A700 -- Engadget

a700 posts

Sony issues firmware update for Alpha A700 DSLR

by Darren Murph posted Sep 16th 2008 at 5:06PM

Sony's Alpha A700 has been pleasing (or displeasing, we suppose), users for just over a year now, but those that have stuck with it in spite of a few issues can now smile brightly. Sony has just unleashed a firmware update for the DSLR which reportedly adds in an option to select auto exposure bracketing (single and continuous) with 3 shots in 2 EV steps and gives the choice to nix the High ISO NR feature. Furthermore, it supposedly improves the image quality in a high ISO setting, the auto white balance and D-Range Optimizer performance and the reliability for communication between camera body and vertical grip. Any owners out there care to give a shout on how their rig is performing post-update?

[Via DPReview]

Minolta lens conversion for A700 with ROM chip keeps focus and IS

by Paul Miller posted Apr 4th 2008 at 9:31AM

It's a little jargon heavy, but Dyxum forum moderator Shao Z. has documented the process of modding up some 60's era f/1.2 Minolta lenses and setting them to work with his Sony A700 DSLR. Obviously the Sony Alpha series comes from a Minolta heritage, but it took adding a ROM chip and machining some mounts to get the lenses to work with the A700. The plus side is that the process keeps infinity focus and focus confirmation intact (the lens itself is manual focus), as well as Sony's in-camera Super Steady Shot. The lenses work with all Sony DSLRs, as well as the Minolta 5D and 7D film cameras, and he's selling one on eBay if the whole modding experience isn't your thing.

Sony's Alpha A700 DSLR now official, already previewed

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 6th 2007 at 2:04AM

Rather than scraping the details off their Romanian flash pages, you can now take a more mature approach to your A700 fawning by reviewing Sony's official press release. Better yet, dpreview has a hands-on preview of the latest ~~Konica Minolta~~ Sony Alpha now packing a 12.1 megapixel APS-C "Exmor" CMOS sensor and all-new version of its Bionz image processor which combine for up to 5fps bursting. $1,400 for that sweet body starting in October. Now go read the multi-page preview in full after peeping all that hot, hot DSLR action in the gallery below.

Gallery: Sony's Alpha A700 DSLR now official, already previewed

Read -- Press Release
Read -- Hands-on preview

Sony (briefly) reveals all about Alpha a700 DSLR

by Evan Blass posted Sep 5th 2007 at 12:03PM

Yup, Sony's Advanced Amateur DSLR is definitely called the a700, and we've definitely got all the specs for you, courtesy of a just-posted Sony UK flash mini-site -- which suddenly went down, so these details are all from memory. We're talking about a 12.4 megapixel CMOS sensor backed by a BIONZ image processor, 3-inch, 921,000 pixel LCD, 3200 maximum ISO (with a ridiculous ISO 6400 "expanded mode"), 11 point autofocus, and wireless flash support. Furthermore, the Super SteadyShot and anti-dust features seem to have been given a boost over those found in the a100, MemorySticks now have their own dedicated slot next to their CF brethren, portrait grip is now possible, and while other metrics have also improved, you'll be paying for it in the form of almost 100 fewer shots on a full battery. No price or release date have been given, of course, but maybe we can get a little more info from Sony now that the cat's out of the bag. Check out the gallery below for a few more screen grabs...

Update: Looks like the UK mini-site is back up; hit the Read link for the full show.

Gallery: Sony (briefly) reveals all about Alpha a700 DSLR

Sony's Advanced Amateur DSLR called the Alpha a700?

by Evan Blass posted Sep 5th 2007 at 11:30AM

Anyone who's the least bit into digital photography knows that Sony is coming out with two new DSLRs -- the Flagship and Advanced Amateur models -- sometime in the future, but other than a few in the wild shots and rumored specs, we still don't know much about the mysterious duo. Info is slowing coming to light, however, with several of Sony's foreign sites now showing a flash video that clearly depicts the Advanced Amateur model branded as the a700 -- which would follow the original a100 and perhaps signal an a900 branding for the Flagship. Seems like we're getting close to an actual announcement here, so we'll keep you posted.

[Via Photography Blog]

Fujifilm rolls out affordable FinePix A700

by Darren Murph posted Sep 12th 2006 at 8:15AM

In what appears to be a revamp that's more evolutionary than revolutionary, Fujifilm has announced the latest member of the affordable A-series. Aside from the ever-increasing amount of megapixels, there isn't much here to get enthused about; the FinePix A700 sports a 7.3 megapixel Super CCD sensor (up from 6 in the A600), 3x optical zoom, 2.4-inch LCD, automatic ISO adjustments (up to ISO 400), and "approximately" 12MB of internal storage, which may come in handy when needing "just one more shot" after that xD card taps out. As with most budget cameras, you should expect to lug around a copious supply of AA batteries, and while we can only get so excited about jamming more megapixels into a camera and slapping a new model number on it, you can snag the A700 for $199 when it hits shelves in early October should it suit your fancy.

[Via Digital Photography Blog]