Sony A700 Review
Review Date: January 17th 2008
Author: Mark Goldstein
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Conclusion
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Ratings
(out of 5) |
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| Design | 5 |
| Features | 4.5 |
| Ease-of-Use | 5 |
| Image Quality | 4.5 |
| Value for Money | 4.5 |
Offering a compelling combination of intuitive design and handling, sophisticated functionality and excellent image quality, the Sony A700 is an easy DSLR camera to recommend. Being based so clearly upon a previous Konica Minolta camera has given Sony the benefits of an already installed user-base, eager for a new body to use their lenses with, and a proven design on which to build. And build they certainly have, with a wealth of advanced new features that make the A700 perfectly suited to its prosumer target market. If you're already a Konica Minolta or Sony A100 DSLR owner, upgrading to the A700 is something of a no-brainer, helped by a generously competitive price-tag. If you haven't invested in a DSLR system yet, the Sony A700 is a strong contender for your cash, especially considering that Sony have invested a huge amount of money in the future of their DSLR range, with even more new lenses and bodies on the horizon. If you're already wedded to a similar Canon, Nikon, or other manufacturer's system, then the A700 doesn't do quite enough to tempt you away, as there are a few negative points to take note of. It deserves a better lens than the supplied DT 18-70mm, produces soft images at the default settings, lacks a top LCD panel, and suffers in comparison with some of its competitors by not offering a Live View mode (something which you may or may not care about) or support for a wireless transmitter.. You'll also find a similar 3 inch LCD screen and HDMI connectivity on a direct competitor, the Nikon D300. All in all, though, the Sony A700 is a fantastic DSLR camera that only narrowly misses out on our coveted Essential / 5 Star award.
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