David, what are your thoughts on a A700 with full frame?

[destrian]

This question is for David.
Since it seems that with Sony going into the Full Frame business with the A900 (or whatever it will be called) its as though theres a new business and marketing tool coming "Full Frame". With the A900 being the top of the line, do you think Sony will introduce a midline A700 replacement at 12 or 14 megapixels a a price just a tad above the A700 and below the A900. Since Pentax and Samsung plan to release full frame systems it seems that we should be ready for a new war - Low Noise, Full Frame, slightly higher costing DSLRs with the APS-C format becoming the more enthusiast end. Bottom line... will there be an A700 or other camera at Full Frame with a cost below the A900?

[David Kilpatrick]

There's no sign that Sony intend to go for that market - the Alpha 900 is already fairly close to the 700 in general build quality (it's got some features from the Dynax 7D and the early planned Konica Minolta '9D' which never made it). Its price may be very close to the Nikon D700. That positions it as a mid-market DSLR before they start. I know that many users would like a 12 megapixel D700-type sensor, but I don't think that fits Sony's ideas for marketing. Consider the Alpha 350 - who would have thought 14 megapixels in a camera only just above entry level?

What's interesting about the Alpha 350 is that they never released any details of the sensor before it was launched. They did this with the Alpha 700 and the 900, both using sensors shared with (sold to) Nikon. The 350 sensor hasnot been 'commercialised' as Sony term it, or offered to other brands. It is always possible they have another full frame sensor which is exclusive to Sony and has not been announced. So the slim chance remains that a further full frame body will appear with a different sensor. Personally, I don't think that is likely in 2008/9.

David

[KevinBarrett]

... will there be an A700 or other camera at Full Frame with a cost below the A900?

I think the A900 is the camera you're talking about. Because of its massive resolution, it has been presumed to go up against much bigger players (1Ds, D3x), when it is more likely that it will compete against the Canon 5D (or 4D or 7D...) and Nikon D700. Remember from the A350 that Sony likes to win the pixel wars, and the new sensor's pixel density is lower than any Sony has introduced since the unit in the A100. Consider then, just with that knowledge, where Sony is likely to go with a future FF camera. As for the cost, expect the A900 to be affordable, I'm expecting $2500-$3000 US for a body only.

[destrian]

One thing I will "Leg out on a Limb" is that if the A900 is in the 2 thousand price range in the US... then it WILL make some NIKON AND CANON PRO's ADOPT a SONY and probably that 24-70mm Zeiss lens (maybe even a flash)!

I say if its $2,500 then it may very well end up being one of the biggest selling PRO DSLR's of 2009 (as long as stores can get it). Thats my statement! I wont take it back unless Sony tries to fill in the little gap with another full frame body at a lower price point! The only option for me to take it back is if the A900 has HORRIBLE noise control at higher ISO's beyond 3200 (why 3200? ISO 3200 is the new ISO 1600!)