A 550 or A700

[simontate]

Hi All

I am looking at upgrading from my trusty A100 and was looking at either of the above cameras. I use it for mainly motorsports photography but getting interested in all round photography ect. How strong is the A550 compared to the A700 as photographing rally cars can be a bit of a rough life for a camera and find the A100 feels a bit fragile. I also find the AF a bit slow on the A100 at times.

Many thanks

Simon

[KevinBarrett]

Go for the a700. The a550 will offer faster burst rates at 7 fps (without focus or exposure adjustment between frames), but the a700 will offer faster shutter speeds, 1/8000 rather than 1/4000, and give you more room for growth with added pro-level features and control. Also, the a700 has weather and dust-resistant gaskets at every opening and seam on it's magnesium-alloy body (just the lens mount remains unprotected ). Further benefits explained here.

[jayceejay]

hi simon,
Have to agree wholeheartedly with Kevin and the forum members who use the a700.I use mine with Tamron 17-50 f2.8,and also Tamron 200-500.With vertical control grip,plus spare battery,it is no lightweight, but the handling is excellent
and the file size give scope for cropping without losing to much quality.If you can get one,go man,go.
best wishes,john.

[David Kilpatrick]

A700. Though the A550 has some neat features, the A700 is a far better camera.

David

[simontate]

Well I have just ordered an A700 that should be in my hands next week

[Dr. Harout]

Well I have just ordered an A700 that should be in my hands next week

You made the right choice.

[KevinBarrett]

Congratulations on your no-brainer investment! I'm quite certain that when Sony depletes their DSLRs of all the functions that real photographers use, replacing them with neat consumer features, we'll all look back on the a700 as the best Alpha of all time.

[alphaPDX]

My exact fear, Kevin! I had hoped to sell off a few surplus lenses to partly finance an A700, but a large automobile repair and new sewing machine took care of that plan. Oh well, disaffected DPR-forum owners talk like they will flood the used market as they switch brands, so I'll find a used one with 2000 actuations

[mp-alpha]

Hi,
Are there any A700s left for sale in the UK? Mine was damaged just at the wrong time.
I was thinking of getting an a500/550 and David's review was very helpful.
The images coming from the 550 looks ok to me of (could be better at low iso but high is excellent), it is the rest of the camera that I'm not sure about. I am used to the features of the A700 so I don't know how much I will miss on the newer cameras.
Has anyone (other than David ) used an Alpha 500 series camera after the 700 I would be helpful to hear if you missed much.
My other choices are using my old 7D until Sony release a new camera when ever that may be.
or selling my equipment and getting a Nikon or Canon

mark.

[simontate]

Hi,
Are there any A700s left for sale in the UK? Mine was damaged just at the wrong time.
I was thinking of getting an a500/550 and David's review was very helpful.
The images coming from the 550 looks ok to me of (could be better at low iso but high is excellent), it is the rest of the camera that I'm not sure about. I am used to the features of the A700 so I don't know how much I will miss on the newer cameras.
Has anyone (other than David ) used an Alpha 500 series camera after the 700 I would be helpful to hear if you missed much.
My other choices are using my old 7D until Sony release a new camera when ever that may be.
or selling my equipment and getting a Nikon or Canon

mark.

Hi

I ordered mine from Dell of all places!!!

Very slow to deal with though!!!

Simon

[Dr. Harout]

Hi,
Are there any A700s left for sale in the UK? Mine was damaged just at the wrong time.
I was thinking of getting an a500/550 and David's review was very helpful.
The images coming from the 550 looks ok to me of (could be better at low iso but high is excellent), it is the rest of the camera that I'm not sure about. I am used to the features of the A700 so I don't know how much I will miss on the newer cameras.
Has anyone (other than David ) used an Alpha 500 series camera after the 700 I would be helpful to hear if you missed much.
My other choices are using my old 7D until Sony release a new camera when ever that may be.
or selling my equipment and getting a Nikon or Canon

mark.

Hi Mark and welcome to this exciting and peaceful forum.
May I ask what kind of photography you're interested in? As I read from David's review (an excellent one and very very objective) the high ISO "portion" of A550 till 6400 is far better than A700's. Frankly, I really wish such a camera (2nd body) just for the sake of shooting in low light (though am not unsatisfied with A700).

[mp-alpha]

Thanks for the tip simon.

Hi Mark and welcome to this exciting and peaceful forum.
May I ask what kind of photography you're interested in? As I read from David's review (an excellent one and very very objective) the high ISO "portion" of A550 till 6400 is far better than A700's. Frankly, I really wish such a camera (2nd body) just for the sake of shooting in low light (though am not unsatisfied with A700).

Thanks the discussions here seem a bit more civilised than some forums.
I do use high ISO quite a lot (often for live music) which dose make the A550 seem a good camera but then again when I do the camera doesn't always get treated as gently as it should be. I guess I find a camera shop and try it out.

[David Kilpatrick]

I should comment that the A550 shutter/mirror is MUCH quieter than an A700 for concert photos. You could even use it, I think, in acoustic concerts - maybe not welcome for a classical string quartet.

David

[simontate]

Hi All

Still waiting for Dell to get round to delivering the camera to me I guess thet they are making sure that I don't get it till the 2 weeks is over for the cooling down period for the finance 02/12/2009 is the delivery date. I will never buy from them again.

Simon

[simontate]

Latest update!!! I have told Dell to place the camera where the sun doesn't shine after getting an email changing the delivery date to 15th of December and that was not a guaranteed delivery date. So I am now picking up about the last A700 (spent all afternoon on the internet and phone looking for one) from the local Sony Centre tomorrow. It is costing me a bit more than Dell were asking but at least it will be in my hands.

One lesson learned I will never buy any thing from Dell again!!!

Simon