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.

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

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 great.

I recently upgrade 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 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 quite. The AF has been tested faster than the new Canon in most lighting situations, though lenses on both systems will affect speed.

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.
Example: Minolta made a 70-210 lens often called a beercan that is legend to sharpness and image quality that 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 so 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 if 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.

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!

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.

Sony Alpha A700 12.24MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Sony Alpha A700 12.24MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Lens
Some people are die-hard Sony fans...anything they purchase has to be a Sony. I don't fit into that catagory. In fact, when I was setting up my home theatre, I didn't even consider Sony. I could go as far as saying I really hate sony...proprietory memory cards and over priced products to name a few of my dislikes.

When I started searching for my first DSLR, I started at [...]. I have always found their site to be unbiased and not company sponsered. I noticed while there that the top picks included the A700. I Reluctantly read their review and then proceded to do more on-line research about this camera.

Having not owned a DSLR before, I was able to look at a lot of cameras without a specific brand(some folks already have lens so they tend to be brand specific). After lots of research, I ended up back at the Sony. I seriously considered the Nikon D300 but I found that for an extra $500, the Sony was the best buy for me. It doesn't have quite as many pro features but it was a lot of camera for less money. If you google a700 vs. D300 you will find people who have shot identical photos with both cameras and they post the results side by side. The honest truth is that in many of these samples, the D300 shoots a slightly crisper, sharper picture but not even close to $500 worth. Also, in my reading, a few sites have suggested that Sony is acually producing the sensor for both cameras just slight tweaked for the Nikon. I can't confirm that for sure but it was said by some reliable photography websites.

I picked up the A700, which I should mention was a replacement for my Minolta Dimage 5 purchased in 2001. Obviously we are talking totally different leagues if you know that camera at all (it was a digital camera with an LCD viewfinder simulating an SLR but not truely an Single Lens Reflex). I spent the extra cash and bought the SAL1680Z Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* DT 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 ZA Lens. I had a chance at Henry's Camera store to try out the different lens and upload samples to their computer and the Carl Zeiss lens produced a more accurate picture, particularly in the whites and light grays. Also the edge detail of items was cleaner. For the card, I bought a LEXAR 4GB UDMA 300x card which is the new highspeed format writing at 45 meg per sec. This card is fast and the camera fully supports it. I should note that if you tend not to use the camera to upload to the computer, you have to have a special UDMA compactflash card reader to enjoy the full benefits of a highspeed card.

My photography background is self taught, stictly a hobbiest and non-professional. My goal for this camera is to take some courses (staring in January) and learn how to operate a camera in more that just "Auto". Out of the box, I have to say that this is truely a camera that can be used by an amateur photographer like myself and obtain amazing results. The pictures in daylight are superb with crisp, sharp images and astounding colour accuracy. With my old camera, the challenge was taking night or reduced light shots. The image stabilization in this camera is amazing. I can actually take zoom shots at night, with no tripod with clarity and depth. The other thing that I really, really appreciate with this camera is the size and amazing detail of the LCD screen. I remember with my old camera, going to Chicago to Navy Pier on a beautiful night waiting for the fireworks. During that wait, we took some beautiful shots of the sunset, the city at night and the fireworks...but we didn't have a tripod. Pictures looked great on the tiny little low resolutiuon 1.5" screen...but then we uploaded them to the computer, what a disappointment...only a small handfull turned out. The Sony A700 makes this problem history. To me, it makes a lot of sense to have the stabilization on board the camera rather than have to "buy" it with each lens or compensating by always lugging a tripod. Even if there is a slight blur in a photo, the high quality LCD lets you see the picture is not clear and it allows you to reshoot.

The manual that came with this camera was actually really good. Some manuals are nightmares but not this one. It not only goes over the description, it shows comparison samples of different settings. The on-screen menu on the LCD is easy to navigate but many common features of the menu can also be accessed by buttons on the top of the camera (Drive, white balance etc.) Even the pre-set features like "Vivid", "Portrait" and "Night" perform extremely well. My last camera didn't always perform well with these settings.

D-Range is another really neat feature. This is a setting that allows the camera to adjust to those photos where a dark object is in front of a light background. Like a person standing in front of a window on a sunny day. It can be set to auto adjust or by manual increments. I took a photo the other day of a home decor item hanging in the window. With d-range turned off, the item and the wall around the window was too dark to make out. Turn it on to auto and the item was more visible while still maintaining the detail of the trees in the background of the window. Then by tweaking the setting in manual D-Range, the item hanging in the window was perfectly focused while the highlights of the exterior were still visible with a subtle blur.

The battery life is not as long as some of its competitors, rated at 650 shots per full charge based on a mix of flash and non-flash use. What is really great is that the battery tells you exactly how much charge is left in percentage value.

Something that was included that I really like is the remote control. Yesterday our family got together for Christmas and for the first time in many years, we were able to get a family shot with everyone together. Usually for us the camera person is missing. Also, my wife and I like to take trips to areas where we can go hiking. We have lots of photos of nature and lots of photos with one of us but now we will have shots with both of us. The remote can also control the camera's slide show if hooked to a tv. While on the topic of TV's the HDMI output to HDTV is available (I haven't bought the cable yet). If you are shooting photos for tv use only, the camera can be set to take in wide screen format which is nice for certain applications.

As mentioned, I am taking a part-time course at our community college. I am looking forward to discovering the full potential of this camera. Based on reviews I have read and my limited experience thus far, the A700 has put Sony as a worthy competitor in the Advanced Amateur/Semi-Pro catagory. It is also nice to see Sony cameras with CompactFlash slots which are cheaper to buy and just plain faster.

After ~ 3000 shots with my Sony A700, I'm pleased to say this is one FANTASTIC camera. This is my first dSLR but I'm a long time point-n-shoot Sony customer (DSC-S85 and DSC-P92). Sony has hit a home run (at least in the park) with this model. The rumor mills are debating Sony's intentions but with this body (and the small number of authentic Sony lenses for it), I think it's safe to say Sony will be a player to compete against the Canikons and Olymjis of the world. My two cents...you WON"T be disappointed with this camera! I've added to it the F56 flash and the 100mm Macro lens, along with the 18-200mm telephoto. Enjoy the camera!

This camera is a monster! In a good way of course. The hardest part is figuring out ALL the features. I have NOT been disappointed, yet.

This camera was my Xmas present to myself this year. My previous 35 mm SLR was a Minolta Maxxum (film) and that is still a fine film camera.

The thing that blows me away about this Sony camera (especially as a rank amateur) is how easy it is to get familar with all of the more advanced features. Because it is a digital camera and because the LCD is SOOOO good and effective, you can really see right away how the different features work composing pictures in your own backyard. That is very convenient and educational.

As others have said, the quality and hand fit seem exceptional and so many of the screen features also have buttons. Very smart engineering by Sony on that.

This is a camera that will inspire someone wanting to get immersed in the hobby. This purchase seems to be well worth the money I believe at this point.

My A700p replaced a well functioning Nikon 8700. The improvement in speed is striking. Low light pictures are fantastic due to the steady shot function.The only disadvantage of any DSLR is increased size and weight. However, well compensated for by the increased performance. Also nice to be able to use my old Maxxum lenses.

Señores esto es una cámara de verdad, con solo tenerla en las manos ya se siente robusta. La ergonomía es exelente, es un guante en la mano (los usuarios con mano grande lo agradecerán). Rápido y preciso AF, Excelentes fotos a ISO 1600. Ráfaga de 5fps. Joystick para navegar en las opciones del menú. Botones al alcance de nuestros dedos. Opciones en pantalla configurables. Sellada para evitar la entrada del polvo y la humedad. Cuerpo autoestabilizado. Auto limpieza del sensor y tambièn modo manual. Pantalla LCD de 3" HD. Salida HDMI, y un largo excétera de opciones adicionales. Esto es lo mejor que puede comprar un usuario que le guste la fotografía en serio y por que no... un profesional de la fotografía.

Recomiendo la SONY ALPHA 700 con los ojos cerrados. Esto es un Camarón!

I am in love with my new A700. It is a wonderful camera that brings me into the digital world of SLR's quite nicely. On problem i did have was that the battery charger and cord were missing from the box when I received it, so if you order from Amazon, check your box first thing!

For the first time since moving to digital photography a few years back I am completely contented...it's a nice feeling.

I started out in digital with a Leica Digilux 1, then Olympus, Nikon (D70 and D200), Fuji (S2Pro and S5Pro), and a couple of P&S's.
With each of these cameras, even though I had some very good results, there was always a facet that I wasn't completely happy with.

Now, I feel like I've come home and the Sony A700 is what has done it.
There are many reviews out there that outline this camera's strong points and I won't try to duplicate them here, suffice to say that I have now sold my complete collection of Nikon/Fuji gear (all 29 items) and have replaced them with Sony/Minolta.

All of my old Minolta lenses are now image-stabilized (eg. 200mm 2.8 and 70-210mm 4.0 etc.) and the new lenses are a dream to use. The Carl Zeiss 16-80mm is a great walk-around lens and the CZ 85mm 1.4 is Auto Focus! The Sony (or Minolta) 50mm 1.4 also becomes an image-stabilized lowlight lens.

I am now achieving a bigger percentage of crisper shots than ever before...straight out of the camera and it really is a delight to use from a handling point of view. I can't think of a single thing on the camera that I would want to change, and I'm usually hard to please.

One very happy camper.

You can buy the exact same camera at Best Price Camera for only $819 with free shipping and accessory bag. What is Amazon thinking charging $580 more? I love Amazon but this is stupid!

BEST CAMERA IN SONY FAMILY !!! ,, just now sony have a pro camera it can be in line with all best cams from canon and nikon....

I think it is a foregone conclusion that if you are invested in Canon or Nikon, then you have no compelling reason to even look at this camera. But for the first-time SLR buyer, there are a lot of reasons.

I am a first-time digital SLR buyer. I was looking at the Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body only) for a very long time. I was also considering the Sigma SD14 14MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only), as I preferred its feel and ergonomics (and I love Sigma lenses, I had used them on film SLRs before). I wanted an APS-sized sensor for my camera, so I din't consider any of the Four-Thirds models. I wanted a full-size, rugged SLR. Nikon, Sigma, Fuji, and Canon were all on my initial list.

But then Sony announced last year that they were going to make CMOS sensors for themselves and Nikon. I knew that such sensors should improve a problem I have been suffering with CCD sensors for years, which is noise. When I saw the first product pictures online, I immediately put it on my list of candidates.

And when I finally got to hold an A700 in November, it was love at first shot. The ergonomics are better for me than anything I have seen with Canon or Nikon. The grip, shutter release button, and thumb and index finger wheels feel like they are in the perfect locations. I love the speed. You can turn it on and take a picture in under 3 seconds. That's fast enough for an amateur like me. And it has the sweetest shutter sound I've ever heard on a digital SLR. Small details, but very appealing.

At a practical level, the camera's rich list of features and sensor stabilization make it a better camera than the D80, for just a few hundred more. The only thing it lacks that pro photographers would want is an LCD status screen up on top. But Sony assumed that amateurs like me wouldn't mind having the settings displayed on the giant 3" LCD on the back, and in my case, they were correct.

If you want live view and a second LCD status display, then the Nikon D300 is a logical choice. It's a great camera for a little more money. As far as image quality is concerned, I have to agree with the pro users that the Nikon D300 has fewer noise issues, while the Sony A700 has better color reproduction. (The minor noise issues with the Sony can be fixed with some software updates, and we A700 users are waiting for both Sony and Adobe to address them.) It's interesting since both cameras have a very similar sensor. But the difference lies in how the images are processed in the camera. Sony has a series of processing technologies in this camera, most of which work great for the amateur photographers who don't want to spend a lot of time with manual processing (Adobe Lightroom, Apple Aperture, etc.). The pros out there are a little annoyed that this Sony assumes that they want advanced noise reduction and some extra preprocessing. After all, an image in RAW format can have the noise reduced later on a desktop or laptop, why have the camera interfere?

Again, it was a judgment call made by Sony that most A700 users would not be artists, but rather photojournalists and amateurs. I can see the photojournalist influence in the camera's design. By having separate buttons for White Balance, ISO, and Drive, the camera can be easily adjusted by a user who is in a hurry and/or wearing gloves.

This is a camera made for outdoor use. The Sigma SD-14, in comparison, is a camera that is best in a studio. The Sigma is renowned for its use in the fashion industry. But its menus are not as intuitive as the Sony. And once outside, the Sigma has noise issues at 800 ISO. I don't detect noise problems with the Sony until I get up to 1600 or 3200 ISO, depending on the light source.

I should mention that the menus in Sony A700 main LCD screen are beautiful, easy to access, and make sense. There are multiple ways to access the grid of settings including the three dedicated buttons mentioned above. Want to adjust ISO and then exposure? Just push the ISO button, make the change there, and then use the joystick to highlight the exposure control, then center-click to save. The wheels (one for index finger, one for thumb) can be programmed to adjust aperture and shutter speed however you wish. You will be shooting crisp, professional looking photographs soon after you take the camera out of the box and charge the battery. It immediately made me a better photographer.

And for lenses, the news is just getting better. Sony is releasing at least 4 new lenses this year, including a 'beercan' style 70-300 telephoto, and an amazing 24-70 f2.8 Carl Zeiss, which could be the ultimate full-frame portrait lens. This camera is not full-frame, as it uses an APS-C sensor. But Sony is getting ready to release the A900 full-frame professional SLR, and we're already seeing some lenses designed for it. Also, Tamron and Sigma both support the alpha-mount (formerly Minolta), and their lenses are worth a look. I highly recommend the Sigma 18-50 f2.8 as a great walk-around lens to start with. And Sony has the wonderful 16-80 Carl Zeiss as a walk-around choice. Sony also offers a lightweight 11-18 ultrawide zoom for architecture photography (indoor and outdoor). And there are others in the pipeline. All total, there are about 40 lenses you can purchase for this camera brand-new, and any used Minolta or other alpha mount lens will work as well (most notable is the famous Minolta 70-210 "beercan" from the 1980s).

But no digital SLR should be purchased without picking it up and trying it out. Get yourself a Compact Flash memory card, go to a camera store, and take some shots. You might understand why we Sony users are excited.

By all means it is very capable, quick, and well made camera that takes big deal over Minolta's legacy. This camera is distinctively "Sony" while it still incorporates many of nice findings pioneered by swallowed Minolta.
I played with this camera for couple of days and found there's much to love about the ways it suggests. The lens is terrific. I guess it is the same lens that was permanently mounted to DSC-R1 and by all accounts it is glorious lens. The sharpness, clarity, transparency of it, all across the field is simply second to none. It is hard to touch another lens after trying this. In DSC-R1 just the lens itself was worth the purchase! The range of the lens is exceptionally convenient and extends trough the range that is appropriate with hand holding shooting. Reinforced by Sony's shake reduction it provides complete and very dependable tool for shooting anything with the lens under practically any condition. You must see the full size images this lens on the camera produces to concede it was worth many words. Today, there are many superb cameras on a market and Sony made smart move by offering premium glass in somewhat accessible price range as it makes the whole system very sweet and desirable.
Great camera, great lens.

I've now had the A700 for 8 months. Totally solid reliability, not a problem one. I use a Sigma 10mm wide angle and the Sony 18-200mm lens. The camera feels just perfect to hold. Image quality is of course terrific. The wireless flash system is great, with 2 H56's you can do lots of creative lighting and is fun to use. Complaint would be high noise level shooting in low light with DRO turned up, but of course just turning it down fixes it. Great high quality DSLR, I am very glad with the choice I made.

I shot film for many years. Had a change of careers and was out of photography for a while. Then got back into it with digital. This is my third digital camera and my second DSLR. I used Nikons for many years but, knowing Minolta lenses are just as good and often better than Nikon or Canon or other brands, I took advantage of the momentary panic when Minolta lenses were cheap. I had also used Sony digital cameras with Zeiss optics and enjoyed the image quality, product quality and industrial design. I had also used Sony video equipment in professional settings and knew Sony made great stuff. Also, Nikon cameras use Sony sensors.
Now that Sony has fully taken over Minolta and is doing nice work and being innovative, I picked up the A700 on sale.
It is a terrific camera. But if you are new to photography and new to SLR photography, you might be better off starting with an A200 or A300 (or their successors if you read this a few months or years later). Then in a few years, pick up an A700 used or its successor (A750?)
In short, the A700 is an excellent DSLR camera. Combined with classic Minolta or new Sony lenses, you will have great results. For Sony lenses I have the 28mm and the 50mm Macro. Both are excellent. The rest of my lenses are Minolta or Konica Minolta zooms (for a brief time, Minolta combined with Konica before selling to Sony). I hope to pick up some of the newer Sony G or Zeiss lenses in time. But if you are just shooting for fun, the basic zoom is fine to start, then see what you like to shoot and get a "prime" like the 50 Macro.

I have a Canon 5D and although it produces impressive pictures, I found too many of my pictures were blurred and I found myself not carrying my 5D around as it was a heavy camera (front heavy and hard to hold still IMHO) with the 24-105mm lens attached (hence the blurred shots). I started to look for a smaller and lighter camera - comfort was a major issue as was the size of the viewfinder and quality of the LCD as the 5D's LCD is frankly poor - very hard to tell if something was sharply focused or the appropriate colour. I tried out the following:

Pentax K20 - didn't like the focusing system or the LCD menu system, but otherwise impressed with the camera. Also, it's not a Nikon or Canon which is attractive given their saturation of the market - it's good not to go with the herd sometimes! Good range of lenses.
Nikon D80 - uncomfortably ergonomics for me, as with the D300, the thumb rest digs right into the lower joint of my thumb making it hard to hold firmly, I also didn't like the reversal of the focus and zoom rings on their lenses (focus at the back, zoom at the front).
Nikon D300 - very nice camera, but almost 100g heavier than the 5D!
Canon 40D - very similar to the 5D in terms of size, weight and shape. Comfortable but bland ergonomics and still on the heavy side. Nice big viewfinder, very impressive large information in the viewfinder too, compatible with my existing lenses. But it's a Canon (I have an aversion to monopolies or duopolies - it's not good for consumers or innovation!) and with their quality 17-80 lens it was going to weigh little less than the 5D.
Olympus 510 - brilliant size, weight and comfortable ergonomics, good kit lenses. I don't like the 4/3rds system (a smaller sensor just can't be better as I found with comparisons to the 5D and it makes the viewfinder very small) and their menu system is plain ugly. With a 900,000 pixel moveable screen and cleaner menu, Olympus would corner the small DSLR market.

I decided to buy an A700 with a Carl Zeiss 16-80 lens and have used it for a couple of weeks and overall I am very happy - I use it far more than the 5D as it is light and small and easy to carry. On the downside, the picture quality is not as good as the 5D especially at high ISOs where the Sony is noticeably grainy. Amateur Photographer has a review in their current issue which shows that in terms of IQ, resolution and noise the 5D beats the D300 and 40D, so the A700 really can't compete. But there's no point having the best camera sitting at home gathering dust.

Sony A700 Pros:
- Lightweight and small compared to others in class.
- Very nice ergonomics and comfort in the hand. Easy to hold very tight with very little camera wobble compared to the 5D which is front-heavy and less easy to hold still.
- Brilliant LCD, easy to check colour accuracy and sharpness - don't even need to zoom to check focus. Sony and Nikon are miles ahead of Canon, Olympus and Pentax here.
- Carl Zeiss lens is lightweight and small too, with a very useful range. Very sharp and colourful lens.
- Very bright and large viewfinder - which is so important and put me off Canon's 20D and 30D a few year's ago which have small, pokey viewfinders.
- Anti-shake device is superb, makes a huge difference and in my view is better than the lens version with Canon and Nikon. It applies to all lenses which is a major plus.
- I love the shake level meter in the viewfinder window. It is brilliant and almost on its own has made me a convert to the A700. A little chart fluctuates depending on camera shake, so you wait until the chart drops and then take the picture - it is so helpful.
- White balance settings have 7 variable settings (-3, 0, +3) which is very helpful.
- Lovely clean menu system, easier and quicker than Canon and up there with Nikon's which is also lovely to use. Olympus and Pentax really needs to take note, as their menus are cluttered and not intuitive. The A700's menu is a pleasure to navigate.
- Dedicated ISO, drive, WB and exposure buttons is very quick and useful, all are large and easy to press and can be used without even taking one's eye away from the viewfinder. Also a custom function button (NOT a direct printer button like Canon!). I don't miss the top LCD screen at all - big buttons are more helpful!
- Compressed RAW looks as good as RAW but takes less space and time.
- Outdoor shots are very sharp, very colourful and contrasty. I mainly take travel and outdoor pics so this camera really suits my style and needs.

Sony A700 Cons:
- Picture quality and resolution is not up to Canon 5D standards (but matches 40D and D80 etc). I appreciate they are not like-for-like cameras or in the same class, and the 5D is full frame etc, but it is 3+ years old. My experience is borne out by Amateur Photographer - full frame is best. I should add that at low ISOs (200 or below) and shooting RAW or cRAW the Sony output is almost as good as the Canon, which when coupled with the Sony's size, weight, LCD and anti-shake device is enough for me.
- Where the Sony suffers is at higher ISOs. At 800 the 5D has almost zero grain or noise whereas the Sony, to me, is noisy in the shadows and darkers areas of the pic. If you mainly shoot indoors or in low light, this may not be the right camera for you.
- Poor dedicated range of lenses. Not as many lenses as available for Canon and not the same quality either in terms of build and glass. Too many of the Sony lenses I have read about have had poor reviews. No problems if you have Minolta glass - but again, not the range or quality of Canon.
- Too few Sony lenses have USM/HSM/SSM etc motors. The Zeiss lens is quick but not as quick as my Canon lenses with USM motors. More importantly the Zeiss lens is very "squeaky" in use - when going from completely out of focus to focus there is an audible whirr and squeak as it is not an SSM lens. Only the high-end telephotos have SSM. Also, many of the Sigma lenses don't have HSM while they do for Canon and Nikon mounts making them also loud and slower.
- WB under incandescent light is poor - very orange cast and even with the parameters being changed, is still badly inaccurate.
- There is no ISO reading in the viewfinder info bar which would be helpful and is standard at this level of DSLR.
- The AEL button is very raised away from the body, as a result, when pressed, it is hard to keep my glasses close to the viewfinder and my view becomes distorted - this is actually quite annoying, but nevertheless not a deal breaker by any means.
- The rubber grips on the lens are very fine and are a dust magnet. It's a really minor point, but after one week my Carl Zeiss lens looked shabby because any dust and dirt gets stuck in the fine rubber ridges and is really hard to clean.

Overall:
Overall the Sony A700 is a really excellent camera if you shoot at low ISOs (800 or under), mainly shoot outdoors and want something light and compact to carry all day. If you are coming from film where shooting higher than ISO 400 was virtually unheard of, this is a great camera. I give it 4 stars not 5 as it is not perfect (though arguably no camera is perfect, and this comes as close as any) - to me it is a bit too noisy from ISO 400 up, certainly compared to the D300 with which it shares a sensor. But, it doesn't matter 90% of the time. V Highly Recommended.

This camera is great. Feel comfortable taking photos ISO 800 and beyond. I don't really miss many photo opportunities. So much control and your fingers too. Seems to be a dedicated button for everything within easy reach. Well done sony. Now if you could get a few more lenses in your lineup...