Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Reviewed

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 is the company’s latest full-frame digital SLR camera. It features a 24.6 Megapixel 35mm Full Frame CMOS image sensor, ISO from 100 to 6400, High Speed Dual BIONZ image processor, and a 3-inch LCD display. It supports direct HDMI output. The Alpha A900 uses CompactFlash and Memory Stick cards.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 has been reviewed by DPReview:

In conclusion this is, more than anything else at this end of the market, a true photographer’s camera, with at least one totally unique feature (the Super SteadyShot stabilization) and one that offers the best viewfinder and highest nominal resolution (and the lowest ‘cost per megapixel, incidentally) in its class.

Conclusion – Pros

• Class-leading resolutionv (as long as your lenses are good enough)
• incredibly solid build quality, environmental sealing
• Intuitive operation and uncluttered control and menu system
• Excellent out of camera JPEG results with superb tonality, dynamic range, color
• Excellent raw dynamic range gives lots of headroom
• Almost 100% reliable metering and exposure
• Very fast and responsive body – remarkable burst mode (5fps RAW+JPEG, 24.6 MP)
• In-body image stabilization that works well (around 2 stop advantage)
• Wide range of image parameters and custom ‘Creative Styles’
• Dynamic Range Optimizer Advanced works well
• Superb screen and attractive menu system
• Excellent ‘Quick Navi’ control system
• User-selectable noise reduction (though see cons, below)
• The best (biggest, brightest) optical viewfinder on the market, 100% frame coverage
• Excellent handling and ergonomics
• Excellent battery life
• HDMI output
• Remote control included
• Fast USB transfer and card writing (with a fast card)

Conclusion – Cons

• Noise reduction settings applied to raw as well as JPEG files – cannot be ‘turned off for raw but left on for JPEGs’ (as is normal practice)
• Relatively high levels of noise at anything over ISO 400 (ISO 6400 is of very, very limited use)
• Destructive noise reduction on high ISO JPEGs removes too much detail
• JPEGs a little soft by default (some loss of detail due to NR visible even at ISO 200) – you really need to shoot raw (and use ACR or similar) to get the best out of the sensor
• Default color settings can produce red clipping (very saturated)
• Top panel LCD very limited compared to all competitors
• Less customizable than most competitors (though a lot less confusing for it)
• No live view
• No in-camera vignetting control
• Intelligent preview of limited use in the real world (cannot check focus, for example)
• Focus speed not up to other cameras in this class (though it is very accurate)
• AF zone only covers a small part of the frame (not unique to this camera, of course)
• No intelligent use of multiple cards (you have to switch manually)
• Supplied raw processing software doesn’t get the most out of the files (and is slow)
• MS Duo slot pointless