Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

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Alpha DSLR-A700 compared with Alpha DSLR-A900

	SonyAlpha DSLR-A700	SonyAlpha DSLR-A900
Overview
Released
Released	September 2007	September 2008
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor format
Sensor format	APS-C	Full frame
Sensor type
Sensor type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	23.5 × 15.6 mm	35.9 × 24 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	12.24 MP	24.6 MP
Largest image
Largest image	4272 × 2848	6048 × 4032
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	100–3200	200–3200
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	Exmor CMOS; 13.05 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter; anti-static coating and sensor-shift dust removal	Exmor CMOS; approximately 25.7 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter; anti-static coating and sensor-shift dust removal
Image formats
Image formats	JPEG, RAW (Sony ARW 2.0), compressed cRAW and RAW/cRAW+JPEG; 3:2 or cropped 16:9 JPEGs; Sony’s launch table specifies RAW 4288 × 2856 separately from JPEG 4272 × 2848	JPEG, RAW (Sony ARW 2.1), compressed cRAW and RAW/cRAW+JPEG; 3:2, cropped 16:9 and approximately 11 MP APS-C crop. Sony’s Hong Kong launch PDF says ARW 2.0; the exact Japanese spec sheet and press table specify ARW 2.1.
ISO detail
ISO detail	ISO 100–3200 in 1/3-stop steps, expandable to ISO 6400; Auto range configurable. Sony’s exact table differs from Photo Review’s ISO comparison table.	Standard ISO 200–3200 in 1/3-stop steps, with expanded ISO 100–6400; Auto ISO 200–1600 with selectable limits
Image processor
Image processor	BIONZ with noise reduction in the RAW processing stage	Dual BIONZ image-processing engines
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Sony A-mount	Sony A-mount
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Sensor shift	Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	5 fps	5 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	Interchangeable Sony A-mount; compatible Sony, Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses; kit optics are separate from body specifications	Interchangeable Sony A-mount; compatible Sony, Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses. DT lenses trigger APS-C crop, but Sony does not guarantee full exposure performance with APS-C-only DT optics.
Autofocus
Autofocus	TTL phase detection with 11 points, centre dual-cross sensor and additional F2.8 precision sensor; single-shot, automatic and continuous AF, direct manual focus and manual focus; selectable Eye-Start AF; EV 0–18 detection at ISO 100; dedicated AF-assist lamp	TTL phase detection with nine selectable points (centre dual-cross) and ten non-selectable assist points; additional F2.8 precision sensor; single-shot, automatic and continuous AF, direct manual focus and manual focus; EV 0–18 detection at ISO 100; LED AF-assist lamp. AF micro-adjustment stores up to 30 lenses; no Eye-Start AF according to Sony’s exact Japanese table, despite the Hong Kong press table listing it.
Shutter
Shutter	Electronically controlled vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/8000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second with stabilisation off or 1/200 second with it on; Sony rates durability at approximately 100,000 cycles	Electronically controlled vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/8000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second with stabilisation off or 1/200 second with it on; mirror-up drive mode
Burst detail
Burst detail	Up to 5 fps Hi or 3 fps Lo; Sony’s Japanese table claims 16 Extra Fine JPEGs, 18 RAW, 25 cRAW or 12 RAW/cRAW+JPEG frames; Standard/Fine JPEGs can continue to card capacity. Shooting conditions and card speed affect results; PhotographyBlog lists lower RAW/cRAW buffer counts.	Up to 5 fps Hi or 3 fps Lo; maker buffer claims 285 Standard JPEGs, 105 Fine JPEGs, 11 Extra Fine JPEGs, 12 RAW/cRAW or ten RAW/cRAW+JPEG frames; depends on memory card and shooting conditions
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Super SteadyShot sensor shift; Sony claims approximately 2.5–4 stops depending on lens and shooting conditions; excludes Minolta AF Macro Zoom 3X–1X F1.7–2.8	SteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; Sony claims approximately 2.5–4 stops depending on lens and shooting conditions; excludes Minolta AF Macro Zoom 3X–1X F1.7–2.8
Flash
Flash	Built-in pop-up flash with guide number 12 in metres at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL control; PC sync terminal; compatible external flashes support wireless and high-speed sync	No built-in flash; proprietary Alpha flash shoe and PC sync terminal; ADI and pre-flash TTL with compatible external units. Wireless control requires an HVL-F58AM and another compatible flash.
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	Program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual exposure; scene modes; 40-segment honeycomb, centre-weighted or spot metering; ±3 EV compensation in 1/2- or 1/3-stop steps; D-Range Optimizer, 14 Creative Styles, Quick Navi and three saved shooting setups	Program, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual and Auto; no scene modes; 40-segment honeycomb, centre-weighted or spot metering; ±3 EV compensation in 1/2- or 1/3-stop steps; D-Range Optimizer, 13 Creative Styles, Quick Navi and three saved shooting setups
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	3″	3″
Screen dots
Screen dots	921,600	921,600
Display detail
Display detail	Fixed 3.0-inch Xtra Fine TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating; 921,600 dots count colour subpixels; shooting settings appear on the rear screen rather than a top status LCD	Fixed 3.0-inch Xtra Fine LCD, 921,600 dots (640 × 480 RGB subpixels), with anti-reflection coating; separate small top status LCD
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Fixed eye-level pentaprism; approximately 95% coverage and 0.9× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; Spherical Acute Matte focusing screen; optical depth-of-field preview	Fixed eye-level pentaprism; approximately 100% coverage and 0.74× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; built-in eyepiece shutter; user-replaceable G/L/M focusing screens; optical depth-of-field preview
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	650 photographs	880 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	690 g (better)	850 g
Release detail
Release detail	Sony China announced retail for the end of September 2007; month precision retained. Sony Japan’s revised press release gives 9 November 2007, moved forward from 16 November.	Sony Europe’s spokesperson told Photography Bay that main-market availability began at the end of September 2008; month precision retained. Regional maker announcements give October 2008 for Hong Kong and 23 October 2008 for Japan.
Recording media
Recording media	Separate CompactFlash Type I/II (UDMA Mode 5) and Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo slots; Microdrive support; recording medium selected by the user	Separate CompactFlash Type I/II (UDMA Mode 5) and Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo slots; Microdrive support; user selects recording medium, without simultaneous dual-card recording (PhotographyBlog)
Ports
Ports	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed; HDMI Type C mini for still-image playback; NTSC/PAL video output; wired remote-release connector, flash sync and DC input; supplied software supports computer remote control	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed; HDMI mini for still-image playback; NTSC/PAL video output; wired remote-release connector, flash sync and DC input; supplied software supports computer remote control
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	NP-FM500H; Sony CIPA claim approximately 650 photographs with built-in flash used for half the shots; optional VG-C70AM grip holds two batteries. PhotographyBlog’s NP-FM55H reference is contradicted by Sony’s explicit incompatibility note.	NP-FM500H; Sony CIPA claim approximately 880 photographs per charge; optional VG-C90AM grip holds two batteries. PhotographyBlog achieved barely half the claim during its review use.
Charging
Charging	Supplied BC-VM10 external charger; optional AC-VQ900AM adaptor/charger	Supplied BC-VM10 external charger; optional AC-VQ900AM adaptor/charger
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 141.7 × 104.8 × 79.7 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions	Approximately 156.3 × 116.9 × 81.9 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 690 g without battery, memory card, lens or accessories; loaded weight not published in Sony’s table	Approximately 850 g without battery, memory card, lens or accessories; PhotographyBlog describes just under 930 g with battery, without providing a precise loaded figure
Materials
Materials	Magnesium-alloy front and upper covers with aluminium internal chassis; seals around controls and card door reduce dust and moisture ingress, without guaranteeing waterproofing	Magnesium-alloy front, rear and upper covers with aluminium internal chassis; seals reduce dust and moisture ingress. Sony explicitly says the camera is not waterproof or splash-proof.
Colours
Colours	Black	Black
In the box
In the box	NP-FM500H battery, BC-VM10 charger and power cord, RMT-DSLR1 wireless remote, USB and video cables, shoulder strap, eyepiece cover and cup, body and shoe caps, software CD	NP-FM500H battery, BC-VM10 charger and power cord, RMT-DSLR1 wireless remote, USB and video cables, shoulder strap, eyecup, remote clip, body and shoe caps, software CD
Video
Video detail
Video detail	Still-image DSLR without video recording or rear-screen live view (PhotographyBlog and Photo Review)	Still-image DSLR without video recording or rear-screen live view; Intelligent Preview captures a temporary image for exposure, white balance and D-Range Optimizer simulation rather than a live feed