A700 or A550?

[sagiluck]

Sony Style JP is selling their A700 display set.. not quite remember the price but within 700-900 . but i wonder how long it has been on display since the model was launched in late 2007

 

[banana0ne]

I saw an A700 at sony style. A display set at 799 with 18-70mm kit lens. dun know if it's cheap or not.

 

[tehzeh]

I saw an A700 at sony style. A display set at 799 with 18-70mm kit lens. dun know if it's cheap or not.

huh. I think 799 is damn cheap, for a magnesium body.

 

[NortonArchie]

I saw an A700 at sony style. A display set at 799 with 18-70mm kit lens. dun know if it's cheap or not.

If its selling at $799 with kit lens, dont wait anymore, quickly grab it. Even 2nd hand sets are going at more than $900 body alone, though not many are selling.

Coming back to the topic, a A700 is a gem to hold - albeit a bit heavy due to its metal casing, 11 pts AF definitely beats 9 pts AF - outdoor colors and IQ are fantastic, can't say much for indoor as WB is quirky without flash. Technology wise, it's 3 years old, but you may consider the A550 if you like the higher MP, HDR,live-view,high ISO - in short, perfect pics on auto settings. Personally, go for the A550 if your intention is to have only 1 dslr camera, but you may try the A700 if you already got a spare camera.

 

[BenAWJ]

Apologies to all other brothers, but once you hold a A700 in your hands, all other Alphas (except A850/900) are plastics.

AF is also more consistent and fast. If the OT wants sports photography, he can't go wrong with A700.

If you can wait for few months, wait for A7xx which definitely is improved and with Full HD video somemore.

Just to check, A700's AF is 5fps? If so its enough for me already

I used to have A 700, But since I bought the A 550 had never looked back on others as well,there is always pros and cons on the others side, the advantage of a plastic cam is light and easy to carry oso it depends on the shooter himself. With the live view give u many advantages.AS Ts had said, if can wait go for the new cam may be in 3rd quarter of the year,if not A 550 will benefit u more later than waiting .:bsmilie:

I havent used live view before on dSLRs. My a230 doesnt have one but I do agree its useful because sometimes i need to take overhead shots.

If its selling at $799 with kit lens, dont wait anymore, quickly grab it. Even 2nd hand sets are going at more than $900 body alone, though not many are selling.

Coming back to the topic, a A700 is a gem to hold - albeit a bit heavy due to its metal casing, 11 pts AF definitely beats 9 pts AF - outdoor colors and IQ are fantastic, can't say much for indoor as WB is quirky without flash. Technology wise, it's 3 years old, but you may consider the A550 if you like the higher MP, HDR,live-view,high ISO - in short, perfect pics on auto settings. Personally, go for the A550 if your intention is to have only 1 dslr camera, but you may try the A700 if you already got a spare camera.

WB is quirky without flash? What does that mean? MP doesnt matter much for now because i dont do much cropping. What I'm interested is the noise reduction. How good is A700's?
I wished to own both A700 and A550. But my holiday job only allows me to get one. My A230 wont fetch good price anyway. So I dont think I'll be selling it to fund for other bodies

 

[BenAWJ]

I saw an A700 at sony style. A display set at 799 with 18-70mm kit lens. dun know if it's cheap or not.

Which sony style?

 

[Aimevous]

Just to check, A700's AF is 5fps? If so its enough for me already



I havent used live view before on dSLRs. My a230 doesnt have one but I do agree its useful because sometimes i need to take overhead shots.



WB is quirky without flash? What does that mean? MP doesnt matter much for now because i dont do much cropping. What I'm interested is the noise reduction. How good is A700's?
I wished to own both A700 and A550. But my holiday job only allows me to get one. My A230 wont fetch good price anyway. So I dont think I'll be selling it to fund for other bodies

there are some sites that did comparisons and found a550 to have slightly more detail than a700. The metering in the A5xx is also better, i think due to some new software. you can try googling and read. There are tonnes of people asking the same question really..

 

[android17]

the main difference is really in the live view and manual focus live view.

Macro shots is alot easier with the A550, as well as when when fine tuning manual focusing. the precise manual focus live view mode will let u fine tune so sharply, its something the A700 cannot do.

But of cos the A700 wins in better build quality.

If u think live view is useful, or u wanna do some macro work, the A550 is good.

If u r not ever gonna do macro, then just get the A700.

Or just wait till A7XX comes out, then u will have A700 + A550 + HD Video

 

[BenAWJ]

the main difference is really in the live view and manual focus live view.

Macro shots is alot easier with the A550, as well as when when fine tuning manual focusing. the precise manual focus live view mode will let u fine tune so sharply, its something the A700 cannot do.

But of cos the A700 wins in better build quality.

If u think live view is useful, or u wanna do some macro work, the A550 is good.

If u r not ever gonna do macro, then just get the A700.

Or just wait till A7XX comes out, then u will have A700 + A550 + HD Video

Third quarter is still so far far away. I believe machine price will be very expensive also. Wont be doing insects macro work because I realise I dont exactly like it. But I love sports photography and some landscape

 

[sulhan]

Hi There,

I personally used own the A700 and now in my hand is a A550 from Sony for use in some demo to some students. Personally if you want the newer features and live view + newer more responsive AF, go for the A550.

Reality check, if you are:
- Just a hobbyist with the goal of getting higher Frames per second
- Doesn't take photos like going through a fire movement exercise
- Doesn't take your camera through a rugby-like dive
- Want latest features to boot
- Hoping for warrantied product
- Don't mind slightly smaller view finder...since you gonna use live view anyway.
- Don't mind not looking like a pro (whisper...looking like a pro doesn't promise good photos).
- No great investment on CF cards yet.
- Have High speed Memory Sticks card on hand or SD cards.

Then get the A550. Forget about the magnesium part of it. Its not going to improve any bit of your photos. The Tilt LCD on the A550 replaces the need of an angle finder. This will open up to a new sets of compositional views to explore.

rgds,
Sulhan

 

[banana0ne]

huh. I think 799 is damn cheap, for a magnesium body.

I dun feel the need of magnesium body, I already have that in my present small cam. but I'm checking about the AF speed difference between 550 and 700.

At any rate, I dun know if it is still available, and thinking maybe the shutter count is already enormously high.

 

[SiaOLiaO]

I dun feel the need of magnesium body, I already have that in my present small cam. but I'm checking about the AF speed difference between 550 and 700.

At any rate, I dun know if it is still available, and thinking maybe the shutter count is already enormously high.

I think you will be better off buying a 2nd hand than a display set. At least it won't be abused, that's for sure.

 

[BenAWJ]

Hi There,

I personally used own the A700 and now in my hand is a A550 from Sony for use in some demo to some students. Personally if you want the newer features and live view + newer more responsive AF, go for the A550.

Reality check, if you are:
- Just a hobbyist with the goal of getting higher Frames per second
- Doesn't take photos like going through a fire movement exercise
- Doesn't take your camera through a rugby-like dive
- Want latest features to boot
- Hoping for warrantied product
- Don't mind slightly smaller view finder...since you gonna use live view anyway.
- Don't mind not looking like a pro (whisper...looking like a pro doesn't promise good photos).
- No great investment on CF cards yet.
- Have High speed Memory Sticks card on hand or SD cards.

Then get the A550. Forget about the magnesium part of it. Its not going to improve any bit of your photos. The Tilt LCD on the A550 replaces the need of an angle finder. This will open up to a new sets of compositional views to explore.

rgds,
Sulhan

This is true.. I dont have any CFs at the moment. Hows the noise control for both at ISO6400?

 

[MontoyaSG]

Hi There,

I personally used own the A700 and now in my hand is a A550 from Sony for use in some demo to some students. Personally if you want the newer features and live view + newer more responsive AF, go for the A550.

Reality check, if you are:
- Just a hobbyist with the goal of getting higher Frames per second
- Doesn't take photos like going through a fire movement exercise
- Doesn't take your camera through a rugby-like dive
- Want latest features to boot
- Hoping for warrantied product
- Don't mind slightly smaller view finder...since you gonna use live view anyway.
- Don't mind not looking like a pro (whisper...looking like a pro doesn't promise good photos).
- No great investment on CF cards yet.
- Have High speed Memory Sticks card on hand or SD cards.

Then get the A550. Forget about the magnesium part of it. Its not going to improve any bit of your photos. The Tilt LCD on the A550 replaces the need of an angle finder. This will open up to a new sets of compositional views to explore.

rgds,
Sulhan

Actually the tilt LCD screen is godsend for some events coverage. There's simply no time to compose a shot thru the viewfinder.