Pictures of PRS700 vs PRS505

[JSWolf]

Tuesday I will be taking my 505 and going to the SonyStyle shop. I'll then be able to tell how accurate all these photos are and give you my opinion of the 700 vs the 505. I'll have to dig out my SD card to load in a few books so I can do an actual comparison with the same books.

[sononkyo]

Thank you Trek for helping me decide. I'm not buying this model to move backwards.

Sony, you screwed up with the e-ink contract. Adding features by diminishing the most critical interface (THE SCREEN) is not progress.

I'm waiting for the next revision so Sony can work with a better panel provider like AUO. http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/Ne...12&query=E-INK

[ProDigit]

Sometimes I wonder why Sony didn't make the screen in much cheaper plastic, like on the esquire magazines.
Afraid it might scratch?
Well,obviously lots better than glass that breaks!
I've really been really super careful with the screen out of fear of breaking...

[Trek]

Originally Posted by dhbailey

It's not as bad as the photos make it appear. Digital cameras, if they focus or set their white balance on one item (the brightest, usually) will leave other things looking very dim, whereas a picture taken of only the 700 will show its detail much more crisply.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Just remember when looking at the pictures that they can be misleading and sometimes incorrect. I can take photos that would make a 500 look better then a 505. So unless you've seen the 700 in person, don't trust the photos.

I stand by the pictures I posted. They are representative of how my 700 looks like. Note that I tried to make the comparison as objective as possible by taking multiple-angle shots in four different places in my house. There are certainly tricks one can play with cameras, but if you look at the depth of field and focus point in these shots you will notice that there is no foul play. What is the point in doing so? I have no personal interest in making one look better than the other. If anything, I would have liked to see 700 do better. I did not order it so that I can have something to return. I was looking forward to something better than 505. These pictures show why I am puzzled by "700 rocks" posts - trust them or not as you like.

The pictures that sayhello posted (thanks!) show something that might explain the variance in apparent screen quality of 700 pictures. If one uses the flash (second picture) then the 700 screen looks much better than what you see without (first picture). This corroborates with what other people say about 700 looking better if you use very bright lights. I'm curious if SonyStyle stores have lights like that (bright CCFL). It might explain why in stores some people do not notice the same tremendous difference from the 505 screen. I don't have any SonyStyle stores nearby so I can't say. You might want to take the units outside the store or move to a different light for a quick check.

As far as comparing 700 with 505, I think it is a valid comparison. 500 is last-gen and current buying decisions are among 505, kindle, etc... The viziplex screen in 505 is what newer gen units have to compete against. If you go the Sony route, then you get to pick between 505 and 700. I would argue that when it comes to that comparison the opinion of 505 owners that used their readers for months will generally be more accurate than the opinion of someone that interacted with 505 only in SonyStyle stores.

Since speed is also an important characteristic for some of us, below is a quick video of 505 and 700 that shows the page-change speed. The screen flash is very similar, but 505 takes a little longer to react to the button press. While reading sequentially through books I find that I can't tell the difference after the first few pages. My mind adapts to the reader and I unconsciously press the button a split second sooner or later, depending on the reader I use.

So, there you go. PRS700 is a failure or a god send, depending on who you listen to. I subscribe to the first. If you want to try one my advice is to order it without engraving so that you have the option of returning it. And, if you have some time, post a few words of your experience so that we can all benefit from it.

Cheers,
Trek

[ewiplayer]

Originally Posted by Trek

So, there you go. PRS700 is a failure or a god send, depending on who you listen to. I subscribe to the first. If you want to try one my advice is to order it without engraving so that you have the option of returning it. And, if you have some time, post a few words of your experience so that we can all benefit from it.

Beautiful suggestion! This is exactly what I plan to do. I truly hope that the 700 works for me because I really need the extra features, but I also have reached the point where I really want an eReader so I may grudgingly choose to get a 505 if the 700 just doesn't seem worth it.

Thanks Trek,
EP

[sayhello]

Originally Posted by dhbailey

But the pictures I saw of the 700 at the Sony web-site and in the videos which were cited in this forum convinced me that it would be readable and I am happy I acted on my hunch and bought it anyway.

See, and here is where the personal preference comes in. I don't want an eReader that's merely "readable". I admit it. I'm totally spoiled. The screen on my 505 is *amazingly* readable, in way more situations. I totally agree that the new options & software & UI & speed of the 700 are phenomenal. But the quality of the screen is what's most important to me, and to me, the 700 is *barely* readable, and a downgrade for me.

But to each their own. I think we're all stating that these are *OUR* experiences and *OUR* opinions, and if it doesn't matter to you to get the best eInk screen available at this price-point, then it doesn't matter to you. It matters to me.

Sayhello

[DDHarriman]

Trek

Thank you very much for your pictures.
They really helped to clear the subject once and for all.

If I was to buy a Sony, I would not have doubts what model to choose.

[sayhello]

Originally Posted by ProDigit

Is there a way to take a picture of the 700 without glare?

Obviously a flash or light reflects on the screen... But like is there a way to get 'the best shot possible with a 700 compared to the 505?
If the above is the best shot possible,then I'm below impressed with the screen.

I really, really tried. I tried in the evening using indirect artificial light, all over the house. No good, too much glare or reflection. I tried during the day, behind furniture, in the hall, direct light, indirect light, and the 2 pics above had the least glare and/or reflection of all the pics. I really think the fact that I had *SO* much trouble taking a picture without glare & reflection is what solidified my decision to return the 700.

I have to admit, except for occasionally pulling the 700 out, hoping that I was mistaken, and the screen would magically look better, I have not felt compelled to use the 700 at all. I'm still loading books to the 505, and that's what I've been reading from all weekend...

Sayhello

[ShellShock]

I have started reformatting books to use 8 pt as the base font size, because I like to cram as much as possible onto the screen to minimise page turns. This is very readable on the 505 (using the Small zoom). It would be interesting to see whether the same could be said for the 700.

[ProDigit]

Originally Posted by sayhello

I really, really tried. I tried in the evening using indirect artificial light, all over the house. No good, too much glare or reflection. I tried during the day, behind furniture, in the hall, direct light, indirect light, and the 2 pics above had the least glare and/or reflection of all the pics. I really think the fact that I had *SO* much trouble taking a picture without glare & reflection is what solidified my decision to return the 700.

I have to admit, except for occasionally pulling the 700 out, hoping that I was mistaken, and the screen would magically look better, I have not felt compelled to use the 700 at all. I'm still loading books to the 505, and that's what I've been reading from all weekend...

Sayhello

I didn't mean to say you didn't try your best. The pictures taken are very good and accurate pictures! And I thank you for the effort you took in taking them!
I just wanted to see if it was possible to take a shot of the 700 without glare.
I guess you answered my question.
Still, thanks for sharing the pictures!

I'm glad I couldn't wait, and now ended up with a PRS-505 instead of waited after the 700 got released!

[ProDigit]

Moderators: Please remove this post (was a double post)...
Issue due to low wifi connection.

[ProDigit]

Originally Posted by ShellShock

I have started reformatting books to use 8 pt as the base font size, because I like to cram as much as possible onto the screen to minimise page turns. This is very readable on the 505 (using the Small zoom). It would be interesting to see whether the same could be said for the 700.

The same can be said, since they both use the same resolution.
I noted that on average a PDF uses 1/4th the resolution of an LRF book.
When I read PDF's that are only using half a page for text, and zoom in on text width, it appears that the letter type is about the same size as 'small' fonts on an LRF book; and it is still readable.

[bahz]

Just a reminder for anyone who is still on the fence between a 505 and 700.

Microsoft live search is doing a special promotion where you can get 25% off paypal payments for ebay orders. There was a post in the deals section I believe. I was able to get a $65 discount on my 505, which was $274 + free shipping. I ordered it from the Data Vision eBay store.

[solariun]

Hey Folks,

I have been handle the both for, at least, a week for now and I have some point to share about it:

1. PRS-700 Glaring

It is totally true, sometimes it is so annoying that I had to turn the internal "light" on, what drain battery really fast.

2. Contrast adjustment:

Those equipment use eink paper, and those model eink version is only capable to handle 8 contrast, what means that there is no contrast adjustment, because of the physical architecture of the eink screen.

3. What is good on the PRS-700

The best thing about the PRS-700, in dispite of the glare problem, is the search property witch have made it quite efficient, the note and mark capability that have made it reliable to help manage your own knowledge, the touch screen made it quite easy to use, and there is much more magnify scale the the previous version PRS-505.

4. What is good on the PRS-505

The real eink screen, what made it quite reliable to ready it even at a sunny day.

There is the both side of the coins about both hardwares, I love the both, but I will not deny the fact that sometimes the PRS-700 take me out of my way...

[astra]

Frankly speaking even 505 glare is annoying sometimes, so if 700 is any worse, I cannot imagine how one can read on it.