When the Sony Alpha range of cameras was first announced, many photographers were excited by the potential that an electronics giant like Sony could bring to the digital camera market. Up until recently, Sony has spent most of its time and energies developing entry level Alpha cameras, but that strategy is now beginning to change, and Sony now looks committed to expanding its range of midrange and professional level cameras. The A700 was the first step along this path, but the recent release of the A500 and A550 go a long way to underline this commitment to expand the Alpha range.
When Sony released the A700 in September 2007, it was clear from the spec sheet that this was a camera that they wanted to be taken seriously. The A700 has a 12.4 MP CCD and rugged metal body which serves to protect the sensetive electronics onboard. There are 11 AF points that also include some precision focus sensors that are designed to maximize performance in this area. To help keep out dirt and water, gaskets were added around the buttons, and the camera can use either Sony Memory Stick cards or CF memory cards for storage. It comes with a useful wireless remote, a 3″ hi-res LCD screen, and the obligatory Sony anti-shake system, Super SteadyShot. The DSLR-A700 shoots 5 FPS, but comes without Live View, doesn’t have a rotating LCD screen and cannot record HD movies. An updated Alpha 700 series camera should be coming soon, and it will surely address these issues. If you are looking for a business that offers Sony DSLR-A700 camera repair you should be able to find a reputable repair shop with a couple quick Google searches.
With the A500 and A550, Sony has continued its tradition of releasing two versions of the what is essentially the same camera. The A500 was unveiled alongside the A550 in October 2009, and sports a 12.3MP CMOS with ISO capabilities up to 12,800. The same tilting 2.7 inch LCD found on the A300 series cameras are also on the A500 series, like the twin sensor live view. However, improvements mean that it is now capable of shooting up to 4 frames per second in live view mode, or 5 frames through the viewfinder. You also have face detection in the new live view, and the smile shutter feature developed for Cyber-shot cameras. Another new feature that is introduced is the in-camera High Dynamic Range function that will combine photos of different exposures to maximize the detail in shadows and highlights to great effect.
The A550 sells for about $200 more than the Sony A500, so what are the differences? Well, the A550 has a much higher resolution, tilting 3-inch LCD screen. It also has a larger 14.2MP sensor. The A550 has a speed improvement that lets you shoot at up to 7 frames per second if you lock the exposure in advance, and this alone may make sports photographers think that it is worth the extra $200 over the A500. If you are looking for a business that offers Sony DSLR-A500 camera repair you should be able to find a reputable repair shop with a couple quick Google searches.
The Sony A500 and Sony A550 are very capable digital cameras that fit in well with the Sony Alpha range, but the lack of an HD movie mode may well make some consumers look towards the midrange models from Nikon or the semi pro Canon EOS range. If this isn’t a feature you would miss, then these are Sony DSLRs that you should consider.
We hope this helps shed some light on the different advanced models of Sony Alpha digital cameras! When you want to have your Sony DSLR camera repair done by a reputable shop there is one shop that not only can repair them, but you can buy one through their Amazon store as well. The store is called Darntoothysam.com.