Camera Labs

Whether it's true or not, shall remain a mystery until PhotoKina in September. The rumours, and even claimed facts are out there though: A750 (A700x, this is the new name) is likely to be introduced soon. I usually don't buy all the rumours on the internet, but this one seemed to have some truth behind it:
An important camera salesman here in Holland called Sony to order some new A700's. However, he was told he'd better wait, because A750/A700x's would be introduced soon.
Still, I have a hard time believing Sony would already 'replace' their A700, or even update it. The new version will likely have Live View, and that's pretty much all known info. A top-LCD may also be present.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what PhotoKina will reveal. I'm getting tired of all these suspicions, official Sony press releases, that's what I would like to see!

Added a poll so you can easily tell the rest whether you believe this rumour or not. I voted for option 3.

- Bjorn -

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Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

I think it would be nice to have A700 with a live view. The more cameras Sony releases the better!

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Sony A200
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Minolta AF 50 F1.7
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Of course it would be nice, it would be great actually. However, do you really see it coming at PhotoKina already. Not only would Sony replace the A700 a little early, they'd also get less attention for their flagship model.

- Bjorn -

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Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

I hope they do release a new update to the A700. To me it seems likley as the a700 is now the oldest camera in the DSLR range that is yet to be updated.

There was the a100 but thats now been replaced with the a200.. and then there is still the original a700.

It will be interesting to see whats new with the a700x/750. If there is not much of an improvement then I may just go for an a700.

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Gear: Sony a700! || CZ 16-80mm! || Sony 75-300 || bag: Crumpler PB xxxl / Lowepro slingshot 200

I think there will be a updated version of the current a700. But i doubt if it would have LV.
To ad the same type of LV as in the a300/350, Sony would have to replace the pentaprism with a pentamirror. Which would be a huge downgrade for this type of camera. Or they would build in, a total new type of LV that would not be any different than that used by the competition.

The question is not 'if' but 'when'. I do feel for the position, the feature set of the A700 could do with a bit of a refresh. Maybe live view and remote control (PC) to catch up with the likes of the 40D. What's a typical marketing life of a camera anyway?

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Sony is the only brand I can think of that doesn't have LV in their "semi-pro" class camera so it would make sense if they added that feature. I never understood why Sony would not include LV in their A700 and still price it above the Canon 40D. I hope they will match (or better) the other brands on the semi-pro class as they have with their entry level cameras in their next releases.

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M42: Pentax Asahi S-M-C Takumar 1.4/50 and 2.8/105 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35 Industar-61L/Z Kiron 2.8/105 Macro

I'm pretty sure the A700's upgrade of replacement will have Live View. How that will be integrated in the camera is still some kind of mystery though. HoodedOne, you mentioned the reason why the current approach to Live View used by Sony won't be ideal for a semi-pro camera, the pentaprism wouldn't be there. More common kinds of LV, such as contrast based AF or flipping the mirror back to allow AF to do it's work, might be used. Or a completely different system, that would be as fast as normal focussing, but maintains the critical components of a higher-end DSLR.

Once again: we'll wait and see what Sony engineers come up with!

- Bjorn -

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Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

Dumb question time, but why wouldn't they go with a mirror instead of a prism? It's not like it's going to affect the final output quality, no?

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PhilipGoh.com

In SonyStyle USA the a700 is down, now is $1099.99...

I don´t think the a750 come soon, the a700 has not 1 year yet. Maybe Sony announce the a750 to December.

I think Sony will launch more than one FF, 2 or maybe 3...

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Random thought, is there room for more than one camera around the A700 position? In a similar way to the A300 and A350 for example. Having said that, the A300 does seem to be relatively less available than the A350 in a random search earlier so I wonder if it is staying around in the longer term as much as the A350.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Hope Sony can come up a replacement model for the A700 soon. Then I can grab the A700 at a discount.

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Canon EOS 7D | BG-E7 | EOS 40D | BG-E2N | EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM | EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM | EF 35mm f/1.4 L USM
EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM | EF 135mm f/2.0 L USM | EF 200mm f/2.0 L IS USM | Speedlite 580EX II X 3 | OC-E3
Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2

I think that would be possible, but only if the camera's are introduced at roughly the same time. If the A700 gets a brother, with Live View, perhaps a top-LCD, after a year, it won't be seen as an extra model, but more as a replacement.

pgtips, I don't know for sure what differences the mirror will have compared to the pentaprism. The last one will have higher quality, send more light through (brighter viewfinder). But no, it doesn't affect final IQ.

Shin, may I ask, why would you buy the A700 is you already have the 40D + such a great lens?

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux