Here are some links to the reviews available in the websites .... Alpha 700 looks like a promising DSLR. But I doubt it is able to compete with Canon 40D or Nikon D300. Now, let's see what the reviews say:
Some interesting comments:
"Interestingly the one thing the A700 doesn't have is any form of live view; when we spoke to Sony about this the answer was simple; they believe that the compromises involved in current systems are satisfactory, and they won't implement live view until they can 'get it right'. Whether the lack of live view has any real relevance in a camera at this level remains to be seen; we doubt it."
"Although the styling has been given a modern twist and the D7D's button / switch overkill has been toned down a little, it's not hard to see where Sony's designers started from, and there are many features from the D7D that made it almost unchanged into the A700. These include the basic control layout (the second dial has been lost and replaced by a simpler on-screen 'Quick Navi' system), the magnesium alloy construction, the eye-start focus, CCD-shift IS and high level of customization and the optional vertical shooting grip. For potential upgraders looking for a reason to trade up from a D7D to Sony's new 'Advanced Amateur' model here's just a brief taste of what three years difference makes:
- Twice as many pixels: 12MP CMOS sensor (vs 6MP CCD)
- New shutter with higher maximum speed and higher sync speed
- Bigger screen with three times the resolution
- Improvements to focus speed and accuracy
- Faster (5 fps) continuous shooting capabilities and better buffering
- New 40 segment honeycomb metering
- Better GUI and huge range of new features
- HDTV output
- Creative Styles and lots of new parameters to play with
- HDTV output"
"Sony Alpha 700: New Features
- 12.2MP CMOS sensor, Sony says sensor is "all-new for this camera"
- More rugged body, magnesium alloy and polycarbonate construction
- Environmental seals
- Continuous 5 fps shooting, no buffer limit in JPEG Fine/Normal mode with sufficiently fast memory card
- All-new shutter, vertical traverse, 1/8,000 max speed, 1/250 or 1/200 x-sync (slower when Super SteadyShot is turned on)
- Viewfinder is glass pentaprism, 95% coverage, 0.9x magnification.
- DRO (Dynamic Range Optimization) has been revised to include five user-selectable levels in D-R+ mode
- 922K-pixel LCD, 267 ppi vs 160 ppi for typical 230K-pixel 2.5" monitors
- Dual CompactFlash (type I/II) and Memory Stick Pro Duo card slots
- Lithium-ion battery good for 650 shots
- New lens for high-end kits: 16-105mm f/3.5-5.6
- Goes wider than any other kit lens, is equivalent of 24mm at wide end, vs 27mm equivalent for others. Doesn't sound like much, but the difference is 83 degree coverage for 16mm vs 76 degrees for 18mm.
- Super Steady-Shot image stabilization enhanced
- Both Eye Start and Grip Start sensors for AF
- Predictive autofocus has been enhanced
- Direct HDMI output built-in
- New Sony Bravia televisions will have special PhotoTV setting, optimized for still pictures. Higher resolution, more gradation, richer color. More natural contrast, not as pumped as standard TV mode
- New vertical grip with full controls, holds one or two batteries for extended runtime
- Sony's goal: "Number One total picture quality among mid-class DLSRs"
- New sensor with on-chip A/D converters
- New image processor (entirely new BIONZ design)
- RAW noise reduction, fast & low-noise processing optimized for CMOS"
