By Theano Nikitas
Just when you thought it was safe to purchase an SLR, Sony unleashes the A700. The middle child in a trio of DSLRs, the 12.2 megapixel A700 sits between the 10 megapixel entry-level A100 and a higher end mystery model that has yet to have a coming out party.
But this camera is more than just a pumped up, 'roid raged version of its younger sibling. The A700 is equipped with a new CMOS sensor, a revamped autofocus system, additional Dynamic Range Optimization modes, an upgraded lens-shift image stabilization mechanism, and a huge 3-inch LCD. Other totally sweet specs include light sensitivity (ISO) up to 6400, shutter speeds as fast as 1/8000 of a second and, for your viewing pleasure, HDMI output for playing images in true HD glory.
I spent a couple of days shooting with a pre-production A700 on a recent visit to Maine with Sony and a small group of fellow journalists. (We'll have to wait a few more weeks until production models are ready for our nit-picky review.) But I can tell you that the camera is extremely well-built, comfy to hold, and offers some convenient shooting options as well. The A700 has enough buttons and dials to satiate even the most obsessed control freaks, but thanks to the Quick Navigation display on the 3-inch monitor, snapping off a quick succession of high quality images can be point-and-shoot simple. Other nice touches abound in forms like the automatic display rotation for vertical shooting, which is made all the more convenient with the optional dual-battery vertical grip. And with more than two dozen lenses and accessories, the A700 offers plenty of flexibility no matter what your shooting preferences are.
Look for the A700 body only ($1,400) or with an 18-70mm lens ($1,500) in October. A kit with the camera and 16-105mm lens ($1,900) will be available in November. Now we know that humans are visual creatures, so sit back and scope out these prony pics of the A700. Photo junkies, start your salivating.
