Sony Alpha 700

The Sony Alpha 700 is a DSLR from 2007, built around an APS-C sensor and the Alpha DT lens mount. Measuring 142 x 105 x 80 mm and weighing 768 g, it is a mid-size body.

It suits photographers who enjoy simple, stills-first shooting: framing through the optical pentaprism viewfinder, controlling the camera directly, and skipping video entirely.

Cards are CompactFlash or Memory Stick Duo, with no wireless transfer available. In return, there is a 650-shot battery rating and a camera that concentrates on stills.

A 12.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor feeds the Bionz processor. The ISO range runs from 100 to 3200, and when light drops very low, a fast lens or flash takes the place of a higher ISO setting.

Autofocus offers nine points. The maximum burst rate is 5 fps, a maximum figure rather than a promise of sustained speed.

In-body stabilisation is the most useful optics feature here. Because it sits in the body, every Alpha DT lens you attach benefits, including older or inexpensive glass. It reduces camera shake rather than subject movement, so it buys slower handheld shutter speeds with static scenes.

Framing happens through a glass pentaprism optical viewfinder, which gives a direct, lag-free view for stills work. The 1/8000s top shutter speed also helps when you want wide apertures in strong sunlight.

The Alpha 700 does not record video in any mode. It is a stills camera, so it cannot capture motion clips alongside photographs.

Built-in timelapse is also absent. The camera cannot create automatic interval sequences on its own.

Anyone who needs motion or automatic timelapse capture must plan on a separate device or an external interval solution.

The features score of 28 out of 100 is limited, and the camera sits in the bottom 8% of cameras in our database for Features. There is no touchscreen, no live view, no weather sealing and no Bluetooth, and those absences cost it points.

The 3-inch LCD flips out from the body and shows a sharp 920,000-dot view for checking focus and colour, though without live view it serves playback and menus rather than composition.

Lighting options are decent. A built-in flash handles quick fill light, and support for an external flash lets you add something stronger for portraits or events. With no WiFi or Bluetooth, there is no wireless transfer option.

The NP-FM500H battery is rated for 650 shots, a figure without stated test conditions that should be treated as a guide.

Two card slots are fitted: one takes CompactFlash Type I or II, the other Memory Stick Duo or Pro Duo. Since the slots use different formats, the second card is best treated as extra capacity rather than an automatic backup copy.

There is no USB charging, so the battery cannot be topped up from a laptop or power bank and a charged spare is worth packing for long outings. The storage and battery score of 65 out of 100 is a good result, built mainly on the dual slots and the battery rating.