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November 26, 2008
[REVIEW–SONY a900 DSLR & Zeiss 24-70mm lens]
Price: $4500 camera $2700 lens
The Most!
The low-down: This is a full frame DSLR with a 24.6 megapixel CMOS sensor – currently the most pixels on a 35mm sized sensor. The camera is beautifully made with a luxurious feel to all controls. It also feels solid, with extensive environmental sealing. Image stabilisation is by sensor shift and is effective to about 2 extra stops and there is automatic dust removal. The 75mm LCD is high resolution. The Zeiss lens is a constant f2.8 aperture over the zoom range and is fast in focusing. The viewfinder is the largest and brightest we have tried. Recording media may be either Compact Flash or Sony’s Memory Stick Duo. There is 5 exposure auto bracketing and up to 5 fps continuous shooting. Ergonomics are excellent.
Like: The resolving power of this camera/lens combination is simply breathtaking. What it means in every day use is that images can be cropped down to small sections and still retain sharp detail. Dynamic range is very good and exposures are generally spot on. The camera is so responsive that grabbing instant informal shots in a crowd is a breeze.
Dislike: The camera/lens combination is heavy. Do cameras really need to have such mass in order to be indestructible? High ISO images are not as clean as from the Nikon and Canon equivalent cameras.
Verdict: Sony tell us that this is not their professional camera. It is intended for the well-heeled amateur who is either a fan of the brand or has some legacy Minolta lenses in the bag. So it sells against the Nikon D700 and the Canon 5DII – formidable opposition. The Sony compares well with the other two, but the Zeiss lens, while sensationally good, is expensive.
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Posted by terry at November 26, 2008 09:55 PM
Worth Checking Out
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