There’s been a lot of squawk recently about the Sony A700 DSLR. This is a nice upgrade for existing Sony DSLR users. They gain a lot of nice features. The 12 MP sensor, 11 point AF system, 5 FPS shooting, Dynamic Range Optimization, and their unique Eye Start AF (which started in the Minolta cameras) makes this a sensible upgrade. The camera is due out at the end of September.

The more I look at it the more I think it’s a Nikon D300 with a Sony logo. It has a lot of the advanced technology of the D300, including the 3 inch 921k pixel LCD screen. The Sony doesn’t have Live View, but that’s a minor thing. (Is someone sharing technology secrets?)

Since the Sony comes in at around $500 less than the Nikon D300 I wonder how that will affect sales of the Nikon. I know a number of Nikon users have already pre-ordered the D300 and these folks all have a bagful of glass. They’re not likely to switch.

For the new DSLR buyer, I can see where the Sony A700 will pull a certain percentage away from Canon and Nikon. Smart salespeople will key in on the price difference and target those users who will most likely buy a camera and 2 lenses and nothing more. They’re perfect candidates for the Sony.

It will be interesting to see how successful the Sony A700 is.