Canon 20Da vs Sony A700: A Deep Dive into Two Advanced DSLRs for Your Creative Journey

Choosing the right DSLR can be a pivotal step in your photography adventure, whether you’re an enthusiast stepping up your game or a seasoned professional seeking specialized tools. Today, we unpack the Canon EOS 20Da and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 - two mid-size advanced DSLRs from the mid-2000s that each carved their niche in the digital camera arena. Though neither are current models, understanding their distinct capabilities offers valuable lessons in sensor technology, autofocus design, ergonomics, and real-world shooting performance.

Through hands-on testing and an expert eye for detail, we’ll guide you through key technical differences, image quality, and practical handling - all tailored to empower your purchasing or upgrading decision. Let’s explore these cameras across genres, build quality, system compatibility, and value, supported by direct comparison images and fact-based insights.

Getting Acquainted: Physical Design and Handling Experience

Before diving into sensor specs and AF systems, let’s talk about something fundamental but often overlooked - how a camera feels in your hands.

Handling the Canon 20Da immediately shows its DSLR roots firmly planted in Canon’s familiar design ethos. The grip is slightly less pronounced than the Sony’s, and the camera body feels a bit slimmer in depth. While the build is solid, the 20Da notably lacks weather sealing, limiting its use in harsh environments.

Conversely, the Sony A700 presents a slightly bulkier profile, with a deeper grip that many photographers find more comfortable during extended shooting. Crucially, the A700 features partial environmental sealing - an advantage for outdoor photographers braving unpredictable conditions.

From an ergonomic viewpoint, the A700’s control placement is more refined, with better access to function buttons and a more tactile feel on dials. Canon users might find the 20Da’s layout familiar yet slightly dated, lacking certain convenience features that evolved by the mid-2000s.

Evaluating the Sensor: Image Quality and Resolution

At the heart of any DSLR is its sensor - dictating resolution, dynamic range, ISO performance, and ultimately image quality. These aspects determine how much detail and tonal nuance your photos carry.

Canon 20Da: Astrophotography-Centric Sensor Design

Uniquely built for astrophotography and deep-sky imaging, the 20Da modifies the standard Canon 20D sensor with enhanced hydrogen-alpha sensitivity by removing the internal IR filter. This special tweak makes it exceptionally good at capturing subtle red hues from nebulae and stars. For photographers passionate about night sky shots, this sensor provides a niche advantage.

On the downside, the resolution caps at 8MP, which today feels minimal, even by mid-2000s standards. The maximum native ISO of 1600 means limited low-light flexibility compared to its competitors, necessitating longer exposures or higher noise management tactics.

Sony A700: Higher Resolution and Improved Low-Light

Sony’s 12MP APS-C CMOS sensor marks a step up in resolution, letting you capture more detail and allowing larger prints without losing fidelity. The sensor size is slightly larger, which contributes to better light gathering.

An essential practical benefit is the impressive maximum native ISO of 6400, far exceeding the 20Da, granting greater low-light shooting freedom - whether indoors, at events, or during dusk landscapes.

DxOmark testing, while unavailable for Canon 20Da, rates the Sony A700’s sensor as quite capable for its era, with good color depth (22.3 bits), dynamic range (11.9 EV), and low-light ISO performance (ISO 581 equivalent). This translates into images with smoother gradations, richer tones, and less noise at higher sensitivities.

Controls and User Interface: Navigating Your Shooting Experience

How a camera communicates with you during use is crucial. The speed at which you access key functions, the feedback on settings, and the usability of the screen all impact the shooting flow.

The Sony A700 boasts a large, 3-inch LCD with VGA-level resolution - a dramatic upgrade that enhances image review and menu navigation. Meanwhile, the Canon 20Da’s 1.8-inch screen feels cramped and pixelated by comparison, constraining your ability to check focus or critically evaluate composition on the spot.

Interestingly, neither camera offers live view modes, a reflection of their generation before live view became standard.

The optical viewfinders from both cameras cover 95% of the scene and offer similar magnification - good but not class-leading. For critical framing, you’ll want to be conscious of composition outside the frame edges.

Top control layouts (discussed later with the accompanying image) benefit Sony users through intuitive exposure and drive mode dials. Canon offers familiar layout simplicity but can seem limiting for more advanced customizations.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Capturing the Decisive Moment

Whether you’re photographing fast wildlife or fleeting street scenes, autofocus (AF) speed and accuracy matter hugely. Continuous shooting (FPS) defines your ability to capture action sequences.

The Canon 20Da autofocus employs 9 point sensors focused solely on phase detection, typical for its time. The lack of advanced tracking or face detection limits its use in dynamic scenes where subjects move erratically.

Sony’s A700 improves slightly with 11 AF points, helping you frame and focus with more precision. Although both cameras lack modern face or eye detection capabilities, the Sony’s faster and more precise processor aids in better AF acquisition.

With continuous shooting capped at 5 FPS on both cameras, action and sports photographers will find this performance acceptable but not exceptional - it fits well with the needs of enthusiast-level wildlife or sports photographers unpacking moderate-speed sequences.

Burst, Buffer, and Storage Options: Making Every Shot Count

Shooting speed gels closely with how many images you can take rapidly before the camera slows and buffer fills.

The single CF slot in the Canon limits dual-card capabilities favored by professionals who want backup or extended capacity mid-shoot.

Sony’s twin card slots stand out, allowing you to shoot simultaneously to both cards for instant backup or split RAW/JPEG storage workflows - a notable advantage for professionals and serious hobbyists.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Reliability

Shooting outdoors, in variable weather or demanding conditions, calls for rugged camera bodies.

As mentioned earlier, Sony’s weather sealing suits use in light rain, dust, or humidity. Canon’s 20Da offers no environmental protection and is best used in controlled or indoor environments.

Sony’s robust chassis provides confidence during extended fieldwork; Canon’s build meanwhile relies on careful handling.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Your camera is only as versatile as the lenses you can pair it with.

Canon’s EF-S mount system boasts an incredibly wide and mature lens ecosystem - from entry-level primes to professional L-series telephoto beasts. The 20Da users enjoy access to more fast primes, super-sharp macros, and specialty lenses.

Sony’s Alpha mount, inherited from Konica Minolta, remains respectable but less extensive, particularly in autofocus lens variety and aftermarket options.

For portrait, landscape, macro, and wildlife enthusiasts seeking diversity, Canon’s range fuels more creative options.

Specialized Genre Performance: Where Each Camera Shines

Now, let’s examine how these cameras stack up in various photography disciplines, backed by empirical testing and genre-specific criteria.

Portrait Photography

• Skin tones & color rendition: Sony A700’s improved sensor color depth and processing yield more nuanced skin tones.
• Bokeh & lens support: Canon’s robust EF/EF-S lens lineup includes many fast aperture lenses (like the 85mm f/1.8) for creamy bokeh.
• Eye-detection: Neither camera offers autofocus eye detection.

Winner: Canon 20Da for its lens options, Sony A700 for improved color.

Landscape Photography

• Dynamic range: Sony edges ahead with 11.9 EV dynamic range, better capturing shadow and highlight details.
• Resolution: Sony’s 12MP higher resolution benefits large prints.
• Weather sealing: Sony’s weather sealing is crucial outdoors.

Winner: Sony A700

Wildlife Photography

• Autofocus speed & burst rate: Both cameras offer 5 FPS and similar focus points; Sony’s system has a slight processing edge.
• Telephoto support: Canon’s diverse telephoto lens range is a strong plus.

Winner: Slightly Sony for AF, Canon for lens support.

Sports Photography

• Tracking accuracy and low light: Both cameras lack tracking AF; Sony’s higher ISO helps low light capture.
• Frame rate: Equal 5 FPS.

Winner: Sony A700

Street Photography

• Discreteness and portability: Canon 20Da’s smaller profile lends itself to more discreet shooting.
• Low light: Sony’s higher ISO sensitivity is better.

Winner: Depends on preference; Canon for stealth, Sony for versatility.

Macro Photography

• Magnification and focusing: Both cameras lack specialized macro AF features.
• Lens variety: Canon’s macro primes are superior.

Winner: Canon 20Da

Night and Astrophotography

• High ISO performance: Sony’s sensor enables cleaner images at ISO 3200+.
• Exposure modes and specialized sensors: Canon 20Da’s sensor modification excels in astrophotography red hues.

Winner: Canon 20Da for astrophotography, Sony for general low-light.

Video Capabilities

Neither model supports video capture - unsurprising for cameras released pre-video boom.

Travel Photography

• Versatility: Sony’s broader ISO and shooting features.
• Battery life: Both cameras have modest battery life; Sony uses the NP-FM500H battery with decent endurance.
• Size and weight: Similar, with Canon being slightly more compact.

Winner: Sony A700

Professional Work

• Reliability: Sony’s weather sealing and dual card slots better suit professional demands.
• File formats & workflow: Both support raw; Sony wins on dual storage flexibility.

Winner: Sony A700

Canon 20Da screen back Sony A700 front Sony A700 screen back

We captured these sample shots in controlled conditions, showcasing Sony’s enhanced detail and color fidelity, while Canon’s images reveal excellent astrophotography-related red tone sensitivity.

Overall Performance Scoring and Summary

To distill a complex comparison, we aggregate key results from sensor, AF, ergonomics, and feature sets:

Genre-Specific Performance Analysis

Breaking down scores by photography genre:

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Fits Your Creative Path?

Canon 20Da: The Astrophotographer’s Choice with Classic Handling

If your passion lies in astrophotography or capturing deep sky objects, the Canon 20Da remains unparalleled due to its uniquely tailored sensor. Its stellar lens ecosystem means you have endless choices for portrait, macro, and telephoto shooting. However, don’t expect cutting-edge low-light ISO performance or robust environmental protection.

It’s an excellent tool if you prioritize specialized image capture and value familiarity with Canon’s system. Just bear in mind the modest screen, limited ISO, and lack of live view.

Sony A700: The Versatile Performer with Modern Features

Sony’s mid-size DSLR caters well to enthusiasts seeking a balanced package: higher resolution sensor, better low-light and dynamic range performance, enhanced ergonomics, weather sealing, and dual card slots. While its lens catalog isn’t as extensive as Canon’s, it provides sufficient options to cover landscapes, portraits, wildlife, and travel.

If you want a reliable, versatile camera with improved handling and image quality - especially outdoors or in challenging light - the A700 is the more well-rounded option.

Taking the Next Step: Try Before You Buy and Accessorize Smartly

Both these cameras reflect the advancement wave of early digital SLRs. Your choice should align with your shooting priorities, investment comfort, and preferred system lenses.

• Explore hands-on: Visit camera stores to handle these models or their descendants.
• Lens selection: Consider key lenses that enhance your desired photography style.
• Accessories: Battery grips, quality CF cards, and protective cases expand usability and shooting endurance.

In closing, whether you pick the astute Canon 20Da or the versatile Sony A700, you’re stepping into capable systems that empower creative expression with unique strengths. Carefully matching camera features to your photographic ambitions fosters growth and memorable image-making - and that’s the true heart of choosing gear.

Happy shooting!