikon prices for Image Stabilization lenses is a definite plus.
Sony A700
Would like to have kept the two dials on top. The single dial Aperture looks flimsy it will probably move out of place when taking the camera out of the bag, the Turn on off switch should be on the right side of the camera,is just faster that way one hand ready and for Pet's sake put an Aperture control on the base of the lens Remember the maxxum 4000. The left hand is under use,other wise I like the improvements
Conrado, you've really got to handle this camera. The top dial has been replaced with a much better interface. There are three, oversized buttons on top that are easily accessible with thumbs (and gloves on.) You can assign the rear control wheel to adjust EV compensation, and those that aren't comfortable with all of the buttons can just use the Quick Navi interface that allows you to access all of the functions on the LCD via joystick. This is bar none the best handling camera I've ever used, and it's built like a brick. The aperture dial is very stiff, and doesn't move accidentally, plus you can lock the control wheels when not in use. I'm afraid the real advantage of this camera over its competitors (SSS aside,) the handling, is gonna be overlooked, because so many of the reviewers use Canikon that they are used to the poor ergonomics :( All of the users I've listened to coming from the 7D aren't going back after handling the A700.
I've been with Minolta for two decades, film then digital. Passed on the A100 and was seriously thinking about the big change to Nikon or Canon. Just tried out the A700 and it is so much like my beloved 7D, but better! And I don't have to give up my LCD screen for the inferior design of a top-mountd LED screen -- a big deal since I shoot a lot of performance events in dark concert halls. So I give up the "prestige" of the Canon/Nikon nameplate? (Hey, I drive a Saab!) I'll live with that.
I have been a Minolta user for many years with the 700si, HtsiPlus, M9, and 7D. I passed on the Sony A100 because I didn't feel the jump from the 6MP of the 7D to 10MP of the A100 warranted the $ and I was waiting to see if Sony was serious about making high end cameras. When the 7D came along I was just about to make the jump to Nikon and I thought about it again right before the A100 but decided to wait to see what Sony's next camera would be. Everything I'm reading here on pnet about the A700 is encouraging. I am now trying to decide if I should go ahead and purchase the A700 or wait for what I am reading will be the A900. Can anyone post anything they have heard about the A900?
I hope you don't mind but it's not often I find several knowledgeable Minolta/KM users in one place so I'd like to ask a question.
I truly loved my Minolta and KM cameras. The only issue I have with the 7D is the difficulty I am experiencing with understanding how to use my 5600HS (D) flash. When I have the 7D in P mode (not full auto P), Fill Flash, ADI or Pre-Flash TTL the 5600 on TTL the flash never seems to want to be the main or primary light source. In fact in using the previously described settings the flash does not give the audible signal that the flash used full power. I have to put the flash in M mode and the camera in M or A mode to get the flash to be the main or primary light source. Using these settings the flash does gives the audible signal that the flash fired full power and I then hear the flash powering back up. I hope I have described the situation well enough so that anyone reading this who is willing to respond might be able to give some insight into what is going and whether this is normal behavior for the 5600 and 7D combination or if there is something wrong the equipment or with me.
Hey George, I'm not able to answer your question about the 7D and flash, but I've been using my Sigma 500 flash with the A700, and I haven't had any problems. And, yes, the A700 does have a pc synch socket, as well as the built-in wireless flash.
To be honest, this 30-year Minolta photog would have waited for the D300, had he not been invested in Minolta glass already. It looks like the best of the three new cameras, and Nikon lenses are beyond doubt. That said, I had some A-mount glass already, so the a700 was the logical extension--and now that I have it, I'm very happy I stayed. Actually, my eyes are happy too that they don't have to deal with another small LCD display like on my old Minolta 7000 (or Canikon's newest).
Unfortunately, Rosita Herrick's comment on not having to pay for IS is a bit naive, seeing Sony non-IS lens prices significantly above IS lenses from C or N. But who said high end hobbies are cheap! Now that all ten lenses are at home and paid for, I don't care how much they cost. I do care that the camera they go on every time is a pleasure to use.
PS: George, Sorry, I can't help. I don't use flash. I prefer ISO 6400.
Hey George, there is also a significant minolta presence at www.dyxum.com
Home of the Alpha/dyxum mount
Having handled the a700, witha 300mm 2.8 prime, heh heh. It is defenitely a big step up from the a100. I found it significantly headache free when placed against much of the competition.
Coming over to the A700 from the 7D was very easy and I do not miss the 2nd dial. In comparison the A700 is faster with more accurate exposure than the KM 5D, 7D, and Sony A100. The added shooting modes and color profiles along with DRO give the photographer may options to express themselves. Image quality may be better once adobe fixes ACR, but the includes raw converter does a acceptable job.
Sony A700 video reviews is a good place to pick up some more features.
Problems: raw conversions with 3rd party converters. This should be fixed in the future by the 3rd party software programmers.
FYI there is a detailed review of the A700 at Neocamera, including samples and crops at each ISO. The performance at high-ISO is excellent except at long shutter-speeds. It is still relatively good at long shutter-speeds but images get more softness due to noise-reduction.
"Suspect this camera is a basic point & shoot with interchangeable lenses. It probably has basic 10 bit A/D conversion.
Sony products tend 2 B very poor value covered with a lot of new words like Exmor, Bionz, Bravia, Durabis. There are still people who like Sony's emphasis on symbolism and style on top of basic technology"
I just bought this camera about three months ago. I have had such a great experience with sony products that I thougt I should try the sony A700. Well, I feel that sony has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Several features that I find myself using more than I thought were the remote control, Image stabilization technology, and the Anti-dust feature. Also, the 5 shots a second comes in real handy for your sporting events. Overall, there are a lot of good things with this camera and very few bad; I would highly recommend this camera!
Yes, the on body anti shake system is a definitive plus of Minolta/Sony cameras. But why the Sony 70-200/2,8 without anti shake is much more espensive than Canon or Nikon with this system into?
What are you guys primarily shooting, RAW or JPEG? I've noticed that the RAWs aren't coming out as I would have expected. I'm using CS2 and still getting some "nominal" results, and I don't feel comfortable moving on to another conversion program, thoughts?
You have to try the Sony 70/200 f2.8 with the Sony A700 to see why the lens is so expensive, and at $2,500 you will not be disappointed, however, Sony has recently dropped the price $700 down to $1,800 on its website sonystyle.com, so now the lens is underpriced in my opinion.
A notable and very useful feature is the in-body
stabilization system of Sony Alpha DSLR cameras, which both Canon and
Nikon DSLRs lack. The system effectively converts any compatible
Dynax/Maxxum/Alpha lens from Minolta or Konica Minolta into image
stabilized lenses by moving the sensor slightly to compensate for the
movement of the image, rather then moving the image via the lens, as
both Nikon (VR) and Canon (IS) have chosen to do. The obvious
advantage of in-body stabilization is that it works with all lenses
and you only have to pay for it once. The Nikon and Canon systems have
the advantage that they stabilize the image in the viewfinder as well
as on the sensor, which makes image capturing a little easier, but the
disadvantage is that you have to pay for it in each lens. The best of
both worlds would be a system with both body and lens stabilization,
giving the user the freedom to chose which system to use, though I
suspect that may be a long time coming from both Nikon and
Canon. Pentax has also chosen "in-body" stabilization.
