Compared to...
On paper the A700 offers a similar level of features as the other cameras but the lower end of the price scale. It does include sensor-shift image stabilization, that gorgeous high resolution LCD monitor and a range of usability features (eye-start auto-focus, automatic mirror lock-up) which are a part of its Minolta heritage. On the negative side the lack of a top panel status LCD means you have to use the power hungry rear LCD for status, the plastic body could be seen by some as a negative (although personally it didn't bother me) and of course it's the only one of the four here not to offer Live View.
Positives versus the competition
- Built-in sensor-shift stabilization (over the EOS 40D and D300)
- Large high resolution LCD monitor (same as D300)
- Detailed battery status display (as percentage; same as D300)
- Eye-start auto-focus
- Advanced dynamic range adjustment (shadow enhancement) options
- Automatic mirror lock-up with self-timer
- HDMI video output (same as D300)
- Affordable good quality wide zoom (16-105 mm DT)
- Supplied IR remote control
- Better value for money (lower end of the scale)
Negatives versus the competition
- No Live View
- Mixed metal / plastic body (although doesn't feel any less sturdy)
- Noise reduction applied to RAW images
- No top panel status LCD (requires use of battery sapping rear LCD for status)
 Sony DSLR-A700 |
 Canon EOS 40D |
 Nikon D300 |
 Olympus E-3 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (body only) | $1400 [check] | $1300 [check] | $1800 [check] | $1700 [check] |
| Quality zoom price | • Sony 16-105mm DT • F3.5-F5.6 • 24-157.5 mm equiv. • $550 |
• Canon 17-85mm IS • F4.0-F5.6 • 27.2-136 mm equiv. • $600 |
• Nikon 18-200mm VR • F3.5-F5.6 • 27-300 mm equiv. • $750 |
• Olympus 14-54 mm • F2.8-F3.5 • 28-108 mm equiv. • $500 |
| Dust removal | • CCD-shift shake • Anti-static coating |
• Self-cleaning filter • Anti-static coating • Dust delete data |
• Self-cleaning filter • Dust-off image |
• SSW filter |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS | CMOS | Live MOS |
| Sensor size | 23.5 x 15.6 mm | 22.2 x 14.8 mm | 23.6 x 15.8 mm | 17.3 x 13.0 mm |
| Sensor area | 367 mm² | 329 mm² | 373 mm² | 225 mm² |
| Image Stabilization | Built-in sensor shift | Lenses only | Lenses only | Built-in sensor shift |
| Effective pixels | 12.3 million | 10.1 million | 12.3 million | 10.1 million |
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 | 3:2 | 4:3 |
| FOV crop | 1.5x | 1.6x | 1.5x | 2.0x |
| Image size | 4272 x 2848 | 3888 x 2592 | 4288 x 2848 | 3648 x 2736 |
| Live View | No | • Yes • Up to 10x magnify • Mirror flip AF • Different modes |
• Yes • Up to 1:1 pixel view • Contrast detect AF • Mirror flip AF |
• Yes • Up to 10x magnify • Mirror flip AF |
| Lens support | • Sony Alpha • Minolta A-type |
• Canon EF / EF-S | • Nikon F mount | • Four Thirds |
| File formats | JPEG, RAW (ARW), cRAW (ARW) | JPEG, RAW (CR2) | JPEG, TIFF, RAW (NEF 12-bit / NEF 14-bit) | JPEG, RAW (ORF) |
| Auto focus | • 11 point • 1 double cross-type • 0 to 18 EV • Eye-start AF option |
• 9 point • 9 cross-type • -0.5 to 18 EV |
• 51 point • 15 cross-type • -1 to 19 EV |
• 11 point • 11 cross-type • -2 to 19 EV |
| AF illuminator | Red lamp pattern | Flash strobe | White lamp | Flash strobe |
| AF adjustment | No | No | Yes, body and per lens | No |
| Metering sensor | 40 segment | 35 zone | 1005 pixel RGB | 49 zone |
| Metering range | 0 to 20 EV | 0 to 20 EV | 0 to 20 EV | 1 to 20 EV |
| Metering modes | Multi-segment, CWA, Spot | Evaluative, Partial, Spot, CWA | 3D Color Matrix, CWA, Spot | ESP, CWA, Spot, Highlight spot, Shadow spot |
| Exp. comp. | +/- 3.0 EV | +/- 2.0 EV | +/- 5.0 EV | +/- 5.0 EV |
| Exp. comp. EV steps | 0.3 or 0.5 EV | 0.3 or 0.5 EV | 0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV | 0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV |
| Manual EV steps | 0.3 or 0.5 EV | 0.3 or 0.5 EV | 0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV | 0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV |
| Sensitivity range (boost setting) | 100 - 1600, (3200, 6400) | 100 - 1600, (3200) | (100), 200 - 3200, (6400) | 100 - 3200 |
| Auto ISO adjust | Max & Min ISO selectable | No | Max ISO & Min shutter speed selectable | Max & Min ISO selectable |
| Shutter speed | 30 - 1/8000 sec | 30 - 1/8000 sec | 30 - 1/8000 sec | 60 - 1/8000 sec |
| Shutter life | 100,000 exposures | 100,000 exposures | 150,000 exposures | 150,000 exposures |
| Continuous rate (high) | 5.0 fps | 6.5 fps | 6.0 fps (8.0 fps with battery grip) | 5.0 fps |
| Continuous buffer | • Unlimited JPEG • 18 RAW / 25 cRAW |
• 75 JPEG • 17 RAW |
• 100 JPEG Norm • 17 RAW |
• ?? JPEG • 19 RAW |
| White balance | • 6 presets • Color temp (K) • Manual (3 mem.) |
• 6 presets • Color temp (K) • Manual |
• 7 presets • Color temp (K) • Manual (4 mem.) |
• 7 presets • Color temp (K) • Manual (4 mem.) |
| Image parameters | • 13 presets / 3 user • Saturation +/- 3 • Contrast +/- 3 • Brightness +/-3 • Sharpness +/- 3 • Zone -1 to +2 |
• 6 presets / 3 user |
• 4 presets • Saturation +/- 3, A • Contrast +/- 3, A • Brightness +/- 1 • Hue +/- 3 • Sharpness 0-9, A • Quick adjust +/- 2 |
• 5 presets / 1 user • Saturation +/- 2 • Contrast +/- 2 • Sharpness +/- 2 • Gradation (3) |
| Noise reduction control | 3 levels | 1 additional level | 4 levels | 4 levels |
| DR / Shadow adjust. | DRO (3 modes plus 5 manual settings) | None | Active D-Lighting (4 levels) | Shadow adjustment |
| Built-in flash | • Manual pop-up • Guide no. 12 (ISO 100) |
• Electronic pop-up • Guide no. 13 (ISO 100) |
• Manual pop-up • Guide no. 12 (ISO 100) |
• Electronic pop-up • Guide no. 13 (ISO 100) |
| External flash | • Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash |
• Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash |
• Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash |
• Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash |
| Flash sync speed | 1/250 sec | 1/250 sec | 1/250 sec (1/320 sec reduced Guide no.) | 1/250 sec |
| Customizable controls | • Custom button • Preview button • AF/MF button • AEL button • Dials |
• SET button • AF-ON button • AE lock button • Dials |
• FUNC button • FUNC+dials • Multi-selector cent. • Preview button • AE-L/AF-L button • Dials |
• Fn button • AEL/AFL button • Dials |
| User memories | 3 via 1 dial position | 3 via dial positions | 4 via menu | 2 via menu |
| Delete in record review | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Storage | • CF (inc. UDMA) • MS Duo / Pro Duo |
CF (inc. UDMA) | CF (inc. UDMA) | • CF (inc. UDMA) • xD-Picture Card |
| Viewfinder | • 95% coverage • 0.9x magnification |
• 95% coverage • 0.95x magnification |
• 100% coverage • 0.94x magnification |
• 100% coverage • 1.15x magnification |
| LCD monitor | • 3.0" TFT LCD • 922,000 dots |
• 3.0" TFT LCD • 230,000 dots |
• 3.0" TFT LCD • 922,000 dots |
• 2.5" TFT LCD • 230,000 dots |
| LCD articulation | No | No | No | Yes (flip-out & twist) |
| Top panel LCD | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 11.8 Wh | 10.3 Wh | 11.1 Wh | 10.8 Wh |
| Battery status | Percentage (%) | 5 stages | • Percentage (%) • Shots since charge • Battery aging |
4 stages |
| Vertical grip | Yes, VG-C70AM | Yes, BP-E2N, BP-E2 & WFT-E3/E3A (WiFi) | Yes, MB-D10 | Yes, HLD-4 |
| Mirror lock-up | Yes, with self-timer | Yes, custom function | No, exposure delay | Yes, 1-30 sec |
| Other features | • Included IR remote | • Custom 'My Menu' | • On demand viewfinder grid • GPS record with optional cable • Retouching |
• RAW development • JPEG edit |
| Video output | HDMI (up to 1080i) | Composite | HDMI (up to 1080i) | Composite |
| Dimensions | 142 x 105 x 80 mm (5.6 x 4.3 x 3.3 in) |
146 x 108 x 74 mm (5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 in) |
147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in) |
142 x 116 x 75 mm (5.6 x 4.6 x 2.9 in) |
| Weight (no batt) | 690 g (1.5 lb) | 740 g (1.6 lb) | 825 g (1.8 lb) | 800 g (1.8 lb) |
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