Sony is ready to launch Sony
DSLR-A700, the latest from its line-up
of digital single lens reflex cameras.
With Sony DSLR-A700, Sony plans to
take on digital SLR camera market
leaders Nikon and Canon.
Sony hopes to attract photo
enthusiasts and serious photo
hobbyists to the DSLR-A700. The new
Sony SLR camera will come at a price
of 180,000 yen in Japan ($1,560). The
DSLR A700 will be the second digital
SLR model from Sony which launched the
first of its digital SLR cameras in
2006.
Sony is planning to sell the Alpha
A700 body from early October. An Alpha
A700K kit with 18-70mm lens and an
Alpha A700P kit with 16-105mm lens
will be available in shops from
November for $1,500 and $1,900
respectively.
In addition to standard Sony
lenses, the DSLR-A700 will also be
compatible with most lenses in the
Minolta Maxxum mount lenses.
Like most advanced Sony cameras,
the DSLR A700 will also have a super
steady shot function for image
stabilisation.
The Sony DSLR-A700 is fitted with a
12.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor, to
capture high-quality images under all
light conditions. Advanced Sony
technology helps eliminate external
noise and interference. The image
signals are processed by a BIONZ
processing engine.
According to Phil Lubell, director of
marketing for digital cameras at Sony
Electronics, the DSLR-A700 will
re-define the post-capture experience
with HDMI™ output for high-quality
playback of images on high-definition
televisions.
The new auto focus system in the
DSLR-A700 comes with 11 external
sensors. It has a central dual cross
sensor, which is made of two
horizontal and vertical line sensors
for outstanding auto focus precision.
The Sony DSLR A700 comes with wireless
flash support, and the back of the
camera features a 3 inch LCD screen,
one of the largest in the industry.
The weather-resistant seals of the
camera make the A700 moisture-proof
and dust-proof.
Unlike point-and-shoot compact
cameras, digital SLR cameras can be
used with a variety of interchangeable
lenses, which makes them suitable for
professional photography. Built in
magnesium alloy which is used for most
professional digital SLRs, the camera
uses several advanced imaging
technologies, claims Sony.
Till now, the only digital SLR camera
from the Sony stable was the Sony DSLR
A100. The Alpha 700 model takes Sony's
digital ambitions to a new level. Sony
is targetting mostly entry-level SLR
photographers with the new model. The
DSLR Alpha A700 takes on recent SLR
launches like Canon 40D and Nikon
D300.
The camera is compatible with most
high-definition televisions, including
the Sony Bravia. While the previous
Sony Alpha (DSLR A100) had a 230,000
pixel resolution with a 2.5-inch
screen, the A700 delivers a record
920,600 pixel resolution for its
3-inch LCD.
The A700 also has user-friendly
functionalities like a 28 customized
settings and a Quick Navigation
System. The 14 Creative Styles in the
A700 SLR camera include settings like
“Night View,” “Autumn Leaves,” and
“Vivid.”
Similar to the original Sony Alpha
A100, the Sony DSLR A700 has two
memory card slots; one for
CompactFlash Type I or II and one for
the Memory Stick PRO-HG. The camera
runs on a new InfoLithium (NP-FM500H)
battery which is backward compatible
with the A100.
Key technical specifications of
Sony DSLR-A700 digital camera
12.24-megapixel CMOS sensor
BIONZ image processor
11 point autofocus system
ISO 3200 (expandable to ISO 6400)
5fps (for 17 shots in RAW mode)
1/8000th shutter speed
3-inch LCD screen (with 921,000
pixels)
Optional battery grip
Wireless Flash support
Support for MemoryStick and
CompactFlash cards
