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During our first introduction to the A700, we suppressed a sneer when Sony told us the A700's Super SteadyShot could counteract shake for up to a 4-stop gain in handholding -- that is, after all, what every sensor-shift maker claims, though it rarely, if ever, holds true.
But our blur-factor tests with our DxO Analyzer 2.0 showed an average gain among five shooters at more than 2.5 stops, with a top gain of slightly more than 3 stops. (That translates into handholding at 1/40 or 1/50 sec rather than 1/250 sec.) So while it didn't make 4, it beats the A100's 2 to 3 stops, and rivals many image-stabilized lenses.
The controls and handling of the A700 are nearly impeccable. We think advanced shooters will appreciate how, with just a little familiarity, its numerous buttons and switches actually speed up control.
Exposure compensation, ISO, white balance, drive mode, meter pattern, AE lock, image stabilization, manual-focus touchup, and focusing mode all have dedicated buttons. This is in addition to two command dials, and a C (for custom) button that can be programmed for a single control of your choice.
The next layer of control comes by way of the function button, which makes the rear LCD go interactive. Using the joystick nub next to the screen, you can toggle through 11 controls. Plus, there's a full deck of menus. All this makes for redundant control sequences -- there are three ways to make many settings.
On top of that, you can store up to three favorite camera setups, with 28 individual settings in each that are quickly accessible on the mode dial.
BRIGHT IDEAS
The A700's image adjustments include a refinement of the Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO), which extends the shadow-to-highlight range of images on the fly, with no discernable slowdown in processing.
Standard DRO works something like Auto Levels in Adobe Photoshop, bringing up the brightness and adjusting contrast. It sometimes pushes highlights up too far and is best used in simple lighting that could use a small boost in shadow detail.
Advanced DRO does a more complex analysis of contrast and color to expand dynamic range. Let it work automatically (which tends to be conservative in bringing up shadow detail) or manually adjust the compensation to one of five levels.
We found the DRO very useful in fine-tuning shots in the camera. Moreover, JPEGs with any level of DRO can be simultaneously captured with a RAW or compressed RAW (cRAW) file. You can also autobracket by DRO or apply DRO settings later in supplied software.
The A700 has 14 image presets, including Sunset and Autumn, and you can tweak contrast, saturation, and sharpness within these. But we suspect advanced users will leave it set for Adobe RGB, using RAW capture for real image editing later.
The glass pentaprism viewfinder, with its tested 0.99X magnification, provides a bright view and clearly visible readouts below the picture.
The 3-inch, 921,600-dot (307,200-pixel) LCD provides photo-quality playback, and you can magnify the image up to 10X. The control screen rotates automatically when you turn the camera, and it shuts off automatically when you bring the camera to your eye.
The camera lacks live view. Sony says its marketing research showed that this feature wasn't important to experienced photographers. We think studio, macro, and underwater shooters might not agree.
With a magnesium-alloy exterior over an aluminum-alloy chassis, the A700 should withstand rugged duty.
Buttons and switches are thoroughly gasketed against moisture and dust. A plastic ridge covers the memory card slots when the card door is shut, though we think a lip-seal around the door would work better.
Other goodies? An infrared wireless remote trigger is included at no extra cost. The rechargeable InfoLithium battery is CIPA-rated at 650 shots; the control panel displays precisely how much charge remains -- a nice touch. There's an HDMI port for playback on high-def monitors and TVs. The included RAW converter/editor, though a bit sluggish, has an elegant, easy-to-navigate interface. Also included is remote-capture software that allows operation by a PC via USB cable.
The Alpha 700 will most likely appeal to photographers who value fast response -- namely sports, news, and wildlife shooters. Available-light photographers also will like the upgraded image stabilization and ISO 6400 setting that maintains resolution of more than 2000 lines.
Although the TTL flash system is sophisticated and flexible, Sony is due for an upgraded accessory flash.
You can expect Sony to keep its promise to aggressively fill in its lens line. After all, as the Alpha 700 proves, this company is very serious about DSLRs.
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