Photo answers review
Photo answers rating 
Features and handling
The big news on the Alpha 700 is the massive resolution of 12.24MP, which should be more than suitable for all but the most demanding professional photographers. The rear screen is a 3in Xtra Fine 921k dot resolution LCD and offers outstanding clarity for image playback. As with the Alpha 100, the Alpha 700 features Super SteadyShot (Sony’s form of image stabiliser), which moves the sensor to provide image stabilisation no matter which lens you use. This also allows the sensor to double as an anti-dust system too, helping to reduce the inconvenience of sensor dirt. The Alpha comes supplied with an infrared remote control as standard too, so there’s no need to have to invest more cash in buying one.
Based roughly around the design of the Minolta Dynax 7, the Alpha 700 is one of the most customisable D-SLRs on the market. This does mean that there's a whole host of buttons littered around the body, but for jobbing professionals this is most certainly a good thing. It’s a big step up from the Alpha 100 or 200, which are clearly aimed at entry-level users, and aims to attract advanced enthusiast photographers.
While the rear screen displays the shooting settings, it’s still disappointing that there isn’t a second LCD panel on the top of the camera. Instead there is a decidedly dull space next to the shutter release, where the Dynax 7 had a second dial.
The drive, WB and ISO buttons that are located in this area are positioned in such a way that it’s hard to get either your thumb or finger onto them, so you’d be better off using the menu shortcuts via the Function button instead.
Performance
Taking less than 1 second to write a JPEG file is seriously quick by any standards. This is made possible by the new BIONZ image-processing engine, which also helps improve overall image quality too.
The autofocus is fast and accurate, and is coupled with the impressive AF assist light. Sony has put a lot of work into the quality of its sensors over the last few years, as evidenced by their inclusion in many top-level D-SLRs from major players. The Alpha 700 benefits from this technology and the new EXMOR 12.24MP CMOS sensor has numerous new features, including on-chip A/D conversion and dual noise reduction.
Although the ISO range only goes up to ISO 3200 you can expand the settings up to 6400. Even at this extremely high ISO setting, the Alpha 700 will give you images that have less noise but with higher saturation and better sharpness than a lot of cameras will give you at ISO 1600. The Alpha 700 offers an impressive level of image quality overall.
Value for money
Sony has positioned the Alpha 700 fairly well in the current market, with the only other 12MP D-SLRs being the new Nikon D300 at around £1300 or the older Canon EOS 5D for £1400. Just below the Sony at £800 is the 10MP Canon EOS 40D, but with an extra 2MP of resolution and built-in image stabilisation the Alpha 700 offers more for the money. The Alpha 700 is the best D-SLR from Sony and is certainly one of the best options for advanced enthusiasts or semi-professionals.
Video Verdict
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Street price |
£929 (body only) |
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Weight/size (WxHxD) |
690g/142x105x80mm |
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Effective resolution |
12.24MP |
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Lens mount |
Sony Alpha |
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Focal length conversion |
1.5x |
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Aspect ratio |
3:2 |
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LCD monitor size |
3in |
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File formats |
JPEG, RAW and cRAW |
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Card type |
CF and Memory Stick Duo (dual slots) |
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Exposure modes |
Auto, program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual, six scene modes and three memory recall modes (MR) |
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Metering modes |
Multi, centre-weighted and spot |
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Autofocus |
11-point |
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ISO range |
100-3200 (expandable to 6400) |
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Battery type |
NP-FM500H |
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Contact |
www.sony.co.uk |
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Start-up time |
Less than 1 second |
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Write times |
2 seconds (RAW), 1.72 seconds (cRAW), less than 1 second (JPEG) |
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Shutter speed range |
30 seconds to 1/8000sec + Bulb |
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Flash sync |
1/250sec (1/200sec with SSS on) |
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Continuous shooting speed |
5fps for 17 frames (RAW), unlimited (JPEG) |