A700 WOW

EdPaintsLight · Dec 8, 2009

I can't believe I waited so long. I kept reading all the complaints about Sony here, but finally $799, I had to do it. I just got it yesterday and spent all last night with the manual.

This is the best camera even close to the price. Very easy to use and even played with slow shutter speeds using the 18-250 lens I got for it. Just getting started but WOW.

I had thought about the Canon 50D and the Nikon D300 but they are not as well laid out. This would be great camera even if it were still over $1000. My wife has been taking our pictures with the little Nikon. I stopped using my film camera several years ago. Nice to be back.

I can hardly wait to go out and shoot in the cold days ahead here. Really nice anyone complaining about it, just has to be nuts.

--
ED Paints with Light

martin a musicante · Dec 8, 2009

I'm sure you will discover that the A700 is a wild beast, but one that will give you great photos.

Cheers,

Martin

Ron E Trees · Dec 8, 2009

Congratulations on your new camera. Be sure that you get the v4 firmware installed on your camera. Look forward to seeing some of your pics!

Ron

--
Shine On...
http://ront.smugmug.com/

Phixel · Dec 8, 2009

Congratulations on a wise purchase! IMO, the a700 is the best amateur DSLR under $1000, even today. The build is superb and the Quick Navi and controls will spoil you for anything less. Note that even the memory card door has a rubber seal on it, which I had not noticed until my a 700 got drenched in a Florida thunderstorm without any water penetrating it, (except for the finger and thumb wheels).

For the most accurate JPEG colors, I recommend you use DEEP creative style. Deep has accurate colors and best default tone curve, IMO. If you want to ensure the 5 FPS performance, I recommend the Lexar Professional Series UDMA 8GB Compact Flash 300x
Enjoy your new camera and Welcome to the a700 fan club!

-Phil

AlphaRichie · Dec 8, 2009

Congrats, you got a good deal, you will be very happy with it.

I also acquired the A700 a couple of weeks ago.
I also bought Gary Friedman's ebook on the A700. It is a lot easier to
read with many colourful pictures and illustrations.

After reading Gary's book, I can relate more to the contents in the A700 user guide.

May not be a bad investment to consider as it cost only $25.00, a very small amount compared to the cost of the A700 system.

AlphaRichie · Dec 8, 2009

Phil, thanks for the help to us new A700 users.

Regarding your suggestion in setting creative to deep, what adjustments do you make within this setting.

EdPaintsLight · Dec 8, 2009

Thanks Phixel!!

You know, you were one of the people that had me waiting all summer. I read a lot of complaints about Sony and stuff. So what changed your mind?

I know there is always something new coming, but this camera may be all I need for years. Waiting was a big mistake, I should have listened when some here said don't worry.

But glad for the welcome!
--
ED Paints with Light

digitalshooter · Dec 8, 2009

--
Thanks,

Digitalshooter!

You can put a dress on a pig, its still a pig!

Phixel · Dec 8, 2009

EdPaintsLight said:
Thanks Phixel!!

You know, you were one of the people that had me waiting all summer. I read a lot of complaints about Sony and stuff. So what changed your mind?

I know there is always something new coming, but this camera may be all I need for years. Waiting was a big mistake, I should have listened when some here said don't worry.

But glad for the welcome!
--
ED Paints with Light

Nothing changed my mind about the a700. I have always thought highly of the a700 from the moment I brought the camera home because I recognized it immediately as a "photographers camera". All the functions are there without diving into menus and no crippling or missing features to curse.

I have always had high praise for the a700s quality construction (even more so after using a Nikon D90 for a while), handling, and user interface and hard controls. Quick Navi and the joystick control is just brilliant !.

No other camera I have ever used handled as well as the a700.

The only real criticism I have of the a700 was the original JPEG engine and software which was improved nicely with the release of V4 firmware. Sony really shot themselves (and their a700 model) in the foot by not doing it right the first time and that bothered me. I give Sony kudos for the V4 firmware update fix, however, I believe if Sony had a replacement for the a700 in the works, the V4 firmware would have never been released.

My unhappiness with Sony has been with their cameras and lenses after the a700 and now no replacement for the a700.

I finally have come to the realization that the a700 is really a Minolta legacy design camera made possible with the help of Sony. Maybe the Minolta design concept will live on with the full frame Sony cameras (it has so far), but I doubt very much it will in the APS-C format as sub a700 DSLR designs become totally market driven cheaply made designs with more P&S features. And that is why I am unhappy with Sony at this point in time.
-Phil

gil · Dec 8, 2009

use it as a camera and not as a complaint box and you mightl go places

. Most of the whiners were those that can't take good pics and relegated themselves to being just armchair and forum photographers. If you can't take good ones after serious efforts, then, you are allowed to whine

. Enjoy.
--
Cheers,
gil - San Jose, CA
Cheap Lens, JPG and 100% Handholding Provocateur
Like happiness, photography is often better created than pursued.

KEITH-C · Dec 8, 2009

Gil you seem to be getting bitter - get over it. Not all people have to sing from the same hymn sheet - I can accept different opinions , they are all just words anyway , without needing to resort to insults & barraging.
--
Keith-C

Kilrah · Dec 8, 2009

2 weeks ago I was on an event for several days, and one of the fellow photographers had an A700. I got to borrow it for an afternoon and use it with my lenses, and it was really a very convenient camera to use. A few differences in handling from the A300 that would take a bit more time to get used to, but definitely a pleasure to use, the FN button and quick parameter edit on the home screen is awesome. HSS is great. Camera is fast both recording and for playback, high fps is great, AF is faster.

Quality, well, there's a 2-stop ISO advantage for similar results. The rest is just about same (in RAW).

I'd definitely want one. But I force myself to wait for the successor, the budget helping a bit as well...

--
http://kilrah.dynalias.net/gallery
http://www.rc-tech.ch/aviation

digitalshooter · Dec 8, 2009

Phixel said:
EdPaintsLight said:

Thanks Phixel!!

You know, you were one of the people that had me waiting all summer. I read a lot of complaints about Sony and stuff. So what changed your mind?

I know there is always something new coming, but this camera may be all I need for years. Waiting was a big mistake, I should have listened when some here said don't worry.

But glad for the welcome!
--
ED Paints with Light

Click to expand...

Nothing changed my mind about the a700. I have always thought highly of the a700 from the moment I brought the camera home because I recognized it immediately as a "photographers camera". All the functions are there without diving into menus and no crippling or missing features to curse.

I have always had high praise for the a700s quality construction (even more so after using a Nikon D90 for a while), handling, and user interface and hard controls. Quick Navi and the joystick control is just brilliant !.

No other camera I have ever used handled as well as the a700.

The only real criticism I have of the a700 was the original JPEG engine and software which was improved nicely with the release of V4 firmware. Sony really shot themselves (and their a700 model) in the foot by not doing it right the first time and that bothered me. I give Sony kudos for the V4 firmware update fix, however, I believe if Sony had a replacement for the a700 in the works, the V4 firmware would have never been released.

My unhappiness with Sony has been with their cameras and lenses after the a700 and now no replacement for the a700.

I finally have come to the realization that the a700 is really a Minolta legacy design camera made possible with the help of Sony.

Think you are right, this was the 7D replacement that had been placed on hold after the KM Sony deal. I think they just threw us a bone to try and draw us into their web! Since KM probably had it all laid out, it was easy for Sony to finish it and please the a mount followers at this level.

Maybe the Minolta design concept will live on with the full frame Sony cameras (it has so far), but I doubt very much it will in the APS-C format as sub a700 DSLR designs become totally market driven cheaply made designs with more P&S features. And that is why I am unhappy with Sony at this point in time.

Phixel said:
-Phil

--
Thanks,

Digitalshooter!

You can put a dress on a pig, its still a pig!

markymark101 · Dec 8, 2009

Congratulations!

The A700 is the best camera Ive owned, and considering the limited comparision one can make to the competition with a few minutes of handling in a store, it's the best I've seen. I'm talking ergonomics as well as features, size, weight, and price. It's just a well designed camera. Wish I were a better photographer.

Mika Kovalainen · Dec 8, 2009

Not everyone does exactly the same photographing exactly teh same way with exactly the same settings.

People have different needs, and many posts (that you stay away from) show the effects of the stuff Sony has omitted/firmware:ed away.'

They may not apply to you, but please refrain from bitter remarks like that. If not, here's one for you: what gives you the right to be obnoxious? The fact you 've shot 10000 similar shots of birds?

Jay Martinez · Dec 8, 2009

Welcome to the A700 club, i love my A700, its a great camera, I've had it since it came out and have been thru 3 bodies, just because i love having a new shutter, never had any problems with any of my cameras.

whitebird · Dec 8, 2009

Wishful thinking (I know), but I prefer to imagine that Sony dSLR group actually reads these forums, and the reason the next "high amateur" APS model has not been announced is that they had to pull the first design candidate back for a re-think.

Or maybe it didn't occur to them soon enough...? I can imagine them busy stripping off the outer bodies of production units so they can rebuild them with the power switch in the "right" location!

EdPaintsLight · Dec 8, 2009

Ok...

I just remember a lot of talk about the A700 needing to be replaced, I thought you were one asking for it all summer. Maybe I was wrong.. sorry.

I do sales. Ya know what happens... just as my customers get to a point where they are comfortable with a product, the marketing guys want us to sell them something new. We have to do it because the other guys do it. In reality if we upgraded the products half as often and put more effort in support etc. I think many people would feel better. I know I have lost sales because they heard something new is coming, then they either don't buy or while waiting get sold another product.

but I think we are just as much at fault always treating what is new as needed even if we never had it before. Marketing guys trying to puppet us all.

I know people say they want video, it might be fun. but except for that this camera is still better than lots of the new cameras with video. The controls and the LCD make it easier than the old Film cameras. Nice work.

Phixel said:
EdPaintsLight said:

Thanks Phixel!!

You know, you were one of the people that had me waiting all summer. I read a lot of complaints about Sony and stuff. So what changed your mind?

I know there is always something new coming, but this camera may be all I need for years. Waiting was a big mistake, I should have listened when some here said don't worry.

But glad for the welcome!
--
ED Paints with Light

Click to expand...

Nothing changed my mind about the a700. I have always thought highly of the a700 from the moment I brought the camera home because I recognized it immediately as a "photographers camera". All the functions are there without diving into menus and no crippling or missing features to curse.

I have always had high praise for the a700s quality construction (even more so after using a Nikon D90 for a while), handling, and user interface and hard controls. Quick Navi and the joystick control is just brilliant !.

No other camera I have ever used handled as well as the a700.

The only real criticism I have of the a700 was the original JPEG engine and software which was improved nicely with the release of V4 firmware. Sony really shot themselves (and their a700 model) in the foot by not doing it right the first time and that bothered me. I give Sony kudos for the V4 firmware update fix, however, I believe if Sony had a replacement for the a700 in the works, the V4 firmware would have never been released.

My unhappiness with Sony has been with their cameras and lenses after the a700 and now no replacement for the a700.

I finally have come to the realization that the a700 is really a Minolta legacy design camera made possible with the help of Sony. Maybe the Minolta design concept will live on with the full frame Sony cameras (it has so far), but I doubt very much it will in the APS-C format as sub a700 DSLR designs become totally market driven cheaply made designs with more P&S features. And that is why I am unhappy with Sony at this point in time.
-Phil

--
ED Paints with Light

whitebird · Dec 8, 2009

The dSLR marketing group at Sony certainly appears an enigma at times. They have not included video in the new models, even in face of the competition for that market segment. Knowing Sony, this is either to eliminate competition with their consumer video business unit, or they are holding off for what they feel is the best way to implement it.

Either way is no matter to me. I love that Sony's dSLRs don't include video capture. It's pure clutter when almost everyone's cellular phone can capture a quick video anyway. And for decent video work, Sony makes really nice (and small) std and high definition handycams, and they are not expensive. I'd rather carry one of those because it's the right tool for that job.

Whether the A700 will prove to be the last "Minolta inspired" APS or not, it is one heck of a tool! Along with my XD-11, it is a real keeper.

Ralf B · Dec 8, 2009

1. Congrats on your A700, I second the Gary Friedman ebook recommendation

2. Congrats for getting over the bickering in this forum during summer with your purchase decision.

Looking forward to first pics...
--
Ralf

http://ralfralph.smugmug.com/
10.000 slides still to scan........

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