Sony a700 better than the Nikon D300?

**Sonsey** · 26-03-2008, 02:18

I see that Practical Photography mag has put the Sony a700 on top in a head to head test with the Nikon D300 in their April issue.

In their conclusions they went on to say that the Sony produced almost identical results as the Nikon and so in the end it came down to value for money with the a700 moving ahead due to it's price.

Looks like Sony could be a major player in the DSLR market pretty soon with reviews like that.

Opinions?

**Dabhand16** · 26-03-2008, 02:46

I've been trying to get some info on the rumored a900 - 25mp full frame?

VinnyP · 26-03-2008, 03:04

I do find some results unusal. I subscribe to Digital Photographer and in the issue that said the D300 was the best around they gave away an advertising booklet about the E3. the next month the Olympus E3 was the new bestest camera, one month later they gave away an E3 as a prize that issue said the D3 was now the best. Amateur photographer tested them back to back and voila not even close. Others have tested the A700 D300 40D and E3 and put the A700 a very distant 4th. Thing is elsewhere on the web you can see the same scenes shot with the same cameras under controlled conditions and I think there is little to chose between the D300, E3 and 40D but the A700 is a little behind ... Just goes to show if the difference is that close go with what feels best to you.

b.van_der_dylan · 26-03-2008, 04:10

Very Interesting. Problem for me here in South Africa is the serious lack of lenses available for the Sony mount compared to Nikon or Canon, especially in the telephoto Zoom range. Not much use if the cameras great but you can't get the lens.Sony needs to address that one.

P-E · 26-03-2008, 07:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dabhand16

I've been trying to get some info on the rumored a900 - 25mp full frame?

I've seen 'alleged' pictures of the Sony 24.6MP working prototype with Zeiss 24-70 2.8 lens attached......looks interesting.

hoffy · 26-03-2008, 08:05

They showed the concept of the a900 in a show in America a little while back, looks like it was built like a tank and look impressive.
Having had a play with both camera's I would say that I agree that there is very little between them. I think the Sony is more user friendly keeping some of the buttons from the 7D, the image quality from both is amazing. I know the sony is built well but for me the Nikon felt much more stable, but I have big hands and like the heavier camera, the sony felt more plastic. I know it is not, I jest felt I would break it, but once used the camera was amazing.
So I agree it comes down to price. For me it has to be the Sony, but I use Minolta.
I think that Canon may have a problem and will need to be aware of these two camera's.

JMitchell · 26-03-2008, 20:00

I wouldn't buy the A700 being better than the D300. I've seen tests, and like someone else mentioned above, the A700 came out well behind. Not biased

slipstream · 26-03-2008, 20:34

Dont they use the same sensors anyway, if so it is then down to the software and lenses. I know which lenses I would choose and it aint gonna be Sow-neeee.

So one reviewer has said the Sony is better than the D300. One reviewer out of how many.... and does this now mean the D300 is in fact ****e. i dont think so. The reviewer chose the Sony because it is cheaper then the D300, well then, how much will the Sony be worth in 18 months compared to the D300, return on investment, longevity of the Nikon brand and choice of pro and decent glass, thats what I say.

towershot · 26-03-2008, 23:00

I have the D300 and if offered a swop and £500 I would refuse.

lifethrualens · 27-03-2008, 01:00

there is something quite amusing about this post, i just looked at all the people who say thay dont agree with this persons findings, and are all NIKON users, and most D300 users, we do get defensive about our camera choices.lol oh and im a NIKON user too. good cameras. got a feeling these camera companies have us all where they want us.

VinnyP · 27-03-2008, 06:23

I think Sony will be a major SLR player if they want to even THE SLR player. They are a huge company in comparison to Canon or especially Nikon. Despite all the legislation intended to stop it, they could use this to muscle them out or even buy them out.

***Steve*** · 27-03-2008, 08:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by lifethrualens

there is something quite amusing about this post, i just looked at all the people who say thay dont agree with this persons findings, and are all NIKON users, and most D300 users, we do get defensive about our camera choices.lol oh and im a NIKON user too. good cameras. got a feeling these camera companies have us all where they want us.

I noticed that straight away but decided to stay out of the thread for risk of upsetting our Nikon users. I am glad you picked up on it though

JMitchell · 27-03-2008, 16:25

I think we all have a case, seeing as the D300 appears to be currently the best performing crop sensor dSLR....
I wouldn't say it if it were about something that were better, but I don't think there is anything atm. I've looked at the reviews and comparison and extensive test shots etc. etc, and I've made my opinions...

**Sonsey** · 27-03-2008, 17:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by lifethrualens

there is something quite amusing about this post, i just looked at all the people who say thay dont agree with this persons findings, and are all NIKON users, and most D300 users, we do get defensive about our camera choices.lol oh and im a NIKON user too. good cameras. got a feeling these camera companies have us all where they want us.

I guess it sounds even worse when coming for a Canon user

Seriously though I was just serprised that a major publication has put the a700 out on top over the D300, especially since I think this is only Sony's 2nd generation of bodies since buying Konica Minolta. Whether it's better or worse really isn't the surprise for me, someone will always jump ahead evey now and again until the others catch up, the surprise is more how far they've come and how quickly!...

...The Canon vrs. Nikon debate could soon well be over, replaced with the Sony vrs. whoever debate with the way things are going.

26-03-2008, 02:18	#1 (permalink)
Sonsey Pixalo Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: N. Ireland Posts: 7,242	Sony a700 better than the Nikon D300? I see that Practical Photography mag has put the Sony a700 on top in a head to head test with the Nikon D300 in their April issue. In their conclusions they went on to say that the Sony produced almost identical results as the Nikon and so in the end it came down to value for money with the a700 moving ahead due to it's price. Looks like Sony could be a major player in the DSLR market pretty soon with reviews like that. Opinions?

26-03-2008, 02:46	#2 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,999	Re: Sony a700 better than the Nikon D300? I've been trying to get some info on the rumored a900 - 25mp full frame?

26-03-2008, 03:04	#3 (permalink)
VinnyP Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Surbiton Surrey Posts: 628	Re: Sony a700 better than the Nikon D300? I do find some results unusal. I subscribe to Digital Photographer and in the issue that said the D300 was the best around they gave away an advertising booklet about the E3. the next month the Olympus E3 was the new bestest camera, one month later they gave away an E3 as a prize that issue said the D3 was now the best. Amateur photographer tested them back to back and voila not even close. Others have tested the A700 D300 40D and E3 and put the A700 a very distant 4th. Thing is elsewhere on the web you can see the same scenes shot with the same cameras under controlled conditions and I think there is little to chose between the D300, E3 and 40D but the A700 is a little behind ... Just goes to show if the difference is that close go with what feels best to you.

26-03-2008, 04:10	#4 (permalink)
b.van_der_dylan Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 718	Re: Sony a700 better than the Nikon D300? Very Interesting. Problem for me here in South Africa is the serious lack of lenses available for the Sony mount compared to Nikon or Canon, especially in the telephoto Zoom range. Not much use if the cameras great but you can't get the lens.Sony needs to address that one.

26-03-2008, 08:05	#6 (permalink)
hoffy Been here a while Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheltenham Posts: 427	Re: Sony a700 better than the Nikon D300? They showed the concept of the a900 in a show in America a little while back, looks like it was built like a tank and look impressive. Having had a play with both camera's I would say that I agree that there is very little between them. I think the Sony is more user friendly keeping some of the buttons from the 7D, the image quality from both is amazing. I know the sony is built well but for me the Nikon felt much more stable, but I have big hands and like the heavier camera, the sony felt more plastic. I know it is not, I jest felt I would break it, but once used the camera was amazing. So I agree it comes down to price. For me it has to be the Sony, but I use Minolta. I think that Canon may have a problem and will need to be aware of these two camera's. __________________ *HOFFY*

26-03-2008, 20:00	#7 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,520	Re: Sony a700 better than the Nikon D300? I wouldn't buy the A700 being better than the D300. I've seen tests, and like someone else mentioned above, the A700 came out well behind. Not biased

26-03-2008, 20:34	#8 (permalink)
slipstream Quite Chatty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 65	Re: Sony a700 better than the Nikon D300? Dont they use the same sensors anyway, if so it is then down to the software and lenses. I know which lenses I would choose and it aint gonna be Sow-neeee. So one reviewer has said the Sony is better than the D300. One reviewer out of how many.... and does this now mean the D300 is in fact ****e. i dont think so. The reviewer chose the Sony because it is cheaper then the D300, well then, how much will the Sony be worth in 18 months compared to the D300, return on investment, longevity of the Nikon brand and choice of pro and decent glass, thats what I say.

26-03-2008, 23:00	#9 (permalink)
towershot Getting Comfy Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nr Blackpool ,Lancs, England. Posts: 149	Re: Sony a700 better than the Nikon D300? I have the D300 and if offered a swop and £500 I would refuse.

27-03-2008, 01:00	#10 (permalink)
lifethrualens Been here a while Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 309	Re: Sony a700 better than the Nikon D300? there is something quite amusing about this post, i just looked at all the people who say thay dont agree with this persons findings, and are all NIKON users, and most D300 users, we do get defensive about our camera choices.lol oh and im a NIKON user too. good cameras. got a feeling these camera companies have us all where they want us.

27-03-2008, 06:23	#11 (permalink)
VinnyP Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Surbiton Surrey Posts: 628	Re: Sony a700 better than the Nikon D300? I think Sony will be a major SLR player if they want to even THE SLR player. They are a huge company in comparison to Canon or especially Nikon. Despite all the legislation intended to stop it, they could use this to muscle them out or even buy them out.

27-03-2008, 16:25	#13 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,520	Re: Sony a700 better than the Nikon D300? I think we all have a case, seeing as the D300 appears to be currently the best performing crop sensor dSLR.... I wouldn't say it if it were about something that were better, but I don't think there is anything atm. I've looked at the reviews and comparison and extensive test shots etc. etc, and I've made my opinions...

27-03-2008, 22:25	#15 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,909