The Best Sony Digital SLR Camera |
Page updated: November 2007 |
Currently, the best Sony digital SLR camera is the DSLR-A700 (Release Date: October 2007).
This camera is one of only two Sony digital SLRs currently available, and it represents a large jump in terms of power and features over its predecessor the DSLR-A100.
One notable increase is the sensor resolution: at 12 megapixels, it places the DSLR-A700 in fairly limited company.
But - as I've noted elsewhere on this site - megapixels aren't everything.
So what else does the A700 have to offer to justify its title as the best Sony digital SLR?
Let's find out.
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Instant Response
The Sony DSLR-A700 can take photos at 5 per second.
While this may sound like quite a lot, it's surpassed by both the Canon 40D (6.5 per second) and the Nikon D300 (6 per second).
But there are two components to every SLR camera's speed: the continous photo rate and the buffer.
Every camera has a temporary storage area that it uses to process images before they're written to the memory card. This storage space is finite and is called a buffer.
Once the camera's buffer fills up, the continuous photo speed slows down.
For example, if a camera has a 5 photo-per-second (also called FPS) speed and a 50 photo buffer, after 50 photos the continous speed may slow down to 3 or 2 photos per second. Once the buffer clears, the speed will increase back to 5 photos per second.
The key difference between the A700 and its competition is that the Sony has an UNLIMITED buffer.
If you are using a high-speed memory card, the A700 can capture 12 megapixel photos at 5 per second until the memory card fills up. By contrast, the buffer on the Canon 40D is 75 photos, and the Nikon D300 buffer is 100 photos.
I truly doubt there is any real-world photographic scenario where you'd want to completely fill a memory card with consecutive photos - what this immense buffer really means is that you will NEVER have to wait for the DSLR-A700 to take the next shot, no matter how many shots you've capture in rapid succession.
Extreme Image Stabilization
The DSLR-A100 had built-in image stabilization that worked with every lens you could attach to the camera.
The stabilization was achieved by shifting the camera's sensor to counteract camera motion - a technology developed by Konica Minolta which Sony acquired in 2006.
The DSLR-A700 leverages the same technology, but improves its efficiency, allowing you to capture blur-free images in low light conditions while holding the camera in your hands.
One important note: this only works with subjects that aren't moving.
In dim light, the camera's shutter must stay open longer to let in enough light for a correctly exposed photo. Slow shutter speeds can lead to two types of blur:
- Subject blur - the background is clear but the primary subject is blurry
- Image blur - the ENTIRE photograph is blurry
The image stabilization system only helps with the SECOND type of blur, ensuring that non-moving subjects appear clear. If you're trying to freeze the motion of a moving subject, your only option in dim light is to boost the ISO to increase the shutter speed.
Which leads nicely into our next section...
High Image Quality in Low Light
One complaint many users and reviewers had about the Sony DSLR-A100 is how much noise the camera generated at high ISO settings.
Digital "noise" makes photos appear grainy or speckled, and a significant amount of noise can have a detrimental impact on the quality of your photos (see example).
The DSLR-A700 appears to have no such issues.
The camera produces practially noise-free images from ISO 100 to 800, moderate noise from ISO 1600 to 3200 and noticeable noise at ISO 6400.
Need a frame of refernce for this?
I have found that ISO 1600 is quite sufficient to take photos indoors at night, with just the illumination from a few overhead lights (no flash required).
This means that the ISO 3200 and 6400 settings are reserved for the following situation:
- There's virtually no available light (night without a moon)
- You can't use the flash
- You don't have a tripod
If you don't see yourself wandering around in the dark trying to take photos, the noise the DSLR-A700 produces at ISO 3200 and 6400 should have zero impact on your photographs.
Easy-Access Features
One look at the back of the best Sony digital SLR may cause the techno-phobic to feel a bit light-headed.
The camera sports 8 buttons, a joystic, one switch (for image stabilization) and two rotating control dials (one on the back under your thumb and the other on the front under your index finger).
While this might seem overwhelming at first, there's a reason for it all - it means that many of the most common camera settings can be easily changed without having to dig through a lot of menus.
It also reduces your chances of missing a great photo opportunity because you're fighting with the camera's settings.
The Extras
The A700 could already be labeled the best Sony digital SLR based on the features that I've listed above.
But it also has a few "extras" that not only improve upon the features of the DSLR-A100, but also make the A700 competitive with similar cameras from other manufacturers:
- Dynamic Range Optimization (DRO) - the A100 has a feature which reportedly enhances detail in shadows to make photos with strong contrast appear more balanced. I found it hard to tell the difference between DRO and non-DRO photos. The A700 takes DRO a step further, allowing you to customize just how much brightness is added to shadows, and also allowing you to bracket images — capturing three at once — each with a different level of DRO applied.
- Included Wireless Remote - if you'd like to take photos with the A700 without touching the camera you can with the wireless remote. Remotes are available for other digital SLRs, but they are accessories - which means you have to pay extra. It's a nice touch that Sony includes the remote with the camera.
- Improved Eye-start Autofocus - on the A100, the autofocus system engages the moment you bring the camera up to your eye, which is partially true. The autofocus engages anytime the viewfinder is COVERED. This means that you can hear the camera trying to autofocus with the camera around your neck and the viewfinder blocked by your chest. The A700 solves this problem by also requiring you to put pressure on the camera grip - if it's hanging loose and the viewfinder is blocked the AF will not engage.
- Custom Color Settings - the A700 lets you store three custom preset color modes, which you can customize depending upon your subject or situation. For example, you might want to use different color settings for portrait photos (to capture natural skin tones) vs. landscapes (where you want blues and greens to appear vibrant).
Price
The best Sony digital SLR is going to set you back quite a chunk of change.
What you get for your money is the highest-quality SLR camera Sony has to offer, with features that make it competitive with the other cameras in the same class.
If making gigantic high-quality prints is your goal, then the Sony A700 is worth a look.
| CAMERA / ACCESSORY | U.S. PRICE |
| DSLR-A700 body WITHOUT lens | $ 1,400.00 |
| DSLR-A700 with 18-70mm lens | $ 1,500.00 |
| DSLR-A700 with 16-105mm lens | $ 1,900.00 |
| VG-C70AM vertical battery grip | $ 350.00 |
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