Sony A700 vs. Sony W730: In-Depth Comparison From a Seasoned Photographer’s Lens

As someone who has spent over 15 years testing and comparing cameras across genres and skill levels, I’m often asked how cameras separated by technology generations stack up in real-world use. Today, I'm putting the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 (A700) - a mid-size advanced DSLR launched in 2007 - head-to-head against the 2013 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 (W730), an entry-level compact point-and-shoot. This isn’t just a specs battle; I’ll dive deep into how these two cameras perform for various kinds of photography, what practical differences photographers can expect, and who should consider investing in each.

I’ve personally handled thousands of camera bodies and lenses and conducted rigorous tests across lighting conditions, autofocus scenarios, ergonomics, and image quality metrics. Below, I share those insights, from sensor tech to user experience, supported by data, my hands-on evaluations, and plenty of sample observations along the way.

Let’s jump in.

First Impressions: Feel, Controls, and Handling

From the moment you hold the two cameras side by side, the differences in design philosophy become apparent.

The Sony A700's mid-sized DSLR body is substantial, weighing in at 768g with dimensions of roughly 142 x 105 x 80 millimeters. It represents the era of enthusiast DSLRs with the heft and ruggedness users expect for precise manual control and lens versatility. The Sony W730 is a stark contrast - a tiny, lightweight compact camera, just 122g and roughly 93 x 52 x 22 millimeters. This size difference dictates how each camera feels in the hand and what roles they excel at.

I found the A700's grip to be comfortable for extended shoots, with its magnesium alloy chassis providing durability and weather resistance (though it’s not weather sealed to professional standards). The W730’s plastic shell and ultra-compact form make it pocket-friendly, but the trade-off is less tactile feedback and limited button control, designed for casual shooters prioritizing convenience.

Looking at controls:

The A700 features a traditional DSLR layout with dedicated dials for exposure modes, ISO, and shutter speed, plus a refined button spread suited for one-handed adjustment without menu-diving. The W730 offers a minimalistic control scheme with mostly touchscreen-centric input on the rear 2.7-inch TFT display. Its reliance on touchscreen navigation paired with a slower menu system might frustrate enthusiasts wanting quick access to settings, whereas beginners will appreciate its simplicity.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Let’s dissect the key image-producing components - their sensors.

Sony A700 Sensor:

• APS-C-sized CMOS sensor (23.5 x 15.6 mm)
• 12 megapixels resolution (4272 x 2848)
• 1.5x crop factor
• Antialias filter present
• Native ISO 100–6400
• Sensor area: 366.6 mm²

Sony W730 Sensor:

• Tiny 1/2.3" CCD sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm)
• 16 megapixels (4608 x 3456)
• 5.8x crop factor
• Antialias filter present
• Native ISO 100–3200
• Sensor area: 28.07 mm²

The substantial physical difference in sensor size overwhelmingly favors the A700 for image quality, especially in dynamic range, low light performance, and depth of field control.

In my experience shooting outdoors and indoors, the A700 produces richer color depth (22.3 bits DxO Color Depth score), wider dynamic range (11.9 stops), and superior noise control at ISOs up to 3200, with usable images even at ISO 6400. By contrast, the W730’s tiny sensor struggles beyond ISO 400, showing noticeable noise and reduced tonal gradations.

The larger pixels on the A700’s APS-C sensor help gather more light, translating to better clarity and highlight recovery. This matters immensely for landscape and portrait photographers aiming for high-quality prints or extensive post-processing.

LCD and Viewfinders: Composing and Reviewing Your Shots

While the sensor captures the image, the camera’s displays determine how you see and interact with your shots.

The A700 uses a 3-inch fixed LCD with 920,000 dots resolution, sharp and bright for reviewing images outdoors. Importantly, it relies on an optical pentaprism viewfinder with 95% coverage and 0.6x magnification - standard for the time but less than ideal compared to today's higher coverage.

During my testing, using the optical viewfinder provided excellent clarity and frame accuracy, indispensable for moving subjects and bright lighting where LCDs struggle. However, the W730 lacks any viewfinder, relying solely on a 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD at 230k-dot resolution. This screen is smaller and dimmer in direct sunlight, challenging usability outdoors.

Touch responsiveness on the W730 was good, facilitating pinch zoom and menu navigation, but the lack of an eye-level finder and limited resolution can hamper composition precision in demanding situations.

Autofocus and Speed: Capturing The Moment

Autofocus systems are a critical determinant for wildlife, sports, and event photographers. Here’s how the two cameras compare.

The A700 employs an 11-point phase-detection AF system, with continuous AF capabilities - advanced for 2007 standards. Though it lacks face or eye detection autofocus (features that arrived in later models), the phase-detection system proved reliable in daylight and moderately dim conditions. I measured burst rates of up to 5 frames per second, comfortable for casual action sequences, though not elite sports pace.

The W730, on the other hand, uses contrast-detection AF with face detection enabled on the touchscreen. The trade-off is slower autofocus speed, especially in low light and for moving subjects. Its single-point and multi-area AF modes worked well for stationary scenes but hunted more often than the A700 when tracking.

Continuous AF and burst shooting are limited to 1 fps, which restricts suitability for active subjects needing precision capture.

Lens System and Versatility: Creativity Unleashed vs. Convenience

Lens ecosystems define a camera’s creative horizons.

The A700, built on the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount, supports a vast catalogue of over 140 lenses, including prime, zoom, macro, and professional-grade glass. This flexibility lets photographers tailor the system to precise needs - whether portraits with creamy bokeh, landscapes with sharp wide angles, or telephoto wildlife shots.

In my hands-on workflow, swapping lenses on the A700 was simple, and sensor-based image stabilization helped reduce shake on non-stabilized glass.

Conversely, the W730 features a fixed 9x zoom lens (25-224mm equivalent, f/3.3-6.3). Its macro focusing distance is commendable at 5cm, allowing decent close-ups without accessories. But without interchangeable lenses, creativity is limited by the zoom’s aperture and optical qualities.

That said, the W730’s lens is optically stabilized with Sony’s SteadyShot (optical), which helped handheld shots at slower shutter speeds.

Build Quality and Durability: Holding Up Through the Years

For professional or heavy use, build quality is not a trivial matter.

The A700 boasts partial environmental sealing, protecting against light rain and dust - a welcome addition for fieldwork and travel photographers. Its magnesium alloy chassis increases robustness, enabling confidence during extended shoots in variable conditions.

The W730’s lightweight compact chassis lacks any weather sealing, making it ill-suited for rugged use. Its plastic build is fine for snapshots and everyday carry but delicate by professional standards.

Shooting Styles: How Each Excels Across Photography Types

I put both cameras to the test across varied photographic disciplines to gauge real-world fit.

Portrait Photography

Sony A700 dominates here. The large APS-C sensor provides creamy background defocus (bokeh) and more precise depth control. While it lacks eye detection autofocus, the 11 AF points allow selective focusing on eyes or faces manually. Skin tones appeared natural and well-rendered, especially shooting RAW files and processing in Lightroom.

The W730’s small sensor limits subject isolation; bokeh is minimal due to small aperture ranges and high depth of field. Face detection helps novices, but portraits lack the aesthetic depth or resolution of the A700.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range, resolution, and weather protections make or break landscapes.

The A700’s excellent dynamic range preserves shadows and highlights, crucial under challenging sunset or midday sun. Its 12MP sensor strikes a neat balance between image detail and manageable file sizes for many photography enthusiasts. The Twin CF/Memory Stick slots provide versatile storage - ideal during long trips.

The W730’s smaller sensor captures lower dynamic ranges, and noisier shadows limit flexibility. But its compact size makes it ultra-portable for casual travel landscapes where ultimate image quality is less critical.

Wildlife Photography

Here, speed and telephoto reach count.

The A700’s phase detection AF and 5 fps burst give a reasonable toolset for capturing animals in motion. Pairing with telephoto lenses from Sony’s Alpha range extends focal lengths well beyond the W730’s max 224mm equivalent.

The W730’s slow autofocus and 1 fps burst is a bottleneck for wildlife. Zoom range is good for casual animal shots but insufficient for distant subjects. For serious wildlife, the A700 system is vastly superior.

Sports Photography

Continuous high-speed autofocus and burst rates win the day.

While not a professional sports camera, the A700's 5 fps capacity and phase-detection autofocus allow me to capture moderate-speed action like recreational ball games with decent success.

The W730 doesn’t keep pace: AF speed and burst limitations make capturing fast-moving subjects nearly impossible.

Street Photography

For unobtrusive shooting, discretion and portability count.

The W730’s small size, quiet operation, and minimal visual footprint provide tactical advantages for candid street photography, especially when carrying a large DSLR is impractical.

The A700’s bulkier form attracts more attention, possibly intimidating subjects. However, its superior image quality and manual controls can produce professional-grade street portraits and detailed urban textures.

Macro Photography

Close-focus ability depends heavily on lens optics and AF precision.

The W730 offers a respectable 5cm macro focus, facilitating casual close-ups with good sharpness, aided by optical stabilization.

The A700’s macro potential lies in pairing with dedicated macro lenses - a whole realm of high-magnification and razor-sharp results unmatched by compacts.

Night and Astro Photography

High ISO performance and long exposures are crucial here.

The A700’s APS-C sensor shows remarkably clean images at ISO 1600 and above, enabling handheld night shots and star trails with moderate noise.

The W730 is limited by its sensor size and ISO ceiling; long exposures require a tripod and often result in noisy images.

Video Capabilities: Limited and Different

Neither camera was designed with strong video in mind.

The A700 lacks video recording entirely, representing a time before hybrid photo/video DSLRs became mainstream.

The W730 offers HD video recording at 1280x720p (30fps) in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats. While audio input options are nonexistent and aperture control is limited, it offers a simple way to grab casual videos alongside photos.

Battery Life and Storage: Dependability Over Time

The Sony A700 uses the NP-FM500H battery, offering approximately 720 shots per charge (CIPA standard). For a DSLR, this is respectable and supports extended shooting sessions. Dual card slots (CompactFlash and Memory Stick Pro Duo) enable substantial storage flexibility and redundancy - important for critical work.

The W730’s NP-BN battery provides around 240 shots per charge, typical for compacts. It relies on a single SD or Memory Stick slot, which suffices for casual use but limits professional workflow.

Connectivity and Extras: Modern Conveniences Absence

Both cameras lack modern wireless features like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, understandable given their launch years.

The A700 sports USB 2.0 and HDMI outputs for tethering and image transfer. The W730 offers USB 2.0 but no HDMI.

Neither offers GPS tagging or extensive metadata integration, restricting location-based workflows.

Overall Performance Scores and Genre-Specific Insights

Here are summary scores based on standardized tests and my hands-on experience:

Furthermore, considering genre-specific performance, this graphic highlights how each camera fares:

Image Quality in Action: Sample Photos Comparison

To put theory into practice, the below gallery juxtaposes RAW and JPEG files taken from both cameras across various scenarios - portrait, landscape, macro, low light.

Sony A700 front Sony A700 screen back Sony W730 front Sony W730 screen back

The A700’s images showcase cleaner shadows, better detail retention, and richer color gradations. The W730’s photos are sufficient for snapshots and social sharing but lack the tonal richness and sharpness of the DSLR images.

Summing It Up: Which Camera For Whom?

Sony A700: Who should consider it?

• Photography enthusiasts wanting a full-featured DSLR at a reasonable used price
• Portrait, landscape, wildlife, macro, and even beginner sports shooters seeking manual control
• Users needing better image quality, wider dynamic range, superior autofocus, and lens flexibility
• Those prioritizing durability, ergonomics, and customizable controls
• Photographers who intend to shoot RAW and perform creative post-processing workflows

Sony W730: Who is it best for?

• Casual shooters looking for an affordable, ultra-portable camera
• Travelers and street photographers valuing discretion and convenience
• Users requiring simple point-and-shoot operation with optical zoom and decent macro
• Those who want HD video capture alongside stills but have moderate image quality expectations
• Anyone who prefers simplicity over manual settings or interchangeable lenses

Final Thoughts From My Testing Bench

In over a decade and a half of camera evaluations, the disparity between a mid-range DSLR and an entry-level compact is immense but so are their intended uses.

The Sony A700 still holds its own against similarly priced used DSLRs today, especially for photographic disciplines demanding image quality and control. It’s a gateway into a professional-style setup, with a rich ecosystem.

The Sony W730, while technologically and physically limited by its compact class design, remains a commendable companion for point-and-shoot needs.

For photographers debating the two, assess whether image quality and creative control or portability and ease-of-use matter more. There’s no shame in choosing either - it depends largely on your photographic ambitions and budget.

Disclosure: I have no affiliation with Sony and tested all gear under controlled lab and field conditions over multiple sessions. This review aims to help you make an informed purchase that matches your unique photography style.

Happy shooting!