Archive for September 23rd, 2007
Sony A700 available in December
September 23rd, 2007 | 
Author: It looks like the Sony Alpha A700 is going to be ready just in time for Christmas. Amazon has it listed as available for purchase on Dec. 15th. And it looks like you can get the camera in three flavors – body only ($1399), 18-70mm kit lens ($1499) or 16-105mm kit lens ($1899).
I have to say that makes for some interesting camera purchases for the end of the year. If you haven’t jumped into the SLR market, you have the Canon 40D with its vast features and lenses or the Sony A700 with it’s growing line of lenses not to mention the built in stabilization with both having comparable prices.
It’s interesting to note the 40D comes with an EF 28-135mm IS lens as part of the kit. That certainly put its on par with Sony to start with, but what about all those future lens purchases.
I’ve already invested too much into my Canon gear to switch, but, since there seems to be some definite longevity to the Sony line (and new lenses), I think that built in image stabilization may have hooked me if I were just upgrading now. In fact I almost bought the A100 instead of the XTI. The lack of Sony lenses was the main reason I stayed with Canon. (And who knew if Sony would keep the line going and not be a one hit wonder).
I can see the Sony A700 as an absolutely spectacular travel camera. Ahh, to have the money to be able to afford all the toys I want… 
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Field Test: Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
The review from PopPhoto on the new Sony Alpha A700 makes the camera out to be pretty impressive indeed. 5fps, built in stabilization, 12.1MP, Dynamic Range Optimizer and an ISO 6400 show this camera has some impressive features. My Rebel XTI can only hit an ISO of 1600 and then it has pretty obvious noise and grain. PopPhoto has some ISO 6400 shots and although there is some noise the pictures are definately impressive and are clearly superior to what my XTI can accomplish.
I wondered if Sony was going to be able to compete with the likes of Canon, Nikon and now Pentax, but this camera shows they are quite up to the task.
At the end of this tryout, the various participants agreed that the A700 is a camera designed by photographers for photographers. The message coming is that Sony is very serious about the SLR business. If the A700 is the “advanced amateur” model, it makes you wonder what that future “flagship” model is going to be like.