So back when I bought the Minolta 7D I made a point of buying mostly full frame coverage lenses (I only have one APSC lens to my name). Looks like this decision has finally paid off. Only problem is my current level of brokeness is quite high, so going to have to be patient.

Looks like the image quality I always wanted to see from digital is finally here.

Chris

So back when I bought the Minolta 7D I made a point of buying mostly full frame coverage lenses (I only have one APSC lens to my name). Looks like this decision has finally paid off. Only problem is my current level of brokeness is quite high, so going to have to be patient.

Looks like the image quality I always wanted to see from digital is finally here.

Chris

Except from ISO 200 upwards the A900 shows IMO quite noticeable noise (and it is commented on) !

I downloaded several images (18MB to 21MB from one site and am now damned if I can find the site again) and did some pixel peeping - at ISO 800 for a SLR the noise was not particularly good. OK, for ISO 100 / 200 you'd get away with it for the sheer scaleability of the image size from the 25 MP (whatever) sensor.

Update - found the site and also downloaded an ISO 1600 image.

Crops (from 100% image views) are below

ISO 800

ISO 1600

Some good samples here

Digital Camera Resource Page Review: Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Photo Gallery

and

Sony Alpha 900 Preview Samples Gallery: Digital Photography Review

Edited 20 September, 200817 yr by anonymouse

As a high ISO camera, the A900 is not up to much by comparison to other full frame cameras, particularly the much larger pixel 12MP jobs. However, at lower ISO settings, where the majority of my work would be done, it is very good indeed. One of the biggest failings of digital in my opinion is the early extinction of foliage detail in images which is very limiting when you want a larger print (a 20X16 from a 6MP - 12MP camera is OK / possible unless you have foreground grass for example, when it looks really carp next to a print made from any half decent film and really poor next to a print from something like Kodachrome 64, same with hair in portraits, surface textures in masonary and many other subjects where detail is needed). For high ISO shooting, is seems to be on par with film of similar speed rating.

Other thing with the big sensor is it makes much better use of the lens sharpness (the APSC sensor cameras use what is effectively a cropped image, so the per frame sharpness will be lots better with full frame).

These things mean that finally, there is a attainable (for me with a lot of saving) digital landscape / scenery camera that fits my lenses. I wonder how it's high ISO performance is with smaller output size images?

Chris

Dunno why you'd go for cheapo Sony A900 with paltry 24.6MP when this 37MP monster will be available shortly

Leica S2

One of the 1st full A900 reviews

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Digital Camera - Full Review - The Imaging Resource!

Edited 22 September, 200817 yr by anonymouse

Dunno why you'd go for cheapo Sony A900 with paltry 24.6MP when this 37MP monster will be available shortly

Leica S2

One of the 1st full A900 reviews

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Digital Camera - Full Review - The Imaging Resource!

That Leica will be bargain cheap to buy for sure, as will the lenses. I reckon you could buy a house somewhere in the UK for that sort of money!

Looking at the various tests out there on tinternet, the A900 is looking to be a very serious possibility for me. I am glad I waited and did not move to another system now.

Chris

Well I took the plunge and invested in an A900. So far I have only been doing lens testing, just finding the sweet spot for each and checking out each lenses limitations. Been working too many hours to do anything creative / artistic.

So the image quality is something else. Resolution is pretty serious, looking better than the slowest finest slide films in 35mm and matching or bettering some medium format film output. But this is less impressive than the tonal range that the camera can capture. Latitude is far greater than slide or most film and exposure headroom huge.

Reports of noise in the images are from what I can see greatly exaggerated. In print the results up to ISO400 are stunning and going above this to ISO800, still very usable. If I shot indoor sports, I would have gone for something else, but for my uses, this camera is spot on. If pixel peeping is your game, it will matter, but for producing prints, it works a treat.

The camera with vertical grip and a couple of batteries is studio camera heavy, but nice balance and ergonomics make it a pleasure to shoot with. The AF seems very fast too. Very big thanks to Xav.

Chris