Product Reviews

Aimed at photography enthusiasts, the Alpha 700 is Sony's second DSLR since acquiring Konica Minolta's photo business. It features a 12.24-megapixel Cmos sensor with a maximum sensitivity of ISO6400 and a high-resolution 3in colour monitor.

With a maximum image size of 4288 x 2856 pixels, the Alpha 700 sets a new benchmark at this level for APS-size sensors. Its output can be printed up to 14.3 x 9.5in at 300dpi.

As well as extra pixels, a rigid aluminium body and weatherproof magnesium alloy shell, the A700 features a new 11-point AF system, 5fps continuous shooting with UDMA support for CF cards and an improved built-in anti-shake system. Surprisingly, the Alpha 700 has no live features.

At 142 x 105 x 80mm, the Alpha 700 is one of the largest cameras in its class. Thanks to a new moulding process, though, it's the lightest of the metal-shelled DSLRs, at 690g. The Alpha 700's viewfinder, like that of the original model, is excellent. The image is big, clear and bright but one of the highlights is the new 11-detection point AF system. For accuracy and coverage, it's easily on a par with rivals such as the Canon Eos 40D and the outgoing Nikon D200.

Speed of operation with the Sony 18-70mm kit lens can't be faulted, but most of Sony's lenses still use the old screw-type AF mechanism, which rivals have dropped in favour of the near-silent piezo-electric motors.

Thanks to a traditional shooting mode dial and decent-sized controls the Alpha 700 handles well, having the edge over the forthcoming Nikon D300 with its slightly cumbersome mode button selection.

The lack of a top-plate data panel seems odd at first, but all the major shooting data is displayed on

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the 3in screen, and using it soon becomes second nature. Selections can be made very quickly from the info screen using a joystick on the right of the panel.

The flicker-free monitor is by far the most impressive we've seen, and we found it legible in all but the brightest sunlight.

In use, the Alpha won't keep you waiting: power-on and shot-to-shot times are all blisteringly fast. With an 8GB UDMA-enabled 300x speed CompactFlash card, the Alpha 700 delivered its 5fps continuous shooting for up to 47 best-quality Jpegs. Then, thanks to improved I/O support, it continued at a sprightly 4fps until the card was full, although it can maintain 5fps if mid-and highly compressed Jpegs are chosen.

Colour rendition is excellent, but like most rivals, indoor lighting creates auto-white balance errors. Picture quality is good, though. Images straight off the sensor, either converted from Raw or as Jpegs, are softer than those from the Alpha 100, no doubt due to a more aggressive anti-aliasing filter.

The Alpha 700's files are silky smooth as a result, although there's plenty of detail up to ISO3200, and images sharpen well in Photoshop from ACR. That said, Sony's bundled Raw converter provides arguably superior results. As expected, ISO6400 suffers from posterisation.

From our tests, the Sony DT 18-70mm starter lens isn't as good a match for the sensor as it was for the A100. Fringing was evident at the edges and the resolving power is noticeably behind that of the optional Carl Zeiss 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 kit lens. It's a pricey kit option too, given the extra £399 it costs over the Sony 18-70mm, and the same can be said for the rest of Sony's system.

We liked Sony's Super SteadyShot anti-shake system, which is built into the body rather than the lens, so you won't lose it when you change lenses. We couldn't see the extra half-stop compensation Sony claims for the kit lens, although the largest gains are more likely with telephoto lenses.

With no real downsides, Sony's Alpha 700 is easily a match for the Canon Eos 40D and should fare well against the similar Nikon D300. The lack of live view features is a lost opportunity, but it isn't a deal-breaker, although the price of lenses and accessories is likely to limit its appeal to new users.