Sony DSLR-A700

Reviewed November 2007

Test Photos

STILL LIFE PHOTO

This subject is photographed in a room that has a mix of fluorescent and incandescent light, but which is not brightly lit. The camera's flash is used to add fill light. The backdrop is 1.95 m (6.5 ft) from the camera.

The photos presented on this page are captured using the RAW + JPEG mode. RAW photos are then processed using the utility enclosed with the camera, Image Data Converter SR, and saved as TIFF.

The Sony A700 has a powerful pop-up flash that is able to light a large space, and with this subject easily yields a very well lit image.

The photo is captured using the SAL1680Z Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T DT 16-80 mm f3.5-4.5 ZA lens, which has a focal length that is equivalent to a 24 mm at the wide end.

As can be seen below, the image is clear and has a very good level of detail. Still, shots captured with the lens at the widest angle tend to be a touch softer focus that those captured at the other focal lengths.

ZOOM PHOTO

Now we zoom in on a specific area. The intent is to test the sharpness of the image at the zoom's maximum setting. The camera remains at the same distance as with the preceding photo.

At the telephoto end, the lens is comparable to a 120 mm, a short telephoto. The image is extremely detailed when inspected at 100%, even using the "as shot" settings. Moreover, using Image Data Converter SR, it is possible to tweak the image further so that an even greater level of detail can be seen, without introducing any artefacts.

PHOTO MACRO

With the Sony DSLR A700, we had the use of a macro lens, Sony's SAL 100M28, a 100 mm Macro lens capable of a 1:1 ratio.

At the closest distance to the subject and at 1:1 ratio, the lens captures a field of view that measures 2.7 cm (1.05 in.) approximately.

Seen at 100% on a monitor, the image the lens delivers is superbly detailed. Good macros, however, demand a very steady camera and small apertures as the depth of field is extremely shallow.

BUILDING PHOTO

This image is our "outdoor" test. The architecture of the building, in particular the angled girders, immediately show the presence of jaggies. The shadowed entrance can also often reveal the quality of the exposure.

The building is captured on a mostly gray day, the best that was available on the coast during the review of the camera.

The slight softness of the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T DT 16-80 mm f3.5-4.5 ZA lens when it is set to the wide end can be seen here. Worth noting however, the in-camera sharpness is set to the default setting.

ZOOM PHOTO

Zooming in on the entrance of the building, the shadowed entrance takes on a greater importance for the metering and can cause an overexposure of sections that are directly lit.

The 40-segment metering pattern of the A700 yields an image that reveals an excellent level of detail in the shadowed areas, and even behind the building's tinted entrance doors.

There is no detectable noise in the shadows.

NIGHT PHOTO

This camera is capable of long exposures, and a photo taken at night is presented here to give an idea of its capabilities.

The A700 is capable, when used in Manual mode, to capture timed exposures as long as 30 seconds. The mode also offers a Bulb (B) setting that allows leaving the shutter open for extended periods of time (in fact until the battery runs out of power), and which can be used in conjunction with the Remote Control included with the camera.

The subject presented here is very dimly lit, and captured on a very windy night with strong gusts. To keep the exposure time to a minimum — the longer the exposure time the greater the blurring effect of the wind buffeting the tripod — the sensitivity is increased to 400 ISO.

At 400 ISO the A700 yields a bright image, but even with a 30 second exposure, some wind-induced vibration can be detected.

The A700 is equipped with a dark frame noise reduction system that captures a second frame without opening the shutter so as to only record noise, information that is then used to remove noise from the first exposure. interestingly, even when used in RAW only mode, the camera still goes through the noise reduction processing prior to saving the image.