Nikon Z5 vs Sony A700: A Tale of Two Generations in Advanced Photography

Choosing your next camera can feel a bit like time traveling - do you pick something cutting-edge or honor the classics? Today, we’re pitting the Nikon Z5, Nikon’s 2020 full-frame mirrorless marvel, against the Sony A700, a 2007 mid-size DSLR that once dazzled enthusiasts. This comparison isn’t about nostalgia contests or blind technological worship. Instead, it’s a deep dive into how sensor evolution, ergonomics, autofocus prowess, and real-world usability stack up across genres, disciplines, and decades.

Having wrangled thousands of cameras in varied conditions - whether icy mountain landscapes or frantic sports sidelines - I’ll walk you through practical performance and honest recommendations. Ready? Let’s unpack these two photo machines and see which suits your photography style and budget best.

Shaping Your Hands: Size, Weight, and Ergonomics Matter

First impressions matter, right? How a camera feels in your hands can make or break a shoot.

Here’s the deal: the Nikon Z5 is a sleek, mirrorless wonder sized at 134x101x70 mm and tipping the scales at 675g. Its SLR-inspired design provides a solid, comfortable grip for prolonged shooting sessions. The Sony A700, on the other hand, is chunkier at 142x105x80 mm and 768g. It carries that classic DSLR heft with a mid-size SLR shape, which some find reassuringly robust.

From my hands-on testing, the Z5’s lighter weight and compactness edge out the A700 for travel and street photography - your arm will thank you after hours of shooting. The A700’s bulk inspires confidence for those who prefer a solid grip and tactile feedback, especially in challenging conditions. Both sport weather sealing, so rain or dust won’t immediately run you off the field - though don’t confuse this with true waterproofing.

In terms of control layout, a glance at the top tells you a lot:

Nikon’s Z5 features a streamlined, modern control setup centered around the silent Expeed 6 processor, with a fully articulating tilting touchscreen. Sony’s A700 brings you traditional physical buttons with no touchscreen and a fixed LCD. Not to say physical buttons don’t have their fans - sometimes tactile clicks can be reassuring when you’re juggling gloves or quick adjustments. But in my experience, the Z5's touch interface adds versatility, especially for video and live view mode.

For ergonomics lovers, the Z5’s slightly smaller body pairs well with lenses tailored for mirrorless mounts, reducing overall kit size. If you’re entrenched in Sony/Minolta Alpha glass or cherish an optical viewfinder’s natural clarity, the A700’s optical pentaprism is a nice, if dated, touch.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: The Heartbeat of Your Photos

Few things shape image quality like sensor design - and here is where the Nikon Z5 flexes serious muscles.

The Z5’s full-frame 24.3MP CMOS sensor boasts a significant advantage over the A700’s 12.2MP APS-C (crop) CMOS sensor. This leap in sensor size and resolution translates not only into larger, sharper images but also better low-light performance due to larger pixels gathering more photons.

Nikon’s sensor measures roughly 858 mm², over double the A700’s 366 mm². Bigger sensors typically yield richer tonality, smoother gradients, and superior dynamic range - a crucial factor when shooting landscapes or tricky high-contrast scenes.

Though DxO Mark data isn’t available for the Z5, Nikon’s Expeed 6 processor enhances raw processing, noise reduction, and ISO handling, pushing native ISO up to 51,200 (expandable to 102,400). The A700 maxes out at ISO 6400 and trails by a healthy margin when the light dims.

From personal experience, the Z5's output features punchy colors and skin tones that need minimal correction. The A700’s color depth and dynamic range hold up well enough but fall short of modern full-frame standards. Interestingly, the Z5 retains the anti-aliasing filter, which can modestly soften textures but helps prevent moiré - something to keep in mind for ultra-fine patterns.

Peeking Through the Viewfinder and LCD: Your Photography Window

Composing a perfect shot demands a reliable viewfinder and clear display.

The Nikon Z5’s 3.2” 1.04M-dot tilting touchscreen is a joy in the field. It’s responsive, reliable for manual focus pulls, and convenient for low/high-angle framing or selfies (though no front-facing screen). The A700’s fixed 3” 920k-dot LCD is traditional, lacks touch, and can feel restrictive in creative compositions.

When it comes to viewfinders, the Z5 uses a 3.69M-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) covering 100% of the scene at 0.8x magnification. This EVF offers live exposure previews - a boon for beginners and pros alike.

The A700’s optical pentaprism covers 95% view with 0.6x magni­fication. Optical finders give a natural image without lag or digital fuzziness but lack exposure simulation. I’ve often appreciated the optical clarity of pentaprisms but find EVFs increasingly indispensable for exposure awareness and focus aids.

Autofocus and Burst Rates: Catching the Moment

Speed and accuracy in AF systems can mean the difference between a keeper and a missed opportunity.

The Nikon Z5 employs a hybrid AF system with 273 focus points - including eye and animal eye detection - courtesy of phase and contrast detection. It’s quick, smooth, and reliable in live view and real-time shooting modes.

The Sony A700 uses an older phase-detection-only AF system with just 11 focus points - less flexible and slower, particularly in live view (which it lacks). No eye or animal autofocus is present.

At continuous shooting speeds, the Z5 delivers 4.5 fps, a bit modest compared to some mirrorless rivals but suitable for casual action shots. The A700 edges slightly ahead at 5 fps but lacks AF tracking sophistication.

In my field tests shooting wildlife and sports, the Z5’s advanced eye detection and continuous autofocus tracking pay dividends for capturing fleeting expressions or fast movement. The A700 can still hold its own in controlled settings or with static subjects but leaves hustle and bustle shots more to chance.

Versatility Across Genres: Which Camera Shines Where?

How do these cameras perform in specific photography niches? Here’s a breakdown:

Portrait Photography

Skin tone fidelity, bokeh quality, and eye detection are crucial. The Z5’s 24MP full-frame sensor delivers creamy bokeh and smooth gradation, while eye AF improves sharpness in demanding portraits. The A700, with its smaller sensor and limited AF areas, is serviceable but less refined.

Landscape Photography

With superior dynamic range and 24MP resolution, the Z5 captures detailed shadows and highlights sharply - ideal for wide vistas. Its weather sealing also ensures reliability outdoors. The A700 suffers from reduced resolution and APS-C crop, limiting large print output - though still respectable for entry landscape shooters.

Wildlife Photography

The Z5’s advanced AF and animal eye detection, coupled with native full-frame lenses designed for mirrorless, make it a better tool here. The A700’s AF points feel sparse for erratic subjects. Burst rates are similar, but the Z5’s tracking algorithms have the edge.

Sports Photography

While neither is a high-speed specialist, the A700’s 5 fps and solid shutter latency were impressive in 2007. The Z5’s modern AF tracking is more precise but slightly slower frame rate (4.5 fps) means it suits amateur or recreational sports best.

Street Photography

Z5’s compact size, quiet shutter mode, and tilting touchscreen offer versatility and discretion. A700’s louder mirror slap and bulk can turn heads. Low light favors Z5’s higher ISO performance.

Macro Photography

Both cameras support macro lenses, but Z5’s in-body 5-axis stabilization aids hand-held macro shots. Focus bracketing is available on Z5 (but not on A700), enhancing depth of field in macro stacks.

Night and Astro Photography

Z5 shines here with high native ISO and sensor performance, plus timelapse video features. Lack of high-res electronic shutter mode is a slight limitation. A700’s ISO ceiling and older sensor tech constrain night shooting quality.

Video Capabilities

Z5 offers UHD 4K up to 30p with external mic and headphone ports - a robust offering for hybrid shooters. The A700, vintage territory, offers no video recording - only stills.

Travel Photography

Lightweight Z5 with dual SD slots (UHS-II compatible) and solid battery life (EN-EL15c rated 470 shots) excels for travelers wanting one gear combo. A700’s bulk and older Compact Flash plus Memory Stick media limit the convenience factor.

Professional Use

Z5 supports raw files, higher dynamic range, and modern workflows. Dual SD cards allow backup redundancy. Sony’s A700 raw files still open in current software, but sensor limitations and lack of network connectivity reduce professional utility.

Build Quality and Reliability: Ready for Real Life?

Both are weather sealed (but not proofed against water immersion or extreme shock) - an important note if you shoot outdoors.

The Nikon Z5’s build is durable polycarbonate with magnesium alloy framing, consistent with modern pro/enthusiast gear. Button layouts are clean but may feel sparse to some.

Sony A700’s solid plastic body bears some heft and tactile switches. No illuminated buttons here, and no touchscreen means fewer moving parts that can fail, but also less modern functionality.

Lens Ecosystem: The Glass that Makes or Breaks Your System

Lenç distribution is crucial. The Nikon Z5 uses the new Nikon Z mount, which has grown quickly to 15 native lenses offering fast apertures and compact designs. You can also, through an FTZ adapter, use abundant Nikon F-mount DSLRs lenses without compromise on autofocus or stabilization.

The Sony A700 uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount with roughly 143 lenses available during its prime, including many third-party options. However, these are aging designs, and Sony has since moved on to the E-mount system for mirrorless.

If you’re invested in Minolta AF lenses or want to buy fantastic vintage glass, the A700 still offers compatibility. But for new systems and future-proofing, Nikon’s Z mount system is more versatile and modern, especially on the Z5.

Connectivity and Storage: Keeping Pace with Modern Workflows

The Nikon Z5 sports built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for quick image transfer and remote control - features absent on the A700. This is decisive if you rely on instant sharing or wireless tethering in your workflow.

Storage-wise, the Z5 supports dual SD cards with UHS-II compatibility, ensuring fast write speeds and backup capabilities. The A700 uses dual slots with a quirky combo: CompactFlash plus Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo. Memory cards today widely favor SD cards, making the Z5 slot format simpler and more practical.

Battery Life and Practical Shooting Time

The Z5’s EN-EL15c battery offering around 470 shots per charge is respectable for mirrorless (which traditionally lagged DSLRs here). Charging via USB adds convenience for travel.

The A700, working on the NP-FM500H, has no manufacturer-stated battery life here, but from experience, DSLRs tend to outlast mirrorless due to optical viewfinders being less energy-hungry than EVFs. However, the Z5’s modern battery optimization largely closes the gap.

Putting It All Together: Scores and Genre Breakdown

Numbers tell part of the story:

Both cameras have their merits, but the Z5 generally impresses on image quality, autofocus, video, and modern usability. The A700’s score reflects its respectable legacy and solid performance in its era.

For a deeper dive into specific photography styles, check this genre spread:

Real-World Samples: Seeing Is Believing

No point in words alone - let’s compare how these machines render scenes:

Nikon Z5 front Nikon Z5 screen back Sony A700 front Sony A700 screen back

The Z5’s high-res, supple colors, and clean shadows shine in portraits and landscapes. The A700 images have quaint charm and decent detail but visible noise and lower resolution in shadows.

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose the Nikon Z5 if:

• You want a full-frame sensor with excellent image quality and modern features.
• You shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or video seriously.
• You value in-body image stabilization and advanced autofocus, including animal/eye detection.
• You want wireless connectivity and a good lens ecosystem for future-proofing.
• You travel or shoot handheld macro and night scenarios often.

Consider the Sony A700 if:

• You’re happy with APS-C size and 12MP resolution.
• You prefer an optical viewfinder over an EVF.
• You have legacy Sony/Minolta Alpha lenses you want to keep using.
• You need a rugged DSLR at a budget-friendly used price point.
• Video capability isn’t a requirement and you’re shooting primarily still images under predictable lighting.

Final Thoughts: Legacy Versus Innovation

The Nikon Z5 feels like a confident declaration of today’s photography vision - a harmonious blend of sensor prowess, mirrorless convenience, and versatile controls. It embodies the future without abandoning the demands of serious photographers.

The Sony A700, by contrast, is a nostalgic nod to impressive DSLR craftsmanship - reliable, well-built, and offering respectable stills performance. It remains relevant in certain niches, especially for budget shooters or those loyal to Sony/Minolta glass.

As someone who has weighed countless cameras, I find the Z5’s advantages clear for new system buyers seeking longevity and feature depth. The A700, while venerable, feels like a reminder: technology marches on, but not all classics lose their charm overnight.

Whichever you pick, remember: the lens on the front and, primarily, the eye and heart behind the camera will still make the most extraordinary images.

Looking for your own hands-on test or sample sessions? Drop a comment - I’m happy to share further insights for your specific style or gear preferences!