It seems that professional photographers do not mind that their camera has a Live View function or not. What is the basis for me saying it? Well, one fact is that Nikon & Canon are the leading DSLR manufacturers & wherever you read on the internet, avid photographers choose between the two & not much else. The 12 megapixel Sony A700 falls into the “not much else” category.
So do Nikon DSLR cameras have the live view function? The answer is no, not yet. So do Canon DSLR cameras have the live view function? The answer is also no, not yet. Experienced photographers are used to the “photographer pose” where one looks through the small viewfinder & adjust the lens & other camera settings for the perfect shot! The only prosumer DSLR manufacturer that is likely to incorporate the live view & image stabilization among the above three is Sony. It will probably come in an advanced version of the Sony A700.