Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 review

However, like many of its competitors, under dim, low-contrast conditions, the A700's focus slows, bumping the lag to 1.2 seconds. Though common, we still think that's still too long for cameras at this price.

Shooting speed (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Time to first shot

Raw shot-to-shot time

Shutter lag (dim light)

Shutter lag (typical)

Nikon D200*

0.6

0.9

0.3

0.1

Canon EOS 40D

0.3

0.4

1.2

0.4

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

0.5

0.8

1.2

0.4

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1

1.1

1

1.6

0.5

Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

0.5

0.6

1.2

0.5

Though it can't match the 40D's 6.3 frame per second burst-shooting rate, the A700's 4.8fps acquits itself quite nicely, especially since we think the focus matches its speed better than the 40D's does at maximum. Sony's rating of 5fps assumes use of a UDMA-capable CF card. We obtained 4.8fps with a SanDisk Extreme IV, which is non-UDMA. In field tests, we were quite happy with the A700's continuous-shooting performance.

As for nonquantifiable performance measures, Sony says it's enhanced the SteadyShot stabilisation system -- not the optical version, but the sensor-shift mechanism inherited from Konica Minolta -- and claims it can buy you as many as four stops.

It has a new gyro, with claimed improved compensation for high-frequency motion, such as overcaffeinated hands. Ours qualify as moderate cases of the high-frequency jitters -- in bright light it delivered on the four-stop promise and in low-ish light gained us about 2 2/3 stops, both using manual focus.