Used A700 or A580

I currently use an A500 with A300 as backup, the A300 has a fault so I`ve decided to replace it with one of the above cameras, I know several of you rate the A700 very highly, (my main use is wildlife) but I am at a loss to decide whether to go for newer technology or tried and tested.
Any advice from forum members would be most welcome.
Thanks for any help Roger

Hi Roger

As someone who owns both the A700 and the A580 (as well as an A100 and an A550) I would repeat what I have said on so many occasions over the last year that the A580 may not have the ergonomics of the A700 but in the important aspects of AF performance and accuracy as well as image quality, the A580 wins hands down. Its high ISO performance is also superior.

Since you haven't used an A700, the handling of the A580 will be more like what you are used to.

In September/October I took both cameras to Kenya for a safari and gave them an equal runout with the 70-400g, and the 18-250 Tammy lenses.
I got excellent shots with both cameras but the A580 was the much more consistent performer.

The only thing that the A580 brings as regards 'new' technology is video. In every other respect it is not new but improved technology. In fact as things stand, it is the ultimate non-SLT Sony and likely the last ever OVF DSLR that Sony will produce.

Go for better and faster focusing if your interest is in wildlife. With my 70-400 G lens, going from an A-700 to an A-55 gave me a much higher percentage of good shots.