Sony A700?

[KAT4DISNEY]

Ok - walked into Best Buy today just to take a look at a few models - had been thinking about the Canon Xsi and wanted to see the Sony A300 or A350. They didn't have either of those Sony models, but they had the A200 and the A700. Well, I couldn't believe it but the A700 body was on clearance at $560 for the body! Only 1 left in stock except for the floor model so I decided to get it since I did like the feel of it. The Canon Xsi had been appealing to me because of the light weight and although it felt comfortable enough, the A700 did feel better, although a bit heavier.

The down sides I see are:
No Live View
Fewer lens choices than C/N Lines
Very good new Sony cameras w/kit lenses for less and higher pixels that in some ways trump the A700.

Best Buy had very few lenses (actually, just 3 for the Sony mount) so I picked up the Sony DT 18-200 F3.5-6.3 - I thought would be a good all around lens. Or would somebody recommend something else? Any well liked non-Sony lenses? Any and all feedback is appreciated as this is my first DSLR. I just finished a fairly good review of the users manual and am just amazed at what DSLR's can offer - it's such a different world from the film SLR's!

Any feedback from Sony users on this model or from any others on the A700 compared to the A300 or 350 or the Canon Xsi?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Bumping up to see if any DSLR users have any feedback on the A700 or the Sony DLSR's in general? I put the cart before the horse on this one!

 

[Master Mason]

I can't help you much on information about Sony, but I can tell you that best buy isn't a great place to buy lenses. Decide what your looking for and then go to B&H, beach/buydig, or amazon. You'll get a much better selection and cheaper as well.

And I will make a general comment out the lens you got, it should be great on bright sunny days, but at f/6.3 on the long end, it will struggle under lower light conditions.

 

[MICKEY88]

560, you've got to be kidding me... WOW... I'm impatiently waiting for the release of the A900

if I could get my hands on an A700 at that price I'd consider buying 2 of those with vertical grips and retiring my Minolta 7D

dang that's a great deal.. although the a300 and a350 have higher mp count, the A700 is a better camera...

I'll give you 600 for it..LOL

 

[MICKEY88]

according to their website the a200 is on sale for 560. someone screwed up, you bought a camera that is 1300 body only at most places..

 

[MICKEY88]

what did they want for the display model

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Congratulations on finding what sounds like a great buy!

It's not going to be "too much" camera for you, is it? Are you uncomfortable with the fact it doesn't have Live View? Second guessing your purchase? If you change your mind, you could probably sell it for more than you bought it for, anyway (right here on the Dis no less!) Ideally, you should be fairly comfortable with what you've bought.

On another note, I wonder if something's up with Best Buy? There have been discussions on other photog boards that they seem to be clearing out certain models at ridiculously low prices. Maybe changing their camera sales line?

 

[oogieboogieman]

You actually have a pretty good choice of lenses available to you. Take a look at some of the older Konica Minolta AF lenses. You will be able to find them on Ebay and take a look at KEH. They grade their lenses they have a good return policy. I have a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and I love it. I picked up a used KM 50mm f/1.7 and a KM 70-210 f/4 , both are fantastic lenses that won't cost you an arm and leg. Congrats on your purchase!

 

[oogieboogieman]

Congratulations on finding what sounds like a great buy!

It's not going to be "too much" camera for you, is it? Are you uncomfortable with the fact it doesn't have Live View? Second guessing your purchase? If you change your mind, you could probably sell it for more than you bought it for, anyway (right here on the Dis no less!) Ideally, you should be fairly comfortable with what you've bought.

On another note, I wonder if something's up with Best Buy? There have been discussions on other photog boards that they seem to be clearing out certain models at ridiculously low prices. Maybe changing their camera sales line?

From what I've heard about Best Buy they will clearance camera models to make room for new ones. I've read on other forums that Sony is about to release a model A900 24mp Full Frame professional model. Will just have to wait and see.

 

[MICKEY88]

From what I've heard about Best Buy they will clearance camera models to make room for new ones. I've read on other forums that Sony is about to release a model A900 24mp Full Frame professional model. Will just have to wait and see.

the A900 is supposed to be released in August, price estimates I've heard have ranged from 2500 -5000
they certainly aren't discontinuing the A700 it's not that old, if they follow Minoltas history, there could be an A800 or even an A600


I've been very patiently waiting on the A900, but after hearing prices I've thought about an A700 instead, at that price as I stated in my other posted I'd jump on 2 A700's and get 2 vertical grips, then retire my 7D

 

[oogieboogieman]

the A900 is supposed to be released in August, price estimates I've heard have ranged from 2500 -5000
they certainly aren't discontinuing the A700 it's not that old, if they follow Minoltas history, there could be an A800 or even an A600


I've been very patiently waiting on the A900, but after hearing prices I've thought about an A700 instead, at that price as I stated in my other posted I'd jump on 2 A700's and get 2 vertical grips, then retire my 7D

I wonder if the term " clearance" is correct? The reason I say this is because there is a 10% off coupon that some people claim they have used to buy their A700 and the coupon reads you can't use it on clearance items. I just won an A100 right before the A200 was released. It sure does seem strange that Sony keeps popping out new models so fast.

 

[MICKEY88]

I wonder if the term " clearance" is correct? The reason I say this is because there is a 10% off coupon that some people claim they have used to buy their A700 and the coupon reads you can't use it on clearance items. I just won an A100 right before the A200 was released. It sure does seem strange that Sony keeps popping out new models so fast.

the A700 was just released last fall so it's not being discontinued..

Sony really isn't popping them out fast, most Minolta fans think they have been moving too slowly since acquiring MInolta.

they've had a lot in the works and didn't rush to market at the expense of quality...

but now they have a few models and can hit the market and compete with the big boys..

the A200 just recieved a European award for the best entry level dslr in Europe..


I wonder if best buy is making room for the 300 and 350, the 700 is a high end model and most people that would use it. are more likely to shop in a camera store,

that said I'm on my way to my local best buy just in case they have any A700s at that low price...LOL

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

what did they want for the display model

I'm not certain but they were talking about discounting it even more - I didn't pay too close of attention but it did seem to be in quite good condition. I needed to call the store this morning and the employee I talked to mentioned he might have to get the display though at that price. If you want I can give you the store number. I also just went to another Best Buy - they had the A700 on clearance but at $860 or $890 so at least in our area they are clearing them out. I have no idea why the store I went to had it marked down so far but that's why I figured I ought to get it right then and there!

Oh - and thanks for the offer of $600! You're too kind!!

 

[dstedman1]

not a sony person myself, but things could have changed

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You actually have a pretty good choice of lenses available to you. Take a look at some of the older Konica Minolta AF lenses. You will be able to find them on Ebay and take a look at KEH. They grade their lenses they have a good return policy. I have a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and I love it. I picked up a used KM 50mm f/1.7 and a KM 70-210 f/4 , both are fantastic lenses that won't cost you an arm and leg. Congrats on your purchase!

Thanks for the info on a good place to look for the Minolta lenses and the recommendation.

I wonder if the term " clearance" is correct? The reason I say this is because there is a 10% off coupon that some people claim they have used to buy their A700 and the coupon reads you can't use it on clearance items. I just won an A100 right before the A200 was released. It sure does seem strange that Sony keeps popping out new models so fast.

I actually think clearance probably is just clearance to Best Buy. The store I bought at had limited display area and didn't have the a300 or a350 out yet. The one I went to today did have the a200, a300 and a350 so I think that it may just be to make more room for the models they feel they will sell more of. I also happened to receive my 10% coupon today that you are referring to. I asked about it for the lens (store #2), but they were out of all the lenses and out of their two displays (the 18-200 I bought and the 11-18) they could only sell the 11-18.....that was on "clearance" too! I asked what it was being replaced with but the sales person said he hadn't been informed yet. Wish I had the coupon yesterday and I could have saved even more. (Kinda greedy, aren't I )

Thanks for all the input.....I took a close look at the manual and feel pretty good about it now. I went to the store to do one last comparision in feel to other models and have to say that the Sony felt the best in my hand so I think I really lucked out! Fact is that it's much more camera than what I probably need, but if I get back into photography again then I've got a good body to go with.

 

[Groucho]

My understanding is that the A700 has the same sensor as the well-respected D300 so it's got a good pedigree. (Though Nikon has some different circuitry talking to the sensor and are able to get better quality out of it, plus noise reduction can be turned off for maximum resolution at high ISO, unlike in the A700.) $560 does sound very cheap for such a camera, it's a pretty high-line one for Sony.

As for the A900 - nobody's going to be selling a "cheap" full frame DSLR any time soon, I suspect... the price of sensors goes way up as they get larger!

 

[MICKEY88]

My understanding is that the A700 has the same sensor as the well-respected D300 so it's got a good pedigree. (Though Nikon has some different circuitry talking to the sensor and are able to get better quality out of it, plus noise reduction can be turned off for maximum resolution at high ISO, unlike in the A700.) $560 does sound very cheap for such a camera, it's a pretty high-line one for Sony.

As for the A900 - nobody's going to be selling a "cheap" full frame DSLR any time soon, I suspect... the price of sensors goes way up as they get larger!

the A700 is over 1000 body only


as for the A900 and a cheap full frame sensor dslr..

granted it's Sony now, but Minolta had a reputation of pricing their pro stuff way under Nikon and Canon ,that's what they've always been known for, better bang for your buck, cameras..

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

what did they want for the display model

Mickey88 - sent you a PM, then tried another with addt'l info but received a message that your folder was full. Not certain if you received any of them?

 

[oogieboogieman]

Just for fun I went by our local Best Buy and the A700 was at regular price. They still had A100's for $699 and you could buy the A200 for $599. This area in Dallas is very strange. I shouldn't even be in that store, with my DW new laptop and just bought in on DVC it's time to slow down !!!

 

[MICKEY88]

Mickey88 - sent you a PM, then tried another with addt'l info but received a message that your folder was full. Not certain if you received any of them?

made room and sent you pm as well