Comments on: Are the Sony A700 controls professional grade?

By: RTHORNE

RTHORNE — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:13:00 +0000

I have a Sony A700 and use an A200 as a backup. I love both camera’s. I started out on Nikon F3’s in the late 1970’s. Thank goodness for digital SLR’S! I can shoot thousands of pictures virtually for free unlike using film. I stopped viewing the Sony Talk Forum long ago because most of the communicators there talk over kill when it comes to cameras and the like. Give me an A700 and a good photo editing program and I can produce great photo’s. Stop reading all the scuttle butt and get out there and fire away! Master photoshop or something like it and your results will be mind blowing.

By: Beth Y

Beth Y — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:32:31 +0000

I have owned the Sony a700 for over a year now, and have been nothing shirt of thrilled with it. I can’t wait to get my hands on the a900. If the 700 is any indication it will be fantastic! I have had nothing but great success and ease of use with the a700. Yes I had to get used to where everything in the menu is, but it becomes second nature in no time! I hope more people give it a try.

By: Arnold Thornton

Arnold Thornton — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:45:41 +0000

Hi:

One consideration with regard to menu driven choices is that I have to put my glasses on to read them! Give me manual controls………

Regards

Arnold Thornton

By: Happy Roman

Happy Roman — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:12:40 +0000

Hi,

Well, I don’t think you can beat the dual dial setup, and here is why:

Not only is it optimal use of space for a non top plate LCD, you also gain

the exposure compensation on the left (dead handy), but also the drive modes on

the PASM main dial, and the bracketing too.

Thats a tough act to beat.

I did use the A700 to, its very good handling, but its not 7d or 7 film. I like it a lot, great camera, but the top plate is just so empty on the right hand side, it feels a little wasted to me. Quicknav is great, I will give them that, but not having a top lcd, means the space is there to use. I dont dig the big baby buttons on top, but overall its good. Sure whips a Canikon for handling

The other issue is the flash exposure compensation..um not ideal is it on the A700, thats why that exp comp left hand dial was just sooooo good.

Minolta had it nailed right on the money.

Thing is you see, if it aint broke, dont fix it.

A700 handling 8/10

7/7d 10/10

By: Link Roundup 09-22-2007 | Epic Edits Weblog

Link Roundup 09-22-2007 | Epic Edits Weblog — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 05:16:47 +0000

[…] Sony A700: Are The Controls Professional Grade? Alphatracks Great discussion on Sony’s upcoming SLR model, the A700. […]

By: Brian Auer

Brian Auer — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:59:56 +0000

I’ll definitely wait to see the final products before fully judging them, but I’m just so spoiled with my Minolta — it’s hard not to be critical of anything less.

Great blog, by the way — it’s nice to see articles that don’t talk about Canon and Nikon all day long.

By: Tom Bonner

Tom Bonner — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 02:43:46 +0000

Hey Brian —

Thanks for sounding off. I hear what you are saying, but I’m reserving judgement until I actually handle the A700.

As far as the next future Sony dSLR, I think you’ll get half of your wishes. Sony showed off two concept models last March, one of which was nearly identical to the A700. So I’m guessing the Flagship model will stick pretty close to the other concept camera.

I’ve got good news and bad news: The Flagship (if it is similar to the concept mockup) doesn’t have a popup flash, so yo won’t have to sell your stuff. LOL. On the other hand, the mockup only has a single dial. In fact the controls appear very similar to those on the A700.

As far a a crop factor, I will be pretty disappointed if it is only 1.25. Sony hasn’t said anything one way or another, but I;m expecting a full-frame, or at least a nearly full-frame body when Sony ships the flagship.

I wrote about my full frame-expectations in this post:

http://alphatracks.com/archives/45

I hope you give the A700 and it’s future sibling a chance before judging the controls.

Thanks again for commenting.

— Tom

By: Brian Auer

Brian Auer — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:40:22 +0000

I love my 7D. I’m glad that Sony is stepping it up — I was a little disappointed when the a100 launched. Not that it’s a bad camera, but in many aspects it was a step backwards from the 7D. This a700 looks a little more enticing, but I’m still not fully impressed. I think I’ll have to wait it out until their next model arrives (as long as my 7D keeps trucking). I want two control dials on the top of the camera, no preset shooting modes (just give me P, A, S, M, and some programmable spots)… basically, I want the same controls on the 7D, and maybe a few more. Oh well, at least they put both wheels back on the grip.

So here’s looking forward to the a900? a… whatever the next one after the 700 will be. I heard some kind of rumor that it will have a 1.25X crop factor with the option to switch down to 1.5 when using 1.5X lenses. That would be pretty slick, but they still need to work on the controls. And if the next one has a pop-up flash, I’m going to sell all my stuff and buy a Canon. They really need to market to the serious crowd with their third release.

By: LEdgars

LEdgars — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:17:08 +0000

I agree, I will mis 7D manual controls for sure.

I was really surprised that AA model has programs like portrait, sunset, landscape etc. In my opinion may be only B&W and Sepia have a place in AA camera but should be changed trough a menu. Of course I understand that Sony put this programs to increase interest of A100 users to switch to A700, but for me in A700 is no one control dial. Actually it could be grate if Sony save at least one, but double dial form 7D.