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8.4 out of 10

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

24.6 megapixels

Information found in: from 167 sources in 27 countries

Great Deal: $2,199.00

  • User Score (191)
    9.0 9.0 from 191 reviewers
  • Expert Score (33)
    8.6 8.6 from 33 reviewers
  • Design (5)
    8.4 8.4 from 5 reviewers
  • Value for money (24)
    8.3 8.3 from 24 reviewers
  • Features (15)
    8.2 8.2 from 15 reviewers
  • Ease of use (14)
    8.4 8.4 from 14 reviewers
  • Performance (13)
    8.4 8.4 from 13 reviewers
  • Picture quality (16)
    8.8 8.8 from 16 reviewers
  • Overall quality (3)
    9.5 9.5 from 3 reviewers
  • Display (6)
    9.5 9.5 from 6 reviewers
  • Construction (2)
    8.7 8.7 from 2 reviewers
  • Ergonomics (6)
    9.1 9.1 from 6 reviewers
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  • Score Distribution

Experts:
9-10
(17)
7-8
(16)
5-6
(0)
3-4
(0)
1-2
(0)
Users:
9-10
(108)
7-8
(17)
5-6
(3)
3-4
(0)
1-2
(10)

  • Expert Reviews

  1. Digitaltrends

    Digitaltrends
    8.5/10
    17 December 2008

    If you want pure picture prowess, definitely consider the Sony alpha DSLR-A900. As we found out in our review, it's a great camera for the serious photographer. Read more

    • Beautiful 24.6MP stills; outstanding viewfinder; Intelligent Preview works great; easy to use
    • Expensive - for serious photographers only; limited "cheat" modes; heavy and bulky

  2. Camera Labs

    Camera Labs
    9.0/10
    1 October 2008

    Sony’s Alpha DSLR-A900 feels like it’s been with us for a long time – after all, the prototype was first shown back in March 2007 and its sensor unveiled in January 2008. So unlike its rivals which are often sprung with little notice, we’ve long-known what Sony’s flagship DSLR would look like and speculated how its new 24 Megapixel full-frame sensor may perform in practice. Read more

    • Technically highest resolution to date., Built-in image stabilisation., Superb viewfinder with 100% coverage., Quick handling and 5fps shooting.
    • More noise than rivals above 400 ISO., No Live View or movie function., Upper information screen very basic., Tendency to underexpose in our tests.

  3. Imaging Resource

    Imaging Resource
    15 March 2009

    Sony started the year promising a lot for their flagship camera. We didn't have a name, nor a long list of features, but we did know that the sensor would be a 24.6-megapixel design that was expected to impress. It certainly has done that. The Sony A900 is a formidable camera. It's big, which won't work for everyone, but I found it more than bearable with my medium-sized hands, and even my daughter had no trouble hefting the A900 with the 24-70mm f/2.8 attached and... Read more

    • Extraordinary resolution, nothing touches it at its price point, Built-in SteadyShot image stabilization, Surprisingly fast, given the amount of data the camera is pus...
    • Some image noise even at ISO 200, At anything above ISO 200, noise limits maximum print size before resolution becomes an issue., High-ISO performance doesn't match th...

  4. What Digital Camera

    What Digital Camera
    8.9/10
    19 November 2008

    It should come as no surprise that the A900 is a solidly built DSLR, capable of producing highly detailed images. From a practical consideration, its resolution and the Carl Zeiss optics currently available make it a perfect match for landscape and studio photographers, as well as anyone else needing high-resolution files. With its full-frame sensor, those still holding on to their Minolta lenses will also regain their wide angles. Read more

    • Viewfinder, image quality, LCD, Intelligent Preview, remote control, effective stabilisation
    • Handling issues, noise across sensitivity range, DT lens support

  5. PC World

    PC World
    8.0/10
    22 December 2008

    A high-quality, Read more

    • Easy to use, accurate, and solid, In-camera stabilization really works
    • Noise reduction softens images, A bit pricey for new Sony buyers

  6. DigitalCameraInfo.com

    DigitalCameraInfo.com
    17 February 2009

    The Sony A900 is the company’s powerful attempt to compete with the big boys with a full-frame $2999, 24.6-megapixel resolution SLR . There are some features notably absent, though, and our lab testing turned up problems with color accuracy and image noise. This review is organized into 8 pages Page 1 Sample Photos A gallery of photos taken with the Sony Alpha A900 Read More... Page 2 Design Read More... Page 3 Image Quality Read More... Page 4 Usability Read More... Read more

  7. DP Review

    DP Review
    14 December 2008

    Compared to Alpha 700 - key differences As someone who has used the Alpha 700 extensively I was immediately struck by just how similar its new big brother is; the basic design and layout is almost identical, as are the user interface and the core feature set. Unlike Canon and Nikon, who tend to add further differentiation to their professional products with swathes of extra features and (especially) custom function options, Sony has gone for almost total consistency... Read more

    • Class-leading resolutionv (as long as your lenses are good enough), incredibly solid build quality, environmental sealing, Intuitive operation and uncluttered control ...

  8. Wired

    Wired
    19 November 2008

    Sony came out swinging for the fences with the introduction of its “flagship” DSLR, the A900. Billed as a prosumer digi-snapper, but packed with a panoply of pro-style features, a memory card bursting, 24-megapixel full-frame sensor, crystal clear high-def LCD, on-board image stabilization, and priced at $3000 [body only], this one’s likely to give the vastly more expensive, highest end Canons and Nikons a solid run for their money. Read more

    • Bright, vivid and spacious viewfinder. Excellent in-camera image stabilization system. Easy no-menu adjustments with Fn button and multi-selector toggle. Killer price ...
    • Focus points not big and bright enough in brightly lit situations. No latch for memory card cover. Pointless postage stamp sized LCD on top of the body. No continuous ...

  9. CNET

    CNET
    7.0/10
    20 January 2009

    A good first try at a pro-level camera, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 has the high resolution but unfortunately lacks some of the performance and usability you expect from a model in its price range. Read more

    • High resolution; in-body image stabilization; nice viewfinder; great accessory system.
    • Can't lock focus-point selector; Intelligent Preview button much too easy to hit accidentally; some subpar aspects of performance; no Live View; loud mirror.

  10. photo.net

    photo.net
    4 November 2008

    Earlier this year Sony said they were working on a 24MP full frame DSLR with built-in image stabilization and they intended to bring it to market by the end of 2008. Well, they did! The Sony Alpha A900 is just that camera, and what’s equally noteworthy is that the price is “only” $3000. When you consider that the only other current high pixel count full frame DSLR is the $8000 Canon EOS 1 Ds MkIII, the $3000 price tag seems almost cheap. Read more

  • User Reviews

  1. A very fine camera!

    Bestbuy
    10/10
    Reviewer: klw10, Bestbuy
    18 March 2009

    I upgraded to the A900 from the A700 and I am blown away! The A700 was an amazing camera but this one is just amazing! It stands to reason that it would be though. It has a Full Frame sensor in it whereas the A700 has an APS-C sized sensor. The files can be rather large but it allows you some extra room to crop down and still have very nice detailed shots. I would not trade this camera for any of the other current Sony models available as of writing this review. Read more

    • Colors, Dynamic Range, Full Frame
    • AF tracking for objects heading at or away from you

  2. Still at the top in 2012...

    Amazon
    10/10
    Reviewer: D. Ortego, Amazon
    13 January 2012 See Product at Amazon ($2,699.00)

    I purchased the Sony A900 just before the holidays in December 2011 after considerable debate between the Nikon and Canon equivalents. When I looked at the lens options for all three it was clear the Sony was 'seemingly' at a disadvantage. However, with the Carl Zeiss 135/f1,8 it's pretty hard to beat and the upcoming Zeiss models made my decision easier. I'm looking forward to the new ZA 50/f1,4 that's due out later in this calendar year. Read more or see product

  3. "Top notch camera"

    CNET
    10/10
    Reviewer: shearwater12, CNET
    2 weeks ago

    The reviewer's comments were a bit strange. I have never accidentally hit the intelligent preview button and i find the features judged to be lacking as not worthwhile. This a superb camera easily equal to the Canon equivalent and offering much better resolution than the Nikon D700. Read more

    • HIgh resolution Easy to use controls Good low light performance Spectacular viewfinder
    • Heavy Loud mirror

  4. Almost the perfect camera

    8.8/10
    Reviewer: lifephoto.it, dpreview.com
    16 November 2011

    The OVF is one of the best and confortable viewfinder aver made. The easy to use position of each control give to this professional camera a very confortable and fast shooting moment. Read more

    • The OVF is one of the best and confortable viewfinder aver made. The easy to use position of each control give to this professional camera a very confortable and fast ...
    • Noise staring from 1.600 iso... but with film 35mm when did you use Iso 1.600? Now we really want the perfection.

  5. SONY's first Full Frame camera is a strong contender

    10/10
    Reviewer: karasa, epinions.com
    4 weeks ago

    DSLR-A900 is SONY's first entry into the high-end full-frame digital SLR (single lens reflex camera) Read more

    • Full-frame, In-body IS, Great viewfinder, AF Zeiss glass, High resolution, High dynamic range, Great color
    • No LiveView/video. Gets criticized for ISO3200 performance

  6. Full frame all the way

    Ebay
    10/10
    Reviewer: r2a2, Ebay
    2 January 2012 See Product at eBay ($2,657.86)

    The Sony A900 is AWESOME ! Only problem is that more than half of my lenses are non working on this model. Have been a loyal addict and user of the A55 & now the A65 for over a year. Have loved the Sony AF 16-105, but am now looking for new lenses. The full frame sensor is worth all the money that it is worth. It sure gives you the extra bokeh that most photographers are looking for. Can't wait to get the 85mm F1.4 and the 24-70/2.8. But that will have to wait for now. Read more or see product

  7. 1st camera I've used where I don't feel the need to find a better camera

    Vanns
    10/10
    Reviewer: Chin-Yu H., Vanns
    10 May 2011

    After using several DSLRs before this one i.e. Canon 5D, 10D, Sony A100, this is the first camera that Ive used where I dont feel the need to actively find a better camera. I am not only amazed by the amount of detail it captured, but also by its ability to capture the details at 5fps. The camera performs well enough in low-light conditions that I havent found the need to constantly carry around an external flash as I have with previous DSLRs Ive used. Read more

  8. Sony a900 Steps it up a notch

    B&H Photo
    10/10
    Reviewer: MJZ Design, B&H Photo
    30 March 2009

    We've got a few pics posted out on flickr and we couldn't be happier with the a900. (especially me, cause my wife handed down the a700 to me.)Both excellent cameras, [...].Hope you folks have a safe and blessed Passover.Mark and Jane Zalewski MJZ Designhttp[@] Read more

    • Bright LCD, Comfortable Controls, Easy To Use, Fast Shutter Speed, Great Image Quality, Image Stabilization, Strong Construction
    • Heavy

  9. Sony Alpha A900 Review

    10/10
    Reviewer: Admin, dwidigitalcameras.com.au
    6 days ago

    The Alpha 900 represents in a nutshell the almost schizophrenic nature of Sony's digital camera division, which can market compact cameras with smile detection and a Playstation style user interface at the same time as this, perhaps the most pared-down, frill-free and unashamedly 'serious' DSLR we've seen in a long time. Read more

    • Class-leading resolutionv (as long as your lenses are good enough), incredibly solid build quality, environmental sealing, Intuitive operation and uncluttered control ...
    • Noise reduction settings applied to raw as well as JPEG files - cannot be 'turned off for raw but left on for JPEGs' (as is normal practice), Relatively high levels of...

  10. Great camera

    OneCall
    10/10
    Reviewer: JSB, OneCall
    23 July 2009

    Took this camera on a trip to Iceland and used it while hiking in the rough terrain. The camera performed beutifully, even after getting wet when I fell crossing a river. The weatherized body was well protected. Has many great features such as useful drive modes and even has a memory feature to allow you to set customized focus corrections for each of your lenses. Great camera all around. Read more

    • Bright LCD, Comfortable Controls, Easy To Use, Fast Shutter Speed, Great Image Quality, Image Stabilization, Strong Construction

  • WikiFreak Description

Sony DSLR-A900

The Sony DSLR-A900 is a digital SLR camera that measures 6.12 x 4.62 x 3.25 inches excluding its protrusions. The camera’s body is composed of a die-cast magnesium alloy shell that is sealed by rubber gaskets making it resistant to dust and moisture.

The DSLR-A900 features a 3-inch TFT Xtra Fine LCD panel with a pixel canvas of 921,000 dots. The camera features a 35mm full frame 24.6-megapixel Exmor CMOS image sensor that does not only provide sharp and high contrast photos but al…

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Sony DSLR-A900

The Sony DSLR-A900 is a digital SLR camera that measures 6.12 x 4.62 x 3.25 inches excluding its protrusions. The camera’s body is composed of a die-cast magnesium alloy shell that is sealed by rubber gaskets making it resistant to dust and moisture.

The DSLR-A900 features a 3-inch TFT Xtra Fine LCD panel with a pixel canvas of 921,000 dots. The camera features a 35mm full frame 24.6-megapixel Exmor CMOS image sensor that does not only provide sharp and high contrast photos but also a larger capture area as compared with most other DSLR cameras.

The camera is equipped with Sony’s SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilizer which shifts the Exmor CMOS image sensor when the camera shakes allowing for significant blur reductions. This image stabilizer is built-in and is therefore compatible with all Alpha system lenses. The DSLR-A900 also makes use of Dual BIONZ image processors which allows for continuous shooting at up to 5 frames per second.

The DSLR-A900 features 12 scene modes to choose from. These include Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night View, Autumn, Black & White, and Sepia. It is powered by an NP-FM500H lithium ion rechargeable battery that has a capacity to snap approximately 880 photos.

The camera is compatible with all computers with Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, Windows Vista, and Mac OS X version 10.1.3 or later. It provides a direct HDMI output allowing users to connect it to HDTV screens. It also has a dual card slot that is compatible with CompactFlash and Memory Stick Duo.

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  • Manufacturer's Description

The new standard in digital photography has arrived with the Sony α DSLR-A900. Packed with features, this flagship DSLR is the first α to incorporate a 35mm full frame image sensor and 24.6-megapixel resolution. It also incorporates the world’s first body-integrated, full-size SteadyShot INSIDE™ image stabilization technology.You’ll also experience a larger capture area, improved wide-angle performance and tighter depth of field control with the new full frame Exmor™ …

Specifications

  • Alternative names
    Alpha 900, A900
  • Format
    SLR
  • Max resolution
    6048 x 4032
  • Low resolution
    4400 x 2936, 4400 x 2936, 3024 x 2016, 6048 x 3408, 4400 x 2472, 3024 x 1704, 3924 x 2656, 2896 x 1928, 1984 x 1320
  • Image ratio w:h
    3:2, 16:9
  • Effective pixels
    24.6 million
  • Sensor photo detectors
    25.7 million
  • Sensor size
    35.9 x 24 mm (8.61 cm²)
  • Pixel density
    2.9 MP/cm²
  • Sensor type
    CMOS
  • Sensor manufacturer
    Sony

Release Date

  • First seen
    10 September 2008

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