Sony A900 24MP FF

[cyrn]

24.6 MP Full Frame Sensor
5.0 fps
Dual "Bionz" Processors
Viewfinder: 100% coverage @ 0.74x magnification
3.0" VGA LCD
9 point dual cross AF (with f2.8 sensor and wide area 10 point assist)
5.0 fps
SuperSteadyShot
Weather Seals
Battery Grip is NOT built-in
No pop-up flash

Not a rumor, evidence on printed mag, but no test image yet.

Wonder how much will it sell for? :cool:

[bbbig]

I imagine it'll be priced somewhere between D700 and D3... closer to D700 if they want to really grab the FF market. I would love to see both Nikon and Canon squirm and forced to lower their prices! It would be nice to get a new 1DsMk3 for under $4k. :)

[Jim G]

Heh. "Bionz" is a pretty sci-fi name for a processor :p

Well hey - the more FF competition the better... bring it on! Make Canon work hard for its money ;)

Though... Super Steady Shot - is that FF IS in-body? That would be interesting...

[kindollfamilly]

I read somewhere that they were going to try to have it for "around" $2000; body only of coursre. Just wish I could remember where I seen that.


Brandon

[hughps]

I read $2000 too. If it turns out to be true, that's extremely impressive.

[Stealthy Ninja]

I know a die-hard sony guy who is hanging out for the a900.

One thing though, apparently Sony lenses cost HEAPS.

[cyrn]

I read somewhere that they were going to try to have it for "around" $2000; body only of coursre. Just wish I could remember where I seen that.


Brandon

I read $2000 too. If it turns out to be true, that's extremely impressive.

That's a cool 1 grand off Nikon's D700.:eek:

:cool::cool:

[05Xrunner]

so is that 5fps per sensor since you mentioned it twice..lol

[cyrn]

Well... somebody gotta remind Canon what their competitors are up to... hopefully they will wise up and not give us a 5Dn. :p

And I also like to remind again.. Nikon have the D3x/D4 24MP FF coming soon too. (hopefully that will half the price of 1Ds too..hahaha)

[Headcase650]

I remember everyone on the canon forums explaining how in camera IS wouldn't work on a full frame because the lens doesn't cast a large enough image circle to allow the sensor to move without cutting off the corners.

I wonder how Sony overcame this problem?

[Stealthy Ninja]

I remember everyone on the canon forums explaining how in camera IS wouldn't work on a full frame because the lens doesn't cast a large enough image circle to allow the sensor to move without cutting off the corners.

I wonder how Sony overcame this problem?

They used the combined computing power of 1000 Playstation 3s.

[deeeez]

if they sell this thing for $2000 with all those features I would be shocked. How wonderful would that be! Imagine what kind of pressure that would put on Nikon and Canon.

[CyberDyneSystems]

You said 5 FPS twice, does that mean it has two shutters? .. or 10 FPS? :lol:

If anyone wanted to take the price wars by the balls, if anyone had the power to change the entire industries price structure, .. I'd say Sony could.

[Stealthy Ninja]

if they sell this thing for $2000 with all those features I would be shocked. How wonderful would that be! Imagine what kind of pressure that would put on Nikon and Canon.


Sony will make it back with game software sales... I mean over priced lens sales. ;)

Maybe they just want to pull people away from the other (better) companies.

I miss Minolta. My brother had a Minolta camera. He's a diehard sony fan too.

He did buy a Canon P&S though. :D

[CyberDyneSystems]

I remember everyone on the canon forums explaining how in camera IS wouldn't work on a full frame because the lens doesn't cast a large enough image circle to allow the sensor to move without cutting off the corners.

I wonder how Sony overcame this problem?

Sensor is larger than FF?

[dithiolium]

A pic from a China (again) order site mentioned 20k RMB.
That's abt US$3k
Sony has what it takes to win a real price war. Now, if only their lenses were more attractive.

[TTk]

Well... somebody gotta remind Canon what their competitors are up to... hopefully they will wise up and not give us a 5Dn. :p

And I also like to remind again.. Nikon have the D3x/D4 24MP FF coming soon too. (hopefully that will half the price of 1Ds too..hahaha)


Rumour has it the Nikon D3X will have the sony FF sensor, I am waiting for both to come out and than decide which will suit my wedding photography..:lol:

[leadweight]

Two things:

The A900 announcement may put some pressure on Canon to release the 5D successor. Remember How close together the 50D and D90 announcements were.

With the A900 and D700 both priced at $3000, it seems likely the 5D successor will be priced at that level as well.

[Nightcrawler]

Yeah, the A900 at $3K along with the D700 will definitely constrain Canon's pricing of the 5DII.

[lowrider]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08090902sonyalpha900.asp

$3K, Body Only

Lou

[sadatk]

As i posted in the other thread:

1DS III, NR OFF, 1600: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E1DSMK3/FULLRES/E1DSMK3hSLI1600.HTM

http://localhostr.com/files/a2aeb9/Picture+2.png

A900, NR OFF, 1600: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA900/FULLRES/AA900hSLI1600_NR_OFF.HTM

http://localhostr.com/files/8f720d/Picture+1.png

[illusionest]

good. now canon will make something far more superior. :)

[dithiolium]

At 2.5x the price the 1Ds3 still holds. whoop.
At the 3k price arena, D700 just got whoop'ed. Of course, the usual fanbois will defend the 12MP wonder.
Now for Canon to seal the coffin...

[05Xrunner]

YIKES..and I thought nikon made same UGLY looking cameras
http://a.img-dpreview.com/previews/SonyDSLRA900/images/grip2.jpg

[sadatk]

At 2.5x the price the 1Ds3 still holds. whoop.
At the 3k price arena, D700 just got whoop'ed. Of course, the usual fanbois will defend the 12MP wonder.
Now for Canon to seal the coffin...
Eh, the D700 is an excellent noise performer on its own. I'd take the D700 over this any day since I'm not going to be pushing any large prints. D700 ISO6400 looks like the A900 ISO1600.

D3/D700, 6400, NR OFF: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/D3/FULLRES/D3SLI06400_NRO.HTM

http://localhostr.com/files/e51d4b/Picture+2.png

A900, 1600, NR OFF: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA900/AA900hSLI1600_NR_OFF.HTM

http://localhostr.com/files/0d6b9a/Picture+3.png

A900, 6400, NR OFF: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA900/FULLRES/AA900hSLI6400_NR_OFF.HTM

http://localhostr.com/files/5d8b03/Picture+1.png

[ulrikft]

I think this camera looks good! rugged and good! Not curvy and.. boring.

[scokar]

Most aren't planning on marrying their cameras so looks aren't all that important :)

[bara03]

YIKES..and I thought nikon made same UGLY looking cameras
http://a.img-dpreview.com/previews/SonyDSLRA900/images/grip2.jpg

Wow I thought it was a film camera for an instant :lol:

[jbuk1975]

Wow I thought it was a film camera for an instant :lol:


Sony - taking you back to the 60's :lol:

[tango_28]

I like the looks of the A900

[BugEyes]

Yikes!
With that ISO performance we have a looser in the A900, the D700 looks better at 6400 than the Sony at 1600.

[ulrikft]

Yikes!
With that ISO performance we have a looser in the A900, the D700 looks better at 6400 than the Sony at 1600.


I strongly disagree :)

[flashtoby]

I strongly agree, the iso performance makes it a non starter for me for in dark churches.

[Colorblinded]

I'm curious how it compares (noise wise) against the 40D since both have sensors with similar pixel densities.

[I Simonius]

You said 5 FPS twice, does that mean it has two shutters? .. or 10 FPS? :lol:

If anyone wanted to take the price wars by the balls, if anyone had the power to change the entire industries price structure, .. I'd say Sony could.

Sony could (has?) really shake this market up so Canon's 50MP sensor lauded recently starts to look it can;t be that far off as everyone imagined, if cano hpes to get back to the top of the DSLR race;)

[Nightcrawler]

Yeah, the A900 high ISO performance is terrible. It makes the pre D3/D700/D300 cameras look awesome. :)

What I do like about the A900 is proving that FF in-body stabilization can be done.

[MrChad]

At 2.5x the price the 1Ds3 still holds. whoop.
At the 3k price arena, D700 just got whoop'ed. Of course, the usual fanbois will defend the 12MP wonder.
Now for Canon to seal the coffin...

Not sure it's totally a woop'ed. The Nikon can shoot 8FPS with the optional grip and the camera has a 51PT AF grid which in theory may make the camera a better option for sports shooters. Plus Nikon has a huge lens kit vs. Sonolta in the current market. Plus the Nikon does have a built in flash for use in function like triggering other Nikon flash units without an ST-E2 or pocketwizard. And it's fully weathersealed unlike the psuedo-semi seals of the a900.

That said the new zoom trios from Sony are really cool.

16-35mm/2.8CZ
24-70mm/2.8CZ
70-200mm/2.8SSM
&
70-400mm/4-5.6SSM

What more could you want they also have an 85 and 135 CZ primes.

Seems like a very nice kit. And IS in body...

[cvt01]

one thing is for sure, the $8000 FF camera days are OVER :D

[mrklaw]

one thing is for sure, the $8000 FF camera days are OVER :D

nah, they'll just need to do 50mp versions :D

[Sfordphoto]

not sure if this was posted

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/SonyDSLRA900/

[dithiolium]

Ok guys, " whoop'ed " was way too strong a word.
more of " severely competed against "
FPS for a 20+MP will usually suffer due to buffer and write capabilities without burning out batteries. At least they leave room for a new cam with 10FPS @ 20+MP.

[cyrn]

Eh, the D700 is an excellent noise performer on its own. I'd take the D700 over this any day since I'm not going to be pushing any large prints. D700 ISO6400 looks like the A900 ISO1600.

D3/D700, 6400, NR OFF: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/D3/FULLRES/D3SLI06400_NRO.HTM


A900, 1600, NR OFF: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA900/AA900hSLI1600_NR_OFF.HTM


A900, 6400, NR OFF: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA900/FULLRES/AA900hSLI6400_NR_OFF.HTM



http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1032&thread=29261671
;)

[ulrikft]

http://www.minhembio.com/forum/uploads/monthly_09_2008/post-10734-1221040782.jpg

[BugEyes]

First pictures with terrible noise, now pictures with low noise but low detail, odd color rendering and color bleed :(

This product feels kinda stillborn, who's gonna buy it?

[JC4]

This product feels kinda stillborn, who's gonna buy it?

People who think 24mp is twice as good as 12mp, for less money. It'll sell. Worse yet, it perpetuates the MP war :(

[Nightcrawler]

First pictures with terrible noise, now pictures with low noise but low detail, odd color rendering and color bleed :(

This product feels kinda stillborn, who's gonna buy it?

I was noticing the color bleed too. I give Sony an "A" for effort, but the IQ is a little lacking.

[ptomsu]

People who think 24mp is twice as good as 12mp, for less money. It'll sell. Worse yet, it perpetuates the MP war :(

Well, why so angry? This is the war which was actually initiated and heated up by Canon for years. And now, as other vendors are excelling Canon suddenly Canon owners are getting angry, nervous, ... you name it. What a shame :p

[ptomsu]

First pictures with terrible noise, now pictures with low noise but low detail, odd color rendering and color bleed :(

This product feels kinda stillborn, who's gonna buy it?

You judge the quality of a camera by the pictures published on some of these test sites? Interesting :eek:

[sadatk]

http://www.minhembio.com/forum/uploads/monthly_09_2008/post-10734-1221040782.jpg
I'm seeing blatant noise reduction artifacts and blotchiness in these screens? Look at the leaves and compare.

[ulrikft]

The leaves are made of plastic.. the noise in the nikon picture makes them look more livelike, but they ARE not alive, they ARE plastic :P

[sadatk]

The leaves are made of plastic.. the noise in the nikon picture makes them look more livelike, but they ARE not alive, they ARE plastic :P
Come on man, they may be made of plastic but that doesn't mean they don't retain detail. There is clearly some sort of issue going on with the color (or lack of) and detail.

[BugEyes]

You judge the quality of a camera by the pictures published on some of these test sites? Interesting :eek:

U have a better way at this stage?

[JC4]

Well, why so angry? This is the war which was actually initiated and heated up by Canon for years. And now, as other vendors are excelling Canon suddenly Canon owners are getting angry, nervous, ... you name it. What a shame :p

Angry? Where did you get that, from a :( ?

The MP wars is just a marketing game, thats not good for IQ. Just look at the Sony's sample images. 24mp was obviously too many for their current level of CMOS tech. So, why do they have 24mp? To have something to put on the box that beats Nikon/Canon, who will likely return fire because consumers like bigger numbers. This part of the war is NOT good for IQ advancements. I wish/hope Canon sticks to 16mp in the 5d-II, but who'd buy a 16mp camera when you can buy a 24?

[jbuk1975]

Angry? Where did you get that, from a :( ?

The MP wars is just a marketing game, thats not good for IQ. Just look at the Sony's sample images. 24mp was obviously too many for their current level of CMOS tech. So, why do they have 24mp? To have something to put on the box that beats Nikon/Canon, who will likely return fire because consumers like bigger numbers. This part of the war is NOT good for IQ advancements. I wish/hope Canon sticks to 16mp in the 5d-II, but who'd buy a 16mp camera when you can buy a 24?


that is maybe true of the average person who knows nothing about SLR's but I think most togs willing to spend a lot of cash on an SLR know full well that more MP doesnt mean a better camera or image quality

[Tumeg]

Sony is saying $3,000


EDIT: My sony friend is getting ready to buy the A900. I can't wait to use it, so far it doesn't look too great...

[Sfordphoto]

I'm seeing blatant noise reduction artifacts and blotchiness in these screens? Look at the leaves and compare.

The colors look different between the two cameras

[Sfordphoto]

Sony is saying $3,000


EDIT: My sony friend is getting ready to buy the A900. I can't wait to use it, so far it doesn't look too great...

Wait, you can't wait to use something that doesn't look too great? :lol:

[Sfordphoto]

Angry? Where did you get that, from a :( ?

The MP wars is just a marketing game, thats not good for IQ. Just look at the Sony's sample images. 24mp was obviously too many for their current level of CMOS tech. So, why do they have 24mp? To have something to put on the box that beats Nikon/Canon, who will likely return fire because consumers like bigger numbers. This part of the war is NOT good for IQ advancements. I wish/hope Canon sticks to 16mp in the 5d-II, but who'd buy a 16mp camera when you can buy a 24?

I'd buy the 16mp camera, if a 24mp's IQ looks as bad as this :D

[cyrn]

that is maybe true of the average person who knows nothing about SLR's but I think most togs willing to spend a lot of cash on an SLR know full well that more MP doesnt mean a better camera or image quality

Not true... 3 years ago, a lot of "newbies" jumped straight to 5D + L combos and didn't know the difference between aperture and ISO.:eek: But quite a few of them are pretty good now. (tho I've yet to know any from such group becoming a sports photog :p.)

[Stealthy Ninja]

Not true... 3 years ago, a lot of "newbies" jumped straight to 5D + L combos and didn't know the difference between aperture and ISO.:eek: But quite a few of them are pretty good now. (tho I've yet to know any from such group becoming a sports photog :p.)

That's true. You get a lot of people here in Hong Kong sending their photos into magazines for competitions who have a 5D etc. Now we're getting a lot more D300s. Seems people here have more money than skill. :rolleyes:

An acquaintance of mine has been waiting for a long time for the a900. He's hoping the test results are good... he's a diehard Sony fan. I told him to get Canon (or even Nikon) but he's waiting for the alpha.

Well, maybe he'll be getting a D700 now. I don't know, I only see him occasionally.

I think he is some sort of doctor so he can afford whatever he wants.

[I Simonius]

That's true. You get a lot of people here in Hong Kong sending their photos into magazines for competitions who have a 5D etc. Now we're getting a lot more D300s. Seems people here have more money than skill. :rolleyes:
.

that's a bit like expecting people to buy nissan micras before any other car until teir driving gets really good. There are some daft drivers out thee in very expensive cars.

Doesn't mean teir skill will improve any faster or slower though

Same for cameras, if you've got the money why not get a high end camera and asp[ire to be really good? Nowhere does it say FF is for pros/advanced only... that is a (fairly ) natural assumption to make, but.. really there's no logic to it ( I just realised);)

Let's not knock them just because they've got good taste and the money to indulge it, evenif they hgavent the skill tostart with;)

[cyrn]

Same for cameras, if you've got the money why not get a high end camera and asp[ire to be really good? Nowhere does it say FF is for pros/advanced only... that is a (fairly ) natural assumption to make, but.. really there's no logic to it ( I just realised);)

Let's not knock them just because they've got good taste and the money to indulge it, evenif they hgavent the skill tostart with;)

Exactly. The price and performance of any system is irrelevant...so long as there are features that a potential buyer wants.... and the buyer doesn't necessarily need to be a photog. (juz look at some leica classics collectors :D )

[jake22]

cyrn there are Leica buyers (even for M8 :) ) but if you compare their numbers you come to the conclusion that you have to establish the price carefully if you want to survive on the market.

[cyrn]

cyrn there are Leica buyers (even for M8 :) ) but if you compare their numbers you come to the conclusion that you have to establish the price carefully if you want to survive on the market.

http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2008/09/10/alpha-900-launch-press-conference-part-1/

scroll down to see the chart on market share.;)

[jake22]

True. But this market share was not achieved with A900 but with cheaper models.

[cyrn]

True. But this market share was not achieved with A900 but with cheaper models.

what's the diff? It proves that they know what they were doing.

[ulrikft]

I think a lot of the sony-bashing will silence when the finalized a900 with no-NR at higher isos start to hit the shelves and people start using it :)

[jbuk1975]

I think a lot of the sony-bashing will silence when the finalized a900 with no-NR at higher isos start to hit the shelves and people start using it :)


or when the 5dII is announced and is so superior everyone forgets about Sony :D

[SlowBlink]

I'm ready now. :)

[I Simonius]

or when the 5dII is announced and is so superior everyone forgets about Sony :D

that sounds more like it:lol:;):cool:

[ulrikft]

or when the 5dII is announced and is so superior everyone forgets about Sony :D

We can hope so :)

[Sfordphoto]

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=29314544

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=29310573

wow those sony folks are jumping for joy that their camera is up in the DPR polls :D

[dithiolium]

Whoopee for them heh.
Its the little things in life that add up.

[Sfordphoto]

:D let's see what happens when the new canon is out

[dithiolium]

Based on the 'clicks' on the last five days.
Extrapoloate the results to ad-infinitum
Sony will rule the camera market -> forever. Lolz.

(adapted joke from KYTV comedy series)

[cyrn]

Someone made a very good point over at dpreview...

The A900 makes an excellent high rez studio cam at a very affordable price. Before the A900, there's only 1Ds.

[Stealthy Ninja]

that's a bit like expecting people to buy nissan micras before any other car until teir driving gets really good. There are some daft drivers out thee in very expensive cars.

Doesn't mean teir skill will improve any faster or slower though

Same for cameras, if you've got the money why not get a high end camera and asp[ire to be really good? Nowhere does it say FF is for pros/advanced only... that is a (fairly ) natural assumption to make, but.. really there's no logic to it ( I just realised);)

Let's not knock them just because they've got good taste and the money to indulge it, evenif they hgavent the skill tostart with;)

The car thing, SAFETY dude. LOL an idiot with a Porsche is dangerous. ;)


I see what you're saying. Good cameras are not just for advanced/pro users. Especially for those determined to get better. I tend to think learning on a 450D is better than learning on a 1Ds MkIII, but hey, who am I to judge. I actually learned the basics on an IXUS camera. Often I could take better pictures with my Ixus (and I have) than they can with their 5Ds and $10,000 (Hong Kong dollar) lenses. You have to assume these people are sending in their BEST photos to the magazines. I'm not saying they shouldn't have the cameras as much as do they really need them?!

Now, I'm not elitist (much) if they want to get better and have the money to get a 1Ds MkIII, let them :). I might be envious and think they've wasted their money, but if they aspire to be good and try hard, that's fine. If they are improving, that's cool. But why the heck do you need a 5D to take P&S style photos. :lol:

These are the type of people who buy a 5D and think it sucks because there is no built in flash. :lol: Just kidding.

I know a guy, who bought a semi-professional Sony HD video camera (FX series I think) but really regretted it because (and he said this, not me) that it is too much camera for him and he (and his wife) don't really know how to use it.

:D

Now the Sony a900. I have mixed feelings about the grip. It looks pretty functional/ergonomic, but it (to me) looks a but OTT in the design æsthetics department.