Calling all Sony Alpha users! (Part 3)

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Just bought an A700! Got it for 449 in the end :D Because it was a display model. Off to Bristol now :D
 
Sweet never even realised lol, when i got the camera I just took the body out and never checked anything else!! Better remote than the one from ebay :lol: question, if using a tripod high up and you want to take picture with remote is there a way of hooking camera up to external monitor so you can see the object etc... because I wanted to try doing some car shoots but dont quite fancy standing on a ladder if you know what I mean?
 
Its a shame its an IR remote instead of radio controlled, because you have to point the remote at the camera instead of just being able to press the button from any direction...

If anyone can help with the question about being able to see the viewfinder through external monitor please let me know :)
 
Hey stan did you know the A700 and A900 come as standard with computer control! Going to do some reading up on it but I think it means you can connect your camera to a laptop or pc and take pics directly to computer without using memory card etc
 
BalSanghera said:
Its a shame its an IR remote instead of radio controlled, because you have to point the remote at the camera instead of just being able to press the button from any direction...

If anyone can help with the question about being able to see the viewfinder through external monitor please let me know :)
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You can always purchase (off ebay) a wireless remote. I bought one for the a300 before I got the a700.

As for the monitor/tv viewing it is not possible to view what you are about to take as this is effectively live view which would need a second sensor in the prism box (a300/350) or mirror up live view as some other manufacturers use. The hook up is mainly for shooting direct to computer & with the remote software you can take time lapse shots. Hope this helps.
 
stoneblower said:
You can always purchase (off ebay) a wireless remote. I bought one for the a300 before I got the a700.

As for the monitor/tv viewing it is not possible to view what you are about to take as this is effectively live view which would need a second sensor in the prism box (a300/350) or mirror up live view as some other manufacturers use. The hook up is mainly for shooting direct to computer & with the remote software you can take time lapse shots. Hope this helps.
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WAIT.. so a300 works with remote controller?
 
phinix said:
WAIT.. so a300 works with remote controller?
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Yes but not the infrared type that comes with the a700. The one I bought has a transmitter & a receiver that plugs into the remote shutter release socket under the flap on the left side of the body.

Similar to this one
 
Hi all,

Noticed lately quite a few people snapping up A700's at pretty decent prices. Is this because it's not going to be made any more or replaced. The reason I ask is that I quite fancied upgrading to it from the A350 but I wouldn't be able to do it till xmas and I just had this horrid feeling that it would no longer be available by then or it would have a replacement that would be twice the price.

Also, I have just started to do some football photography, which the A350 is coping with to a degree, but would the A700 improve my chances of getting more keepers. Is the AF any quicker, I know the frames per second is better which would be a bonus.

Thanks :thumbs:
 
IronHammer said:
Noticed lately quite a few people snapping up A700's at pretty decent prices. Is this because it's not going to be made any more or replaced.
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as far as we know they haven't made any for a while (this type of product is produced in batches rather than continuous production) & no more are planned.
we believe/hope that there is a replacement on the way as nothing announced so far really replaces it but any direct replacement is likely to be considerably dearer (& better).

Also, I have just started to do some football photography, which the A350 is coping with to a degree, but would the A700 improve my chances of getting more keepers. Is the AF any quicker
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yes, especially if you use a lens with an f2.8 or larger max. aperture

the A700 also has better high ISO performance than the A350
 
The replacement to the A700 is going to be close to a grand probably and there's already pretty much no stock around so I'd try and find one now tbh! They're representing fantastic value for money at the moment. I got mine for 450 yesterday (display model, last A700 that Currys had full stop in my area infact) I even got the lady to check in Bristol's Currys (as I am there at the moment) and they didn't have any stock. Try and snap one up while you can because they won't be around for much longer :)
 
:bang::bang::bang:Why do I dither about things? I saw the post by Stuart from Digital Depot saying he might be able to match the PCWORLD/CURRYS price of £499 body only, sent him a message but held off calling, worked all weekend and only got around to calling this afternoon. The last one had gone. I've found a body & lens at my local argos for £550 (was there last week ,then gone and now it's back so assume someone reserved and didn't collect it) which I've now reserved and will pick up tonight. Then went to buy a grip from Jessops using the link Bal posted and it's no longer on their website.:bang::bang::bang: So now I need to find a grip somewhere at a sensible price.:thumbsdown:
 
Thanks for the info everyone but it looks like I'm going to miss out then as I really can't get the money together now, I was hoping to get some cash as xmas prezzies from the relatives and be able to fund one that way :( Oh well, might find one secondhand I suppose
 
quick couple of questions
will the minolta programme flash 5200i work on my a300
and whats the sigma af 50 mm lens like compared to the minolta 50 mm

cheers
Dave
:D:D:D:D
 
Well I'm finally part of the Alpha brotherhood. I contemplated switching sides but couldn't really find a comparible camera to the A700 for the price.
 
George7 said:
Not sure if I'll be able to part with my A200 though :( Too many good memories! Love it to bits. Keeping it is pointless though.
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You can always keep it as a backup / second body. Having the A700 does not suddenly make the A200 any less capable.

If you've got a 70-300 on the A700, you might want to have the A200 with a 16-80 to give you the greater range without having to switch lenses.

And if anything ever happend to the A700 you'd still have the A200 to use while waiting for a repair / replacement.
 
puddleduck said:
Thats interesting - in that case I'd be interested in the Tamron myself!
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Well I've bought a Tamron 70-200/2.8

There was a Sigma and Tamron on Ebay, asked both for full size sample images, but the Sigma sold before he had a chance to reply.

The Tamron looked pretty good, so I took a chance. Taken a few test shots and so far it seems pretty sharp wide open.

Focusing is a little show compared to the CZ2470 and does hunt a little if switching between extreme focus distances (focus limiter would be useful), but AF speed is much better than I was expecting from the various reviews.

Once I've given the lens a better trial run I'll post some more info, but so far so good, and I think I might now actually sell my Beercan.
 
Has anyone used the new Sony DT 30mm Macro Lens?
I'm very tempted to get one but don't want to waste my money
 
BalSanghera said:
Its a shame its an IR remote instead of radio controlled, because you have to point the remote at the camera instead of just being able to press the button from any direction...

If anyone can help with the question about being able to see the viewfinder through external monitor please let me know :)
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You can get a Phottix Cleon that will do that.
 
Andy, have you fully switched sides yet or are you still running two systems? :thinking: I only ask because there is no mention of the D700 under your avatar anymore!!
 
Slimbert said:
Andy, have you fully switched sides yet or are you still running two systems? :thinking: I only ask because there is no mention of the D700 under your avatar anymore!!
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The A900 is now my primary camera, at least for low ISO work which is 95% what I do.

I still have a D700 and no plans to get shot of it in the near (or far!) future - mainly actually as I love shooting old manual focus prime lenses, and for manual focus the D700 is a much nicer camera to use than the A900.

Although I've not touched my D700 since I started shooting the A900 in anger....
 
springtide said:
There was a Sigma and Tamron on Ebay, asked both for full size sample images, but the Sigma sold before he had a chance to reply.
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Was that the used Sigma 70-200 on Ebay for £450 recently?

If so you got a lucky escape - I asked for samples and the f/2.8 performance was awful. f/4 was very good, but f/2.8 was unusable.

The chap sent me some samples so he wasn't trying to pull a fast one. It was just bad.
 
puddleduck said:
Was that the used Sigma 70-200 on Ebay for £450 recently?

If so you got a lucky escape - I asked for samples and the f/2.8 performance was awful. f/4 was very good, but f/2.8 was unusable.

The chap sent me some samples so he wasn't trying to pull a fast one. It was just bad.
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That was the one. I asked for some samples, but it sold before he sent them.

But I got this Tamron... (sorry, very poor snap out of the window at the roof tops as I was working at home today!)

Full image: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/3966043726_99a02068fa_b.jpg

100% crop: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2632/3966040902_c8ba9abf9e_o.jpg

Shot at 200mm @ f2.8. Can see some CA's, but I don't think it's that bad TBH (for the price). As long as the Sigma was worse than the above, I'll be pleased :)
 
I still do have marek582's shots from his auction .. funnily enough you both did chimney shots :)
 
puddleduck said:
I still do have marek582's shots from his auction .. funnily enough you both did chimney shots :)
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LOL ..... I did warn you that they were snaps out of the window :lol:

Well actually it from the garden, but inner city Bristol gardens are not the largest and the only wildlife you'll see are the local cats (and there were none to be seen in my 2 mins worth of test shots.

Hopefully I'll get some time on the weekend to take it for a proper spin.
 
George7 said:
Took some photos at Cheddar with my newly purchased A700 today and what a fantastic camera it is!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2546/3963857822_e04eb2a68f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3535/3963131603_65d8aa178e_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2620/3963879426_dff3b43c41_b.jpg

Not sure if I'll be able to part with my A200 though :( Too many good memories! Love it to bits. Keeping it is pointless though.
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Loving that first picture:clap:

Welcome to the A700 Club ;)
 
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