Is the A700 right for me?

[David Kilpatrick]

Two points:

First, mirror lenses are used specifically to produce the donut effect. That's why I first bought a mirror lens and is the main reason I would use one. Why do people suddenly dislike the very effect which made these popular in the 1970s and got countless magazine covers, photo contest wins etc for users?

Second, I bought the original Sigma 400mm f/5.6 non-Apo-Macro recently, about to rechip it. I bought it after handling a used one being sold on the Disabled Photographers' Society stand at Focus, this was a beaten up lens in Canon fit, but it was SO light and small I had forgotten just what a tiny lens it was. The Apo Macro version is huge by comparison and built in a totally different way - 77mm filters, weighs over 1400g. The original is under 900g and takes 72mm filters, and visually looks about 2/3rds of the size.

I just liked the size, look and feel of the original and it's been bought for one purpose where the 4 metre minimum focus is exactly right, to photograph the area where we get birds and squirrels feeding (I'm also getting a glazier to replace all the old Georgian glass in one window with the highest grade modern float glass - right now, photography through the window is impossible because of the distorted glass, and several of the old panes are cracked or need new putty anyway).

David

[bakubo]

I remember back in the 1970s when mirror lenses were much more popular. The small size and low price were the biggest draws, but the donut bokeh was also popular. I remember magazine cover photos that had the donut bokeh. Actually, I still like it. It isn't great in all circumstances, but I still think it is cool.

By the way, in addition to 500mm mirror lenses in those days (also I saw a 300mm f5.6 once) there used to be cheap preset telephotos too. There used to be a company called Tele-Astranar that sold a T-mount 500mm f8 preset lens and a T-mount 400mm f6.3 preset lens. They were physically quite long. When I was 17 in 1974 I bought new the Tele-Astranar T-mount 500mm f8 and an M42 screw mount T-adaptor. I still have it packed away. I also have the Spiratone T-mount 400mm f6.3 preset lens with a Canon T-adaptor that I bought used from a guy in 1979. I recall about that time buying a Minolta MF T-adaptor and in the late 1980s someone gave me a Minolta A-mount T-adaptor. I have never used the Spiratone and haven't used the Tele-Astranar since the mid-1970s though.

[Dusty]

I have both the 400mm and 500mm. One is a Spiratone and one a 5 star, it looks like the same company made both. They were bought for my MD mount Minoltas, but if I can get A mount adapters, I would use them on my A350. I generally used either 2 tripods - one on lens and another on camera, or else used the monopod on camera.

Dusty

[bakubo]

I have both the 400mm and 500mm. One is a Spiratone and one a 5 star, it looks like the same company made both. They were bought for my MD mount Minoltas, but if I can get A mount adapters, I would use them on my A350. I generally used either 2 tripods - one on lens and another on camera, or else used the monopod on camera.

My 500mm Tele-Astranar looks a bit different than the 400mm Spiratone (different ribbing and style of focus ring and aperture ring, etc.), but I wouldn't be surprised if they were made by the same company. Neither one is here with me in Hawaii so I can't just pull them out to look. I remember pretty well though. By the way, I just found this photo of a Tele-Astranar 500mm that is exactly the same as the one I bought in 1974:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/sho ... p?t=367835

By the way, even though I used the term telephoto in my earlier post, I knew that wasn't the correct term. These lenses are not telephoto lenses, they are just long focal length lenses. A telephoto lens is typically shorter than the focal length, but a long focal length lens is as long as the focal length. I don't remember (and probably never really knew ) the details, but people who know optic design can explain it.

[David Kilpatrick]

I have one of those, the Photax 500mm f/8 - same lens. Cost £12 at a fleamarket in town last summer. Tried it on the A700, it is absolutely useless on digital. They were never much good on film but it is so soft, and has such low contrast, the pictures are about the worst I have ever seen from any lens on a digital SLR!

David

[Vidgamer]

...
First, mirror lenses are used specifically to produce the donut effect. That's why I first bought a mirror lens and is the main reason I would use one. Why do people suddenly dislike the very effect which made these popular in the 1970s and got countless magazine covers, photo contest wins etc for users?
...

My guess is all the attention being paid to bokeh these days involves going for the "creamiest" effect, where the highlights smooth out towards the edge, etc. I can appreciate that smooth bokeh look, but why should it be a fixed rule that no other bokeh is good? Sometimes, I kind of like highlights that look like a well defined lens aperture. Why not? It's just an effect.

[bakubo]

I have one of those, the Photax 500mm f/8 - same lens. Cost £12 at a fleamarket in town last summer. Tried it on the A700, it is absolutely useless on digital. They were never much good on film but it is so soft, and has such low contrast, the pictures are about the worst I have ever seen from any lens on a digital SLR!

I'm not surprised at all. The 500mm on my old Mamiya/Sekor 1000 DTL back in the mid-70s got almost no use, but like many beginners I was entranced with telephotos and used $79 of my meager savings from an after school job to get it. I even remember mating it to a Vivitar 2x teleconverter for a 1000mm f16 for shots of the setting sun. A guy sold me the used Spiratone 400mm for $10 so it was too cheap to pass up. Never used it though.

Back in the late 1980s someone gave me an old Tamron 80-250mm f3.8 (constant aperture) with, I think, an Adaptall-2 mount for Minolta MF. I have never used it either since I had switched to Minolta AF by then. The lens is big and heavy. I found a photo of it:

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/ ... 2_92098278

No idea if it is any good.

[bakubo]

My guess is all the attention being paid to bokeh these days involves going for the "creamiest" effect, where the highlights smooth out towards the edge, etc. I can appreciate that smooth bokeh look, but why should it be a fixed rule that no other bokeh is good? Sometimes, I kind of like highlights that look like a well defined lens aperture. Why not? It's just an effect.

Exactly! This is how I think too and applies to other aspects of photography also. There is a herd mentality among many photographers (as there is in all other aspects of life too) that tries to make "rules" about what is good and what is bad.

[David Kilpatrick]

Anyway, who needs mirror lenses, who needs bokeh, who needs HD DSLRs or even DSLRS? See this one from Pentax: how about 3,900mm maximum zoom with extra crop for this 720p movies?

----------------------------------------------

PENTAX U.K. is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX X70 digital compact camera. This new bridge camera features a high-magnification optical 24-times zoom lens with a wide-angle to super-telephoto coverage, and sports a highly portable, compact, lightweight body. The X70 is an all-purpose model performing superbly and effortlessly in a wide variety of situations — from casual day-to-day snapshots to travel and sports photography.

Main Features

1. Versatile optical 24X zoom lens to accommodate a range of subjects
Within its compact, lightweight body, the X70 features a high-magnification optical 24-times zoom lens offering a focal-length coverage between 26mm wide-angle to 624mm super-telephoto (in the 35mm format). Coupled with the Intelligent Zoom function, the X70’s range can be extended to approximately 150 times (for an approximate focal length of 3900mm in the 35mm format) without compromising the optical performance of the zoom lens.

2. Reliable shake-reduction system for sharp, blur-free images
The X70 incorporates an image-sensor-shift-type SR (Shake Reduction) system to ensure sharply focused, blur-free images even under demanding photographic conditions - such as when using a telephoto lens or when shooting a sunset or indoor scene using only incandescent light. By accurately detecting the amount of camera shake using a high-performance gyro sensor, and shifting the CCD image sensor vertically and horizontally at high speed, the X70 offers an outstanding camera-shake compensation, equivalent to approximately three shutter steps.

3. High-speed continuous shooting to capture the decisive moment
The X70 lets the photographer capture the subject continuously at a maximum speed of approximately 11 images per second, and up to 21 images in succession.* Coupled with the Auto-Tracking AF mode that keeps a fast-moving subject in sharp focus at all times, the X70 enables the user to capture once-in-a-lifetime moments, even when the subject is an active child or unpredictable pet.

* When the continuous-shooting mode is selected, the image size is fixed at 5M (2592 x 1944 pixels).

4. High image quality
Thanks to the combination of approximately 12.0 megapixels, a high-performance imaging engine, and the high-quality PENTAX zoom lens, the X70 delivers super-clear, high-quality images without fail. It even allows the photographer to choose the preferred finishing touch — Bright, Natural or Monochrome.

5. Movie shooting in HDTV image quality and with anti-shake protection
The X70 delivers high-quality movie clips, equivalent in image quality to that of high-definition TV (1280 x 720 pixels). It also features the Movie SR mode, ** which effectively minimizes annoying camera shake during movie shooting through the use of exclusive software. As a result, the photographer enjoys high-quality, blur-free movie shooting with minimal effort.

** When the Movie SR mode is selected, the angle of view becomes narrower than normal shooting.

6. Multi-mode exposure system to accommodate different applications
The X70 offers a choice of four exposure modes: Programmed AE, in which the camera automatically selects the optimal combination of aperture and shutter speed for a given subject; and Aperture-Priority AE, Shutter-Priority AE and Metered Manual modes, in which photographers are free to select either or both aperture and shutter speed to express their creative intentions and personal touch.

7. Auto Picture mode for the automatic selection of seven different shooting modes
The X70 features the advanced Auto Picture mode, which automatically selects the most appropriate scene selection for a given subject by detecting the subject’s lighting and other conditions. This user-friendly feature not only makes the right mode choice for the photographer (from Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, Night Scene Portrait, Flower, Sport and Standard modes), but also features an auto macro mode, which automatically switches the camera’s focus range to macro in close-range applications.


8. Super-fast Face Recognition AF&AE function to capture up to 32 faces in focus in approx. 0.03 seconds
The X70’s Face Recognition AF&AE function comes extremely handy for taking casual snapshots of people. It optimises the focusing and exposure status of the subject — up to 32 faces in a single image — in approximately 0.03 seconds. The X70 also offers other user-friendly functions: a Smile Capture function that automatically releases the shutter the instant it detects the subject’s smile; and a Blinking Detection function that warns the photographer when the subject’s eyes were closed at the time of shutter release.

9. Auto sensitivity control, up to a super-high ISO 6400
The X70 comes equipped with an auto sensitivity control function, which automatically shifts the sensitivity level in relation to the subject’s lighting condition and the lens focal-length setting. This allows the photographer to use a high shutter speed in dimly lit locations, such as night scenes or indoor sports events, to effectively minimise camera shake and subject shake. The auto sensitivity control range can be set between ISO 50 and super-high ISO 6400.

10. Large, easy-to-view 2.7-inch colour LCD monitor
Despite its compact dimensions, the X70 features a large 2.7-inch high-brightness colour LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 dots. Thanks to the AR (Anti-Reflection) coating, sunlight reflections are kept to a minimum for comfortable outdoor viewing.

11. Other features
1) Choice of image format, from proportions of 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 or 1:1
2) Shooting mode palette for easy selection of the most appropriate shooting mode from 20 different options, including a new Baby mode programmed to capture the healthy, lively face of a baby
3) Overexposure compensation function to prevent white-washed highlight areas
4) 1cm Macro mode can be used as close as one centimeter away from a subject for stunning close-up shots
5) Digital Wide function to composite one extra-wide-angle image (equivalent to an image taken with an approx. 20mm lens in 35mm format) from two images
6) World-time clock to display standard time in 75 cities in 28 time zones around the world, for an extra convenience on the road
7) Frame Composite function (with 90 frames stored in the camera) to shoot or compose images with decorative photo frames
Approx. 33.6MB built-in memory
9) Red-eye reduction function to correct annoying red-eye in recorded images during playback


Price
RRP £369.99

[bossel]

PENTAX U.K. is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX X70 digital compact camera. <...>
Main Features <...>

It is missing a Donut-mode!! (though in general I have to admit I like creamy bookeh *duck*)

[farmermike]

I've decided not to buy the A700--or the A350, for that matter. I'm going to buy an Olympus E-620 instead. Nothing wrong with the Sonys, I just like what I saw with the Olympus.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm sure I'll get more about my choice. Hey, at least I didn't buy another Canon or go with a Nikon.

[David Kilpatrick]

Be sure to buy at least the 'pro' lenses if not the 'top pro' range. The basic lenses are not necessarily made by Olympus (hint: 4/3rds consortium includes one lens maker) and with the small sensor, top quality glass is absolutely vital.

David

[alphaomega]

Well, the A700 has been right for me until today, and I must say it remains So. I was "impressed" by the Pentax X70 spec. and eagerly looked for recording formats. I assume Jpeg as a given but I could see no mention of this or RAW availability. I do not need the long zoom feature but 26 mm is no use to me. 24 mm absolute minimum for me in a P&S, hence my recent purchase of the LX3 although I already had the LX2. 12 Mp and an endless supply of useless images. Image shooting 21 images within a couple of seconds to get a good one and the labour at the PC with all these images. I would get cramp in my hand pressing the delete button. To achieve these high speeds and continuous shooting it would appear that the file size is automatically reduced anyway rendering all the pics useless to me. That is no good to me at all. It will be interesting to see how this Pentax camera fares IQ wise when the reviewers get hold of it.
I am not keen on technology for technology's sake. It needs to perform a useful function.
For me this is technology gone mad.

I do hope that Sony will focus on improved image quality in their next line of DSLRs. I would prefer the A700 successor to have a larger APS-C sensor with better IQ & high ISO performance and a 3" live view such as that in the A350 without compromising OVF. I am resigned to the fact that it will incorporate HD video of a kind. I will just have to accept that. I know others will disagree, but as I have said before it is all about "horses for courses". I have my specific requirements and just hope that Sony will come close or I will not buy as the A700 as it is now with the A350 and the LX2/3 basically cover my requirements.

[01af]

I'm going to buy an Olympus E-620 instead. Nothing wrong with the Sonys, I just like what I saw with the Olympus.

A friend got an Olympus E-520 last year, along with two basic kit lenses, Zuiko Digital 14-45 mm 1:3.5-5.6 and Zuiko Digital 40-150 mm 1:3.5-4.5. The image quality of these cheap kit lenses, even wide open, is very impressive. So is the quality of the in-camera JPEGs, no need to use raw format for good results---my friend and his wife are not very much into digital image processing, so that's an important point.

-- Olaf

[Del]

I used to have an Olympus E-510 and the two kit lens and I was more than happy with the IQ, what I was not happy with though was the 4/3rds. system that Oly use. Many folk I am sure are happy with the system I guess it is just down to personal preferences. I have just bought an a700 to replace my a350 and I love it.