Sony A900 Full-Frame: Hands-On Preview
by Wesley Fink on September 12, 2008 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
Flagship HVL-F58AM Flash
SAN DIEGO - Sony is expanding its α (alpha) system of accessories to include the new HVL-F58AM flash unit with exceptional features for versatile and flexible external lighting control.
Quick Shift Bounce and Expanded Versatility
This new flash features a new and innovative Quick Shift Bounce system. It offers more creative ways to achieve lighting, flash and bounce angles you may not have been able to experience before. The flash head can pivot 90 degrees left and right on a horizontal axis in addition to the conventional up and down vertical adjustment. With this system, the camera and flash unit can keep the same orientation regardless of portrait or landscape shooting. This gives a higher degree of flexibility when arranging the direction of light. For example, you can take full advantage of the flash unit's built-in bounce card even during portrait shots since the flash head can maintain the same orientation as it would in the landscape position.
Enhanced Operability and Ease-of-Use
A powerful performer, the HVL-F58AM flash unit features a maximum guide number of 58 at 105mm and ISO 100. It recycles (or recharges) in as little as five seconds, approximately 55% faster than the predecessor HVL-F56AM model, so you are ready to capture the next shot. And because it features a quiet recycle charge, there's no whine to distract you from your subject. It also has a large, easy-to-read LCD screen that is about 13% larger than its predecessor's. Its intuitive control layout makes it easy to control flash functions and configure the settings based on your shooting needs.
Wireless Auto Flash Control
This new flash has wireless auto flash control so you can remove the flash unit from the camera and easily light subjects from different angles. Photographers can create soft shadows to add depth to their images and avoid the strong shadows and hot spots that can occur with front lighting. The HVL-F58AM flash unit can also control the ratio of lighting from several off-camera flash units.
Up to three groups of flashes can be set up for optimal, complete control of lighting via a wireless connection. Flash output ratios can be adjusted automatically without having to do tedious exposure calculations. Additionally, you can fire a modeling flash to preview flash effects before taking the picture. Even with multiple units, the modeling flash fires according to the flash ratio you have set.
Advanced Features for Optimal DSLR Performance
One of the flash's most advanced features is its sophisticated zoom control that automatically optimizes illumination angles that are suitable for either APS-C size or 35mm full-frame sensors. This control reduces light "fall-off" at the periphery of images. It also has an advanced white balance compensation system that gathers color temperature information, complimenting the white balance information reading of the camera. This achieves more accurate results when the main unit is in auto white balance mode. Other features include: high-speed synchronization at shutter speeds of up to 1/4000 of a second, ADI flash metering, manual flash and zoom (six levels), multiple-flash, and a supplied mini-stand for greater wireless freedom.
Price and Availability
The HVL-F58AM flash unit will ship in September for about $500 at sonystyle.com, Sony Style retail stores, military base exchanges, and authorized dealers nationwide.
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sprockkets - Saturday, September 13, 2008 - link
Flash that Makes L Brackets Obsolete - Fortunes have been made with L brackets for pro cameras that enable shooting flash vertical with the flash also rotated 90 degrees. When you see the new Sony HVL-F58AM flash, you'll wonder why Sony - or you, or anyone else - didn't think of it sooner. The flash head turns smoothly in a 90 degree arc as one of its movements - aligning the flash perfectly for portrait mode. Goodbye L bracket.Sorry, quote funtion wouldn't work. Why is this an issue? Flashes for the longest time do something really easy to bounce or flash vertically in portrait mode. It's called they rotate horizontally. The only advantage here I suppose is that the back display is now easier to read facing up. Am I missing something here?
Maxington - Monday, September 15, 2008 - link
I was wondering the same thing about the Sony flash, exactly what is so special about it?I can do ceiling bounce flash holding the camera in portrait with my Pentax 540 flash, and that's been out for years.
What is this Sony flash doing that has everyone so excited?
randomlinh - Sunday, September 14, 2008 - link
I was thinking the same... this moves the flash a little closer in line with the lens.. but l brackets still have one huge advantage... it RAISES the flash up, which can be quite beneficial in itself.Crafty Spiker - Saturday, September 13, 2008 - link
Regardless of the product - do you really want to "vote" for Sony?melgross - Friday, September 12, 2008 - link
It's interesting that both Canon's 5D, and Nikon's D700 cameras are considered to be, even by their manufacturers, advanced amateur or semi-pro bodies, but at the same price level, the Sony 900 is considered to be professional, ala the Canon 1Ds, 1D, and Nikon D3.Sorry, this camera isn't built like those pro bodies from Canon and Nikon.
While pro's certainly use the 5D, and D700, they also use the 40D and the D300.
So, are those now pro bodies as well?
Sensor size doesn't determine whether a body is pro, and really, neither does weather sealing.
The 1Ds 1D, and D3 are certainly the most rugged bodies on the market, nothing else approaches them in this.
chiew - Sunday, September 14, 2008 - link
Sony has no weather sealed lenses...I doubt pros who shoot in adverse conditions will want a Sony until it is proven.Wesley Fink - Saturday, September 13, 2008 - link
The Canon 5D and Nikon D700 have 95% wiewfinders. So do the D300 and 40D. The Nikon D3, Canon 1Ds MkIII, AND Sony A900 all have 100% viewfinders. That is certainly one measure of a Pro camera.In comparing the build quality of the A900 to my D3 I did not find the A900 lacking. Of course the test of time is what matters most in evaluating build quality and it will take a while to see if the build is as rugged as it appears.
I assumed the grip would be an Achilles heel since the other Pro models have a built-in grip. However, the A900 grip uses the same magnesium alloy shell and sealing used on the a900. Still, an integrated grip would certainly be better sealed almost by definition. Frankly I prefer a grip I can leave at home if I choose. The true Pro models that fit your criteria are all a pain to lug around in the field. That's why my D4 stays at home sometimes and the D700 goes with me.
In the end I have no doubt the Sony is as well constructed as the other cameras you judge as Pro. I do, however, have reservations about a shutter that is only rated for 100,000 actuations. That is very low for a camera to be considered Pro, and is much more typical of semi-Pro or Advanced prosumer models.
melgross - Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - link
Big deal. Over the years, the Nikon F series had a 100% viewfinder. That didn't prevent Canon from knocking it off it;s top spot, even though Canon didn't consider that to be important.In fact, for many years, a 100% viewfinder was considered to be a negative. When we shot transparencies, the mount covered the millimeter around the outside edge of the slide, making what you saw no more than about 96% of the total. Using a 100% viewfinder often caused the mount to hide the edge of what you saw anyway.
Nowadays, it;s true, that doesn't matter, but 2 to 5% of the viewfinders outside edges is of no real noticeable importance if its less than the full frame. The problem would be the other way around.
I think the shutter is far more important in telling us what this camera is intended for than whatever else we can see from the outside. Can't judge a camera by its shell. Even the 5D II now has a 150,000 cycle shutter.
Lord 666 - Saturday, September 13, 2008 - link
The D300 has a 100% viewfinder. However, at $3000 for the D700, they could have easily used the same from D3... but more than likely did not to protect sales of D3.http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Di...">http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Di...
Wesley Fink - Saturday, September 13, 2008 - link
You are correct, the D300 does have a 100% finder. Mea Culpa.