Ok, the Sony F828 has carl zeiss lens 28-200 f2.0-2.8, 8 megapixel RGB+E 2/3 CCD, black body traditionalist camera look (big departure from the space-age silver 707/717 look), and it looks like there is another top deck info LCD, as well as manual zoom ring. That pretty much negates the main advantages of the Minolta 7/7i/7Hi/A1 series (28mm wide angle plus SLR-like handling). But still no T* coating... hmm.. I think I will still go for the Minolta A1 with Image Stablisation, even though I have no doubts the carl zeiss lens is faster, sharper and better.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=5837906
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=5837906