VinceC
Senior Member
I am comparing the Alpha 700 against Canons and Nikons I have had.
Construction. Generally very good and well put together. It has the usual plastic battery and card covers, but, a negative against its C&N peers, the back is plastic - only the front, top and base are alloy. The flash also feels a bit flimsier than usual.
Features. No live view - but I knew that and don't miss it. The DRO is very interesting - but really only applies to jpegs. I like the single screen on the back and quick navi - this works well. Very flexible and just the right size and weight with the 16-105. No problems with dust bunnies yet (I hope the camera can't hear thiis!) and Super Steady Shot seems very effective.
I bought it with the 16-105. I think IQ is OK - not fully decided yet. Again DRO can have a major (positive) impact on contrasty scenes. Hangs onto highlights OK. I find it a little more saturated and contrasty than I am used to - but that's just my learing curve. Not sure I fully understand the difference between raw and jpeg from this camera yet - especially around DRO and noise reduction. Not too much experience with high ISO - so can't comment on this. With so many pixels it is even more important to print than simply pixel peep.
Ease of use - no real problems - see below about the software. The camera seems fast, comfortable and easy to use. Neat and well balanced with the 16-105. I find the menus clear. Viewfinder nice and bright.
VFM - OK - I got a pricematch and cashback - Sony were very fast here. I suspect that as the market heats up it will get even more competitive and suspect that the A700 may depreciate faster than a C/N. I note that fixed FL Minolta lenses are increasing in price - no surprise here!
Problems:
I don't think much of the software supplied - two programmes working together - one to view and convert, the other to alter raw settings. This is very clunky and slow and the viewer has developed a problem on my pc so that I need to reload the software. I'm tending towards using PS ACR for raw conversion.
Construction. Generally very good and well put together. It has the usual plastic battery and card covers, but, a negative against its C&N peers, the back is plastic - only the front, top and base are alloy. The flash also feels a bit flimsier than usual.
Features. No live view - but I knew that and don't miss it. The DRO is very interesting - but really only applies to jpegs. I like the single screen on the back and quick navi - this works well. Very flexible and just the right size and weight with the 16-105. No problems with dust bunnies yet (I hope the camera can't hear thiis!) and Super Steady Shot seems very effective.
I bought it with the 16-105. I think IQ is OK - not fully decided yet. Again DRO can have a major (positive) impact on contrasty scenes. Hangs onto highlights OK. I find it a little more saturated and contrasty than I am used to - but that's just my learing curve. Not sure I fully understand the difference between raw and jpeg from this camera yet - especially around DRO and noise reduction. Not too much experience with high ISO - so can't comment on this. With so many pixels it is even more important to print than simply pixel peep.
Ease of use - no real problems - see below about the software. The camera seems fast, comfortable and easy to use. Neat and well balanced with the 16-105. I find the menus clear. Viewfinder nice and bright.
VFM - OK - I got a pricematch and cashback - Sony were very fast here. I suspect that as the market heats up it will get even more competitive and suspect that the A700 may depreciate faster than a C/N. I note that fixed FL Minolta lenses are increasing in price - no surprise here!
Problems:
I don't think much of the software supplied - two programmes working together - one to view and convert, the other to alter raw settings. This is very clunky and slow and the viewer has developed a problem on my pc so that I need to reload the software. I'm tending towards using PS ACR for raw conversion.