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The A900

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cgarrard

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Easy there. Easy... :)

Just sharing some thoughts.

I have a few months to save for one, and I'm having a hard time figuring out how to budget it. The A700 is a fine fine tool, I just love it to death. We all know that. Those who have actually bought one are about 95% assured to be totally happy with it as we know.

Just questions here.

I wonder something as of late. I am wondering just how they are going to improve the A900 over the A700. As far as I am concerned, the A700 (and even the A100) is fully capable of professional results and has exceeded my personal expectations.

At this point I see improvements in the sensor size, viewfinder to 100% coverage, more battery life, maybe more FPS, maybe improvement over the AF speed (that would be hard to so over the A700), maybe a metering upgrade (40 segment honeycomb is already stellar), longer shutter life,and a few more bells and whistles.

We already know the body is about the same size based on PMA and other official Sony photos (like on http://www.photoclubalpha.com ) etc. What are they going to pack in there for more money?

It's an interesting thought.

We all know that "pro level" bodies don't sell as many units as mid and lower range DSLRS do, nor that they make all that much profit overall. Although Sony is shy to call it a "PRO" level camera, they have stated that the A900 will satisfy professional needs.

Sony has repeatedly impressed me, but I'm losing ideas here on what the new camera is going to WOW us with.

Maybe that is because the A700 is such a hit already?

It just seems to me it will be "more of what we've seen" a bit faster, bigger, more pixels, and maybe sealed and tougher? I dunno.

Thought's?

Carl
--
Im here: http://www.carlgarrardphotography.com

 
Rich L. said:
Take the D3 and add IS in-body. There's a WOW factor camera.

I would buy it in a heart beat.

--
Rich L.
http://www.pbase.com/metaz89
Click to expand...
One other thing. I think the version 1.0 ff/bf lens adjustment is nice but needs to be improved.
I would take it to 20 lens memory with

Each lens adjustment containing 5 focal point adjustments so you can tune the entire range of a zoom lens.

Add that and in-body IS to the D3 and I would consider this a Super WOW camera.

--
Rich L.
http://www.pbase.com/metaz89
 
I think one way to look at the general nature of the differences would be to look at the D300 and then look at the D3.
 
A guess would be the fastest camera available. Some ime ago there was talk about this with the A700 and though speed increased its not the best. I would suspect sony was holding this speed for the A900. Also think sensor size halfway between APSC and full frame. and a price similar to the nikon d300. But for the price of camera with the fastest speed and much sharper and alomst noise free images since a larger sensor it will be the best value for the money for any camera. At least thats what i would like to see. I would have to sell my 2 week okd A700 to get it lol.
 
cgarrard said:
5k eh? :)

Thats allotta dough!

I'd buy the Sony over the Nikon equally spec'd but with IS in body,
sure. But I don't have 5k (and more!) lying around.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I completely understand. If you look at a camera as a 5 to 7 year purchase, then it becomes more affordable. I consider the 7D, A700, and possibly the A900 (depending on specs) to be 5 year cameras.

In addition:

I've found when I buy the best, I'm rarely dissappointed and the item normally lasts for a LONG time. My 7D has been and continues to be a great camera for me. Plus, it's still under extended warranty :)

Third:

There are people who buy every new version. If I had bought the 7D then 5D then A100 and now A700 ... all with kit lenses, I would have spent the same amount of money for the 5D, A100, and A700 as the cost of an A900.

From everything I'm seeing, the A700 looks to be a nice improvement over the 7D. That's cool, but I'm holding out for A900 reviews.

--
Rich L.
http://www.pbase.com/metaz89
 
Good points, all.

Yes, a D3 with IS that using my existing glass would be great.

Look at the 9 vs 7.

The 9 had a faster shutter. A 100% viewfinder. A metal body. Weather sealing, and higher frame rate. That's it.

It DIDN'T have a rear screen. No STF mode. MANY fewer AF sensors, no DMF, no bulb, no wireless HSS. And it was ugly.

And it STILL commands a premium. Is that little worth that much?

That means using the top bonuses, plus the FF sensor, and of course not including any of the negatives, would alone be worth a big premium on the A-900.

I've collected a lot of good glass that begs for full frame. That, and the want for the faster shutter, keeps me off the A-700 for now. That, and the branding. ;-)

Greg
 
cgarrard said:
It just seems to me it will be "more of what we've seen" a bit
faster, bigger, more pixels, and maybe sealed and tougher? I dunno.

Thought's?
Click to expand...
Larger sensor means almost certainly lower resolution and somewhat lower noise.

If they are typical of what Minolta used to do, it will not have all the features of the a700, but be built for heavier use.

The idea that every camera has to wow us is probably flawed. My guess, and it's just a guess is that it will be mild improvements but nothing earthshattering. Well, except to those who think FF is earthshattering.

Walt
 
Carl, I thought you new something... Oh, well..

I would be very disappointed if focusing accuracy and speed (especially for moving and fast moving objects) is not again SIGNIFICANTLY improved, compare to A700. I want as many focus points as they can fit there, I want tons of cross points too. Whatever it takes (laser assist, new technologies?), but I don't want to ever even suspect that camera cannot nail the shot in terms of focus speed. If Nikon can track the color - do it too.

That is a single most important feature I am waiting and will be watching. A700 is way ahead of A100 and especially 7D in that regard, yet I have plenty of situations, when I just lost the shot due to BF or FF. It's a day and night difference with what we had before, but we are not on the top of the curve yet, after which it doesn't really matter if yet another incremental improvement was made. In my book it is still steep hill up for Sony AF.

Some of my work: http://www.pbase.com/papasha
 
What I would expect to become available in the alpha 900:
  • all AF-points cross sensors (center: double cross)
  • FF 21MP
  • viewfinder 100%
  • 7 FPS
  • full weather sealing
and last but not least ;-)
fully functional European grip sensor

What are your expectations?

Manfred
 
---
On top of all the features the A700 already has:
  • 16MP, 1.2x (?) sensor ( I did no number crunching, but it should be slightly smaller than FF to avoid the FF lenses circle boundaries distortions and ease up on the SSS, as well as keep MP density low enough to have sensor "pixels" and pixel-to-pixel gaps bigger than on the A700 to improve signal to noise ratio ) with noise at 6400 ISO equivalent to A700's 800 ISO.
  • automatic VF "masking" for APS-only lenses
  • water/dust sealed
  • 6 fps
  • 200,000 cycles min. shutter life
  • use the same battery/vertical grip as the A700 and higher capacity batteries compatible with A700
  • improved AF system ( speed, accuracy ) with FF/BF tuning and at least 10 memories capability.
  • no need for built-in flash but availability of a new small/compact medium power external flash ( GN 65 )
  • body price @ US$3500.00
... Lucas

--
You're welcome to: http://www.pbase.com/lucaspix/root

Always having fun with photography ...

 
This would be my dream cam.

16MP or 14MP FF sensor.
8fps.
SSS. ( at least 3 stops )
LiveView with AF.
weather protected.
Big VF.
Improved AF from a700.
Shutter life at least 200k.
No integrated vertical grip -> small body like a700.

IQ with low noise ( D3 nikon eqv. ) and great dynamics.

2500 euros. :)
 
FF 12-14 mln
6-8 FPS

11 cross-type af-point with more precise and accurate aF- C and more accurate AF-S in bad condition

AS/SSS

100 % viewfinder

better colour reprodution like in My D7D

great low noise like in D3
better DR
Litte upper shuter buton relase in grip
 
the canon 5d is nearly 2 years old and for the majority of uses its very hard to beat, and its set a benchmark for others to measurebate to.

It is reasonable to expect a 5dMk2 in the near future.

Current prices of the 5D in the UK are below £1500 and lower after rebates from canon, it is logical to assume that after Christmas the price will drop even more, so by the time Sony get round to launching the A900 its gonna have to compete with whatever the 5Dmk2 offers at a price thats right.
 
Carl,

I think the shutter speed on the FLAGSHIP film body, 9 was 1/12,000. Not that it's really needed, but if the shutter mechanism for the the 9 exists, why not use it on the A900. FF sensor to be sure and maybe and improved SSS? I believe the current version in both the A100 & A700 is stabilized on dual axixes, X&Y, if they can somehow manage a 3rd axis X,Y & Z and keep and/or IMPROVE the current LEVEL of In-BODY stabilization that would be key. FULL weather proofing for the PROs, NR OFF option, LIVE VIEW with articulated screen.

Of course this will be built on ALL the features of the A700 base.

--
-Alex

From the minds of Minolta to the imagination of Sony, Alpha, like no other.

http://www.pbase.com/lonewolf69
 
lonewolf69 said:
Carl,

I think the shutter speed on the FLAGSHIP film body, 9 was 1/12,000.
Not that it's really needed, but if the shutter mechanism for the the
9 exists, why not use it on the A900. FF sensor to be sure and maybe
and improved SSS? I believe the current version in both the A100 &
A700 is stabilized on dual axixes, X&Y, if they can somehow manage a
3rd axis X,Y & Z
Click to expand...
Interestingly Pentax have the 3rd axis already. their system corrects for rotational movement.
lonewolf69 said:
and keep and/or IMPROVE the current LEVEL of In-BODY
stabilization that would be key. FULL weather proofing for the PROs,
NR OFF option, LIVE VIEW with articulated screen.

Of course this will be built on ALL the features of the A700 base.

--
-Alex

From the minds of Minolta to the imagination of Sony, Alpha, like no
other.

http://www.pbase.com/lonewolf69
Click to expand...
--
Praise be to Sony for saving the A mount.
 
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