Sony A900 Full-Frame: Hands-On Preview
by Wesley Fink on September 12, 2008 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
A900 Complaints
Let's get the disappointments out of the way first, since there is much more to like about the new A900 than to dislike. Sony has really been active this past year, just as they promised, but sometimes it is really hard to figure out what the DSLR design team is thinking. We get brilliant concepts from Sony marred by a "no thought here" feature, or lack thereof, that makes us truly wonder. The A900 is not without its share of a few of these:
- No Pop-Up Flash or Wireless Controller - It looked like the D700 had finally killed the idea that a pop-up flash didn't belong on a pro level camera. The argument that the wireless control capabilities alone justified a pop-up is pretty compelling. Sony even supports four banks of ratio controlled wireless flashes in their flash arsenal, but you won't find a pop-up flash for wireless control or a built-in controller in the A900. Apparently the Sony employees that used to work for Minolta remember the Maxxum 9 fiasco over the pop-up flash. When asked about it the Sony reps commented that the 5D was the competition and there's no built-in flash on the 5D. What is funny is the 5D replacement, like the D700, is very likely to feature a pop-up flash, which would make the Sony A900 alone again.
- Same Pricey Battery- The same proprietary NP-FM500H battery used in the A700, A350, A300, and A200 is also used in the A900. Great consistency, but you can still only buy it from Sony and you will still pay $55 to $95 for a spare. Sony insists on pimping their battery manufacturing even if their stubborn insistence on a proprietary battery drives some users away in a market where they need to win new users.
- Another Battery Grip - Unlike Nikon's clever move which allowed the Nikon MB-D10 grip to work on either the APS-C D300 or the full-frame D700, the new Sony A900 gets another new grip that fits the same batteries used in the A700. The A900 base is about half an inch wider than the A700 so the VG-C70AM grip can't work. You would think design teams working together could have found a way around this since there is nothing new about the VG-C90AM. Keeping the volumes small with separate grips will all but guarantee Sony will continue as the most expensive grip options in its class.
- No zoom in "Intelligent Preview" - Continuing the only glaring failing in the Sony A350/A300 Live View, the A900 Intelligent Preview does not allow zooming in the preview. Most studio users and tripod shooters like live view zooming for critical pre-focus, and that just isn't possible with no zoom. When asked, a Sony rep commented that critical focus control was not something they found studio shooters using Live View for. In my opinion, the intelligence is missing from the A900 Preview if you can't zoom.
- Multiple HVL-F58AM Flash Units Required - The new HVL-F58AM is truly a fantastic concept in a flash unit as we'll talk about in our Positives pages. However, four flash banks with ratio control requires a 58 flash unit as a wireless flash controller on the camera, and other 58 units for the flash banks. This can get pricey with the 58 selling for around $500.
- A Memory Stick Slot? - Do you know anyone who shoots the Sony Memory Stick in an A700 instead of the industry standard CF? It's easy to see why you might include a memory stick option in the A200/300/350 for Sony point-and-shoot users moving up, but a memory stick slot in the A900 is a true mystery. It looks like Sony Corporate has declared anything imaging will use only a Sony battery and will include a Memory Stick option. No other explanation makes sense.
- No speed improvement in APS-C mode - While Sony DT lenses automatically switch to APS-C mode and you can select crop mode even with a full-size lens, there is no improvement in burst speed while in crop mode.
- No Video Mode - Sony reps were on the verge of laughter when asked about a Video Mode for the A900. Frankly, with Sony's capabilities we really thought Sony might be first in bringing video to the DSLR instead of Nikon (D90) and Canon (rumored feature on the 5D replacement). Some industry analysts predict every news photographer will be shooting DSLR video within two years, giving editors the ability to select the stills they want for newspapers and magazines. Sony needs to truly lead in the DSLR market to capture the market share they covet.
- No Weather-Sealed Lenses - The A900 appears very well sealed against the elements, as you would expect in a camera aimed at pro users. However, none of the current or announced Sony lenses are weather-sealed. Weather resistance is only as good as your weakest link, and Nikon and Sony need to pay more attention to weather-sealing their lenses.
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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.