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Nikon D80

Sony Alpha A700 12.24MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

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Brand: Sony
Category: Photography

Buy New: $999.00

New (9) Used (6) from $799.99

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

23 reviews

Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Batteries Included: Yes
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Includes Software: Yes
Optical Zoom: 1
Display Size: 3
Maximum Resolution: 12
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 3.3 x 5.6 x 4.3
Warranty: 1 year warranty

MPN: B000VPNYSO
Model: B000VPNYSO
UPC: 027242714151
EAN: 0027242714151
ASIN: B000VPNYSO

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Features:

•	12.24-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor captures enough detail for poster-size prints
•	Body only; lenses sold separately
•	In-camera image stabilization and anti-dust vibration systems; Eye-Start Autofocus system
•	3-inch LCD display; 11-point autofocus system; 40-segment multi-pattern honeycomb metering
•	Powered by lithium-ion battery; stores images on CF I/II and Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo cards

Accessories:

•	Induro Carbonflex 8x Tripod CX-114
•	Adobe Photoshop CS4
•	Adobe Photoshop Elements & Premiere Elements 7
•	Adobe Photoshop Elements 7

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•	Sony SAL-1680Z 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T DT Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Camera

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
High performance Digital Single Lens Reflex (D-SLR) camera - body only. Superlative HD picture quality from shooting to viewing. Ultra-responsive performance, ruggedly constructed and beautifully easy to use.ssing for quick response, high-speed 5 fps shooting, precision AF and creative shooting modes combine to bring out all your creativity. Super SteadyShot in-camera image stabilization reduces blur with every Sony, Carl Zeiss and Minolta a-mount lens. You?ll also have a photo-quality 3.0?¹ LCD screen and direct HDMI Output² to your Sony Bravia HDTV for PhotoTV HD viewing -- plus Sony Anti-Dust Technology, rugged magnesium alloy body, up to 650-shot³ Stamina power.

Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

A700 Fun, Easy, Great Features November 24, 2007
K. Edwards (Issaquah, WA)
120 out of 122 found this review helpful

For years I shot Canon SLRs and for a while I moved to Nikon and Canon smaller digicams. When I jumped back to the SLR format in digital I ended up with the Konica-Minolta 5D over the Canon and Nikon cameras in my budget because of great image quality and in camera stabilization which works very well.

I recently upgraded my KM 5D to an A700. WOW!! This is by far the easiest camera I have ever used. Head and shoulders above traditional menus and tiny LCD Icons. The rear LCD shows you all the important settings at one time in a large easy to read format, sometimes with colors to alert you to what might be an unusual setting.

When you need to change anything from Shutter Speed to White Balance you do it right on the settings screen either by pressing one of the several dedicate buttons or using the easy thumb joystick. For shooting I almost never have to go into a menu except to format the memory card.

Auto Focus and Shutter:
It is fast and quiet. The AF has been tested faster than the new Canon in most lighting situations, though lenses on both systems will affect speed.

Both Sony and Now Sigma are coming out with quite focusing lenses that have built in motors so, Sony users will have lots new lens choices.

KEY FEATURES I LIKE:

Stabilization:
The in body stabilization works well With my 18-250 I have pulled off some shots even at 1/10s while at 250mm That is over 5 stops of stabilization, Sony only claims 3.5 stops. This stabilization works on all Sony And Minolta format auto-focus lenses. Some systems like Canon do not offer stabilized lenses in key formats like primes(non zooms) that are used for close-up macro shots or portrait work. It also adds cost and weight to each lens, with this system if you can find a bargain on a lower cost lens or a used lens it is still stabalized.
Example: Minolta made a 70-210 f4 lens often called a "beercan" that is legend in sharpness and image quality. It is often seen used here and on auction sites for $125-$175. It like all Sony compatible lenses becomes stabilized and would be like getting a $600 plus lens for $150.

ISO:
The Sony A700 offers ISO 100-3200 and up to 6400 as "extended ISO" but all ISO ranges are available at all times, no menu settings will enable or disable them like on the Canon 40D. It offers the ISO in 1/3 stop increments, but using the the front control wheel lets you jump a full stop at a time.

Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO):
Sony has several levels of DRO that do what used to take shooting in RAW format and working in tools like Photoshop. It automatically recovers overly bright areas and areas hidden in the shadows so your pictures look more like what your eye can see. Unlike some other cameras that just apply shadow recovery settings to the whole image, Sony has DRO levels that analyze and adjust the image by area to make the effect more natural and keep noise down.

Wireless Flash:
The built in flash is also a wireless trigger for the Sony Flashes and others including the old KM 5600hs and 3600HS, and some Sigma and Metz models. On some systems this is a $150 to $200 add on.

Remote abilities included:
For taking family shots etc. Sony has free wireless remote that lets you take trigger the camera or a 2 second delay then shoot. Plus tons of controls for showing and reviewing your images on a TV. If you hook up the camera to an HDMI TV and to a printer at the same time you can do a family slide show and tell it to print picture from the remote as people ask for copies.

It also has remote control software for the computer so you can set it up like a studio and shoot and review images from the attached PC. Great for doing lots of portraits at events without more expensive software or accessories.

It supports both Standard Video and HDMI output so you can see the images on your new HD TV.

Memory Card Support:
Unlike the 40D it supports the new UDMA 300x CF cards and memory stick pro HG so that you can take 25+ cRAW shots a 5 FPS before it needs to pause or an unlimited number of JPGS in any size. You can have both a CF card and Memory stick installed at the same time and switch over when one fills without stopping to open your bag and change memory cards.

Body Seals:
Its not splash proof but Sony has sealed all the doors and controls so dust and stray moisture will not hurt the camera. Some makers like Canon reserve full seals for more expensive cameras.

IT JUST FEELS GOOD IN MY HAND:
It was love at first touch.. a camera designed to fit in the hand.

Unless there is a specific lens or very special accessory that you need on another camera brand, this camera should be #1 or near the top of the list for cameras you consider.

Sony may be new to DSLRs, but they make sensors for lots other DSLRs like Nikon and when they bought the camera business they got most of the designers with years of experience from Minolta. Sony is building cameras for people who love photography and with features for people who like a camera to work with new technology like HD TVs. That makes it a fun camera to own.

I looked at the Canon 30D, 40D, Pentax K10D and Nikon D300 before choosing this camera.

BTW the Nikon D300, would be my second choice, but would cost much more, and still would have limited options on which lenses are stabalized.

5 out of 5 stars

Sony's First True Professional Grade Digital SLR November 17, 2007
John Kwok (New York, NY USA)
66 out of 70 found this review helpful

Late last month I had the good fortune to try the Sony Alpha 700 camera at Sony's Photo Plus East booth. I found the camera easy to use, with the controls well-laid out from an ergonomic perspective. I was surprised that I could activate autofocusing via my eye movement. I was also quite impressed with the camera's built-in image stabilizer. And yet, what impressed me most was how well the camera performed with two Zeiss lenses I borrowed; a zoom lens and the Zeiss 85mm f1.4 Planar (Both lenses, along with the 135mm Sonnar, are built in Japan by Sony using not only Zeiss designs, but also stringent Zeiss quality control. As an aside, I heard incorrectly from a Sony representative that Zeiss doesn't build its own lenses, but allows others to manufacture them under the Zeiss name. This is an incorrect statement since Zeiss builds several lenses for its ZM rangefinder camera system and the Hasselblad V series medium format cameras at its Oberkochen, Germany factory.). Both lenses produced crisp, high contrast images of the kind I've come to expect from Zeiss lenses, having used both discontinued Contax/Yashica SLR Zeiss lenses and Zeiss Ikon ZM rangefinder Zeiss lenses recently.

The Sony Alpha 700 is a true professional grade digital SLR, built to similar exacting standards as those from its key competitors; Canon and Nikon. While the camera reminds me most of an updgraded version of late, lamented Minolta Maxxum flagship professional digital SLR cameras, there are ample new features built within the camera that demonstrate Sony's commitment to technical innovation, beginning with the built-in image stabilizer. Therefore, this new digital SLR will appeal to those who are either advanced amateur or professional photographers, especially those who are familiar with the Minolta Maxxum system (However, I predict that Sony's new innovations, including its autofocusing Zeiss lenses, will draw some interest from photographers who might otherwise consider only Canon or Nikon digital SLRs.). Believe the hype about this camera which you may have read in Popular Photography, American Photo or Shutterbug. It is hype that is indeed well-earned.

5 out of 5 stars

Finally a great camera ... FINALLY December 20, 2007
F. Carnahan (Nixa, Missouri USA)
49 out of 52 found this review helpful

I have to start off by saying I did not want to like this camera! I have been a Minolta professional since the early 90's and embraced the Konica/Minolta 7D when it FINALLY hit the market. But I was very disappointed when Sony bought out the line then only produced the equivalent of the K/M 5D. Definitely a descent consumer grade camera, but not suited for professional work. I waited and waited and decided to jump ship to Canon. Then I heard a rumor of an upgrade to their line. In a way they ticked me off. The wait was way too long and I had decided to spend an exorbitant amount of money to switch systems. The camera body is irrelevant from a financial standpoint. I have about twelve grand tied up in specialty lenses that I use on a consistent basis.

So, with the rumor in the air, I waited a bit longer. I won't say that I am thrilled I waited, but I will say that I am becoming increasingly happy with this camera. In some ways, it surpasses it's competition, the new 40D. In other ways, the Canon has it beat. I'm not a loyalist, I am realistic about equipment.

What bugs me about this camera:

First, simple and silly perhaps, but since this camera is a solid 100 to 200 dollars higher than the Canon, I would hope, dare I say, expect it to come with a CF card. Nope! Now, they are cheep enough today, but all the more reason to include one.

Second, I have lived without it for years, but I would like to see live preview like you find on the Canon and Nikon equivalents. It would be beneficial while shooting architecture as well as table top. I view on a big LCD TV and it would be nice to see live preview.

Also, 12 bit instead of 14 bit color like Canon has. No huge deal, but we are moving forward, right?

Now, what I love about the camera. I have been shooting the K/M 7D since it first came out and the controls are similar enough to get right in and go. I love the virtual "one button for each function" thing. And the quick navigator was intimidating for about three seconds, then it was/is just great.

The screen is very hi res and gives great detail. I can actually zoom in and get exceptional proofing right on the camera itself. Canon and Nikon both are pretty good too, but I have to say the Sony has them beat hands down with the screen.

I shoot Architecture quite a lot and always use the K temperature setting. On this camera, it is accurate and matches the settings given to me by my color meter. What blew me away was seeing a green/Magenta adjustment along with the K value setting. It is listed in full degrees and not fractions like my filter package, but the thing saves a lot of time correcting in Photoshop and calculating filters. The beauty is that it is done manually in camera and there is no "ghosting" effect or picture degradation due to multiple filters being used in front of my lens. The thing works GREAT!

Also for architecture and any ultra wide shots, the Sony 11-18 mm zoom is proving to be the most distortion free lens of it's kind on the market today. The lens is virtually distortion free. This lens is superior to the Canon and Nikon equivalents that cost almost twice as much.

Now, 12 meg. 20% more than offered by the other two in the same range of camera. Not noticeable in some cases like portraiture when you simply don't need that much res, but surely worth it in commercial and architectural shooting.

The remote control is pretty slick too. Without switching anything in the camera, you can hit the standard shutter button or a 2 second delay. I thought the delay would be really cool, because every other camera I ever had with a two second delay was used because the mirror locked up immediately and two seconds later the camera shutter went off, effectively removing the chance of camera vibration. This thing just waits two seconds and fires normally. So, I have no idea why there is a 2 second delay button. Perhaps someone can enlighten me. But I have to admit, I find myself using it in several cases. It's a nice option.

The best reason now, I have read in Pop-photog that Sony told them that this would be their Midlevel camera. If that means they will be coming out with a 900 model with, perhaps, a full frame in the 22 meg range. I will be a very happy camper!

The bottom line for me is, it took them a bit too long, but it looks like Sony is actually producing a serious intermediat/professional grade camera. I will stay for a bit longer and see where this goes.

All of this and much more makes me glad I now have this camera.

The functions are easy, as easy as any on a camera with so many features. I really like the camera. For now, I will stick with the line and see where they go with it. Hopefully, Sony will keep with it's tradition of innovation and excellence they are known for in video and television industry and move forward with a true usable professional line.

4 out of 5 stars

New Sony DSLR A-700 Some Small Fixes November 14, 2007
Thomas Mcsunas (Palm Harbor, Florida)
30 out of 62 found this review helpful

Sony has fixed a few small items with the A-700. Battery meter is now there to see power levels. The ISO Wheel is gone, in favor of a drop down menu. Screen is larger for review. Ergonomic grip is improved. 12.2 MP is better for close cropping. I find the camera a little easier to use than the A-100. More information to see on the screen prior to shooting. I am not sure the body is worth another $900 mare than the A-100

5 out of 5 stars

Great Camera! December 1, 2007
Oleg St. (San Francisco, CA, USA)
24 out of 25 found this review helpful

Bought this camera yesterday from the SonyStyle retailer store. This DSLR is AWESOME!!! I was conducting thorough research comparing it mainly with Canon 40d (I previously used Canons only). Sony has many features Canon does not have, in particular - internal stabilization, which makes lenses price cheaper, and HD output. Sony is a bit slower in burst shooting: 5 fps against Canon 6.5 fps, but if you are not exclusively into sports, that really does not matter. And, of course, Sony LCD display is much superior.
Well done, Sony! A+
P.S. Don't buy it with a kit lens - it is ok, but not the best choise. Start with Sony 50 mm 1.4f lens or Carl Zeiss 16-80 lens!

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