They started bad by not putting GPS in it. If they had, I would have grabbed one. Seems like they wanted it to perform badly - sales wise - against the 55. No promotion, less features, higher price.

I notice the GPS is also lacking in the A600 specs, but still, as possibly the last APS-C OVF model, I'll pick one up to keep the Alpha gear current until I'm forced by equipment failure to make a switch to another line.

Dusty

Time to make a move Dusty the D90 matches the A700 in most ways bar fps and the mag alloy aspect (VF is actually a bit better, jpegs way better add live view and video) D7k tops it no question. Use the GP-1 Unit if you want GPS.

The A580 was never a real runner for me sure they put the DOF preview and MLU back..but forgot about the ISO in the VF, DMF went missing, AEL spot toggle other bits like that. Using a 0.80x mag VF is ok but using a 0.94x penta prism is much nicer. I regret not making that move years ago, don't make the same mistake waiting for something that might never turn up. OVF's are not high on the Sony agenda and even if one turns up it will likely be a token effort and you'll be in the same situation 18 months down the road.

Dusty, try the EVF, believe me you'll get used to it.
Mind you, I'm not saying you'll like it, just saying that you'll get used to it.
EVF and OVF have both their pros and cons.

Greg Beetham stated

I used to think that too, but on reflection I am now buying into the idea that for my purposes (24Mb open Jpeg for Alamy) the NEX-7 is ideal with my current E-mount lenses. The 55-210mm lens is so good that it will handle a 24Mp sensor. So in fact I can use it and have up to around 500mm equivalent and still have 24Mb plus available through cropping without upsizing as the NEX-7 will provide around 70Mb at full file size. In a light bag with just the NEX-7 and 24mm pancake, W/A converter, 18-55 and 55-210 lenses I can cover the full range from 18mm to around 500mm (in 35mm speak). This will suit me fine. No other camera manufacturer can do this. So for some people Sony is the answer and I am one of those.

Please do not mention Alamy!
I should register for a laugh and watch my Pembroke castle shot get rejected for QC reasons

Barry, I use Sony equipment and get no rejections. Even my Panasonic LX5 images sail through in less than 24 hours.
Fact remains that Sony equipment is not as bad as some would make it appear to be.

Alphaomega, you’ve got me confused (not hard to do), where is 500mm coming from? 210mm on APS-C = 315mm equiv.
Greg

Doc, I like to spend a lot of time off in the woods, away from power and civilization (Haven't gotten to a lot lately, but that's a different story). When doing that, having a camera that doubles as a spotting scope means one less thing to carry. Having to carry 'X' number of extra batteries because I can't even look in the viewfinder w/o turning it on negates that. Also, looking at something w/ artificial brightness means I can't then quickly adjust to pre-dawn or twilight conditions to see with out it.

When I was in Brazil, I lost several good shots in the jungle because my X700's battery died. Solution - next time I brought an SRT. Now I know I can't do that w/ digital, but the less power drain the better for me.

Dusty

My objection to electronic everything cameras also Dusty, you can have an inverter mounted in the car/truck for the charger but who is going to have a car available in remote places always or want to run the engine for a couple of hours just to charge a little battery. I guess one could get a solar panel and rig something up…maybe, but that’s not going to help much at the bottom of a jungle where there is very poor light, or if it’s overcast etc.
Greg

This solar battery charger looks interesting; http://www.multipoweredproducts.com.au/products/Freeloader-Pro-with-Camcaddy-%252d-solar-digital-camera-and-mobile-phone-charger.html the only one I could find so far, it might be handy for charging up the spare camera battery back at camp in remote locations.
Greg

A 24Mp sensor such as the NEX-7 will produce a near enough 70Mb Jpeg opened.
I can submit 24Mb images to Alamy. So I can crop an image taken at the long end of my 55-210 E-mount lens and crop it so that the end result looks like a 500mm shot (or longer at 35mm equivalent) for size and still opens up at 24Mb or larger. It may not have the same depth of field but the image is original i.e. not upsized. My point is that the larger image size of the NEX-7 enables me to cover a longer "focal range". Only the Sony NEX system provides me with this option in a light and small package. Just what I need. It is almost like having the equivalent of my 70-300 on my A580 but with much less bulk and weight. Just think of the number of additional batteries one could carry in the jungle.

I had a sneaking suspicion it was going to involve cropping alphaomega, I’d be interested to know how many croppers you end up being satisfied with, in my experience a telephoto shot at 300mm that doesn’t need cropping at all will look fairly ordinary if it you take the same photo from further away and crop to get the same magnification, and that is with the best aperture for the lens and the most critical focussing that you can manage.
Of course the 55-210 E-mount lens might be a very high performance job even with IS, I wouldn’t know firsthand how good it is, it’s always possible one might be able to crop and not see much impact but I have doubts about that.
Greg

One point not mentioned is the "fear factor" going from in body AS to in lens IS/VR. I believe that is a reason some stay put.
It was also the reason I looked at Pentax (at the time) and made a terrible mistake in that regard.

I am still a fan of AS and it is very useful, but have never relied on it heavily, but treated it as a "bonus feature" that was handy now and then.
http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sony-rem ... ir-stores/

Further bad news for OVF fans and it's predicted the next model is an SLT FF one
Anyone hoping for an OVF path with Sony is probably only kidding themselves. I would urge those who want OVF's to make a leap of faith to other makers. I wasted too much time hoping and wishing only to be disappointed.

Strange the Sony site is a bit hit and miss layout wise. Most makers will have a current range and a very clear "archived" section. Sony seem to shove most of them into the range and you see the link turn up as "previous models" when you hit different model numbers. The A35 is listed as a previous model which is odd as it's not been out that long.

Only the A65 is current, and the A77. On the Sony UK site the A77 is listed as 2-4 weeks for delivery, the A65 "temporarily unavailable"
It must be killing them sales wise, but Nikon have almost nothing for sale either. I think Thailand wiped them out pretty much.
The WDC link is nothing new it simply tells us what we already know, that currently they have no DSLR models as "current ones"