[jamesrayenz]

I dunno ... Sony seems to be getting lost, bifurcating itself into consumer sales with preview and large sensors on the A200 10mp / A300 10mp / A350 14mp series and seems happy to discount them into competitiveness. Will there be an A400, A500, A600, A800? Do they want to become Minolta who had 2-series,3-series,4-series,5-series,6-series,7-series,8-series and 9-series models out there at the same time?

On the other hand, Sony seems to have pulled back on the A700 12mp because it's sensor has fewer pixels than the waay cheaper A350 14mp, and somehow consider the A700 12mp to be "professional" and part of the upcoming A900 24mp full frame super pixel monster.

Of course Pentax/Samsung will also have to have full frame models to compete. Eventually every DSLR based on 35mm interchangeable lenses will have to have a cheap and expensive full frame model. Though I think APS-C is here to stay due to the marketing claim that 60% in-camera crop is actually a 1.5x focal length multiplier advantage (incredible, but well pulled off).

I would never regret owning the A700. IT does exactly what it promises, and promised to do that for years. I do not regret any Minolta camera I bought even though their features and benefits were eclipsed immediately or soon after purchase since each camera continues to make me very, very happy. But then, I don't buy on a whim, and it takes me a year or more to consider my options and buy into a camera and it's system, while I read up on it, compare, and make my decision. If I ever buy an A700, I might get one cheap, used, maybe even from you as you move on, and after I have carefully considered my options versus the cameras features and benefits. Those features and benefits and their match to my needs and preferences do not change when a new model comes out, so I'm a happy camper, Minolta wise.