Hit me with your best shot A850 A900

[Roger]

Greetings

So I'm looking at buying a A900 or A850 so I can use my Minolta G glass. I thought I'd ask you to show me some of your images and your personal opinions of the 2 cameras. Did Sony change anything like on off noise reduction in the 3 years it took them to bring out the A850? I have a very complete other system and will only be using the Sony with my G glass and my Minolta film bodies. I'm back to shooting film but would like to shoot a FF along with the film cameras and the A900 or A850 fit my budget.

I'd love to see your images and read your opinions good bad or indifferent. Pros Cons you name it it's all good. What about size of the cameras?

Thank you

Regards

Roger J.

 

[Curtis Khan]

Maybe not the best but my most famous!!

The a900 at ISO's under 800 is to me the best camera I ever owned... until the a99

 

[PaddyC]

I've owned a lot of film gear but don't shoot film anymore although I'm occasionally tempted to pick it up again. I've only owned three digital cameras (late converter). Two mirrorless (NEX and EOS M) and the a850.

I love the a850. I kept thinking I should sell it but I just couldn't do it. I did end up selling my more expensive and big lenses to go smaller and cheaper. Ergonomically the camera is a dream. Viewfinder is great. I find the files great to work with in lightroom. The colours always seem so pleasing. At some point I will probably want to get an a99 and increase my lens selection but for now the a850 is great.

 

[Ralf B]

Greetings

So I'm looking at buying a A900 or A850 so I can use my Minolta G glass.

Good idea me thinks. I bought my first a900 in December 2008 and added a second one this January.

I thought I'd ask you to show me some of your images

"Why ask? Just buy the darn' thang!"

a900 somewhere over the rainbow? No, just buy it!

... your audience will listen!

Did Sony change anything like on off noise reduction in the 3 years it took them to bring out the A850?

Shoot RAW, which is sans NR, and PP - the jpeg engine is not up to good PP SW - I use Aperture and default values are most often good enough.

What about size of the cameras?

Intimidating, especially with VG and the CZ 135/1.8. Rock solid, too.

Thank you

My pleasure.

--
Cheers,
Ralf
www.ralfralph.smugmug.com

 

[Robsphoto]

Greetings

So I'm looking at buying a A900 or A850 so I can use my Minolta G glass. I thought I'd ask you to show me some of your images and your personal opinions of the 2 cameras. Did Sony change anything like on off noise reduction in the 3 years it took them to bring out the A850? I have a very complete other system and will only be using the Sony with my G glass and my Minolta film bodies. I'm back to shooting film but would like to shoot a FF along with the film cameras and the A900 or A850 fit my budget.

I'd love to see your images and read your opinions good bad or indifferent. Pros Cons you name it it's all good. What about size of the cameras?

Thank you

Regards

Roger J.

I have a page devoted to images I captured with the Sony A900:

http://www.robsphotography.co.nz/Sony-A900.html

To give you an appreciation of how these images will appear when greatly enlarged, the full-sized images are displayed, together with crops of just small areas of the images.

I have now replaced my A900 with the A99. You mention the size of the cameras, and I think this is a good question. If you want a smaller full frame camera, you could look at the A7, A7R or A7S because the A900 is quite heavy, particularly if you are carrying it for a long distance.

Cheers

Rob

 

[gil]

Below links were test shots. I also tested the A850 but since I am mostly a photobirder, FF is not really my thing and returned both the A900 andA850.

A900 Samples Link 1

A900 Samples Link 2

A900 Samples Link 3

 

[Roger]

I'd like to thank you every one who replied. The images were great and I truly liked your input. If I may I'd like to ask if any of you every had AF issues Front or Back focusing issues?

Thank you

Roger J.

 

[Calico Jack]

Greetings

So I'm looking at buying a A900 or A850 so I can use my Minolta G glass. I thought I'd ask you to show me some of your images and your personal opinions of the 2 cameras. Did Sony change anything like on off noise reduction in the 3 years it took them to bring out the A850? I have a very complete other system and will only be using the Sony with my G glass and my Minolta film bodies. I'm back to shooting film but would like to shoot a FF along with the film cameras and the A900 or A850 fit my budget.

I'd love to see your images and read your opinions good bad or indifferent. Pros Cons you name it it's all good. What about size of the cameras?

Ahoy Roger J (or is that Jolly Roger)!

Instead of individual images, you can take a look at some I've taken along with lens info (where EXIF has been retained) with A850:

Fluidr

Airplane-Pictures

You should update firmware to latest release and do not set anything to auto or in-camera processing such as NR and DRO etc as these are best done in PP. All relevant firmware info that was improved/added etc is on the Sony website. Just search for Sony A850 or A900 firmware update and you'll find the page(s)along with software updates and PDF user manuals etc.

 

[capt bob]

I went back words sorta having the a99 for a year or so and recently ended up with a buy the entire Camera bag deal to get the one lens I wanted and the body was the 900 , I liken the 900







to a Lincoln Town Car while the 99 is the MKZ , Larger and clunkier but built like a tank and would suspect very durable , I have only shot with it a couple of times other than some Sports work with short primes indoors , Here are a couple with the 150-600 new Tamron lens, Oh by the way the 900 has Micro Focus adjustment so Front and Back focus can be dialed in within reason.

I had planned on selling the 900 but the more I use it the more I like it , Time will tell .

 

[stan_pustylnik]

A850 served me well during past 4+ years. Take a look and decide. No back or front focus for me.

Loading…

stan-pustylnik.smugmug.com

 

[Buttons252]

I wanted an A850/A900 for a long long time, but the price never came down to my comfort zone -- then the A99 and D600 came out and i moved on. Ill admit i would much rather use minolta lenses but now ive been seeing A99s for $1400~ and the A850 are still around $1000?

I think id rather have the newer body, but thats just me. I loved the A77 so id expect good things from the 99

 

[stan_pustylnik]

A900 and A850 are not available at KEH right now. Not sure why.

 

[k-aus]

A900 with CZ85mm lens....

























--
k-aus

Alan Tan | Flickr

www.flickr.com

 

[Calico Jack]

I'd like to thank you every one who replied. The images were great and I truly liked your input. If I may I'd like to ask if any of you every had AF issues Front or Back focusing issues?

Thank you

Roger J.

None at all with any of my lenses (previous and current), though that's the beauty of LMA so you can correct it in-camera to nail focus to be the best it can. After all, there will generally be minor differences both in sensor position and lens construction, so it's a simple method of adjustment if required.

 

[Ralf B]

Calico Jack wrote:

... that's the beauty of LMA

the beauty of ... what?

 

[Calico Jack]

Calico Jack wrote:
... that's the beauty of LMA

the beauty of ... what?

 

[Michael Fritzen]

Hi,

great cam (A850) which produced great results. Now exchanged by the A99.

No camera though for discrete shooting in silent ambient. One should "like" audible mirror operation.

 

[fromo1946]

This was with the A850 and the CZ135mm




This one as well with the afore mentioned

 

[Ralf B]

Calico Jack wrote:
... that's the beauty of LMA

the beauty of ... what?

 

[justina900]

I have been shooting with the a 900 since it came out. mainly use manual lenses. changed the focus screen for manual lenses ( sony). First are you going to tell me this camera is to heavy? your talking ounces of difference not pounds. I use 16-35 Zeiss, 35-70 contax, 35/f2 rom, 28 2.8 rom, 100 2.8 3 cam, voigtalander 180 f4 , minolta 200 . The minolta is a very sharp, great bokeh,light ,and fast enough. out of all of these the voigtaland has an amazing color and bokeh.




minolta 200






leica 28/2.8 rom