Sony A900 Digital SLR Camera: Hands On with Kilpatrick

As I’ve joked before, the A900 got a little lost in the shuffle with the announcement of the 5D Mark II and the flurry of news coming out of Photokina, but while we wait for more detailed analysis, David Kilpatrick is walking around the streets of Cologne with the 24 megapixel full frame monster and has posted some pictures demonstrating some impressive resolution and “comparable” noise management (in very low light situations) to the Nikon D3- the unquestioned champion prior to September. Now the image samples do come with a caveat and that is that Kilpatrick has outputed the files to 11.2 megapixels, a size similar to that of  the D3. David explains:

Why 11.2 megapixels? It is processed from a cRAW file using ACR 4.6 RC, and this is one of the downsized options you get. The Alpha 900 native resolution is the maximum size in the list of exported sizes now. While ISO 3200 is not going to beat a Nikon D3 (etc) when viewed pixel for pixel, 24.5 megapixels versus 12.2, when you reduce the size of the A900 image to closely match the D3 size results in similar conditions give the A900 an edge in detail resolution – and slightly less mushy noise.

-David Kilpatrick

In well lit situations, it’s true that the A900 is more than capable of resolving buckets of detail, further enhanced by the file downsizing. I’m not entirely convinced that in low light it is the equal of the D3, but Kilpatrick’s comparison is at ISO 3200 and at least in his comparison, the A900 fares quite well (again downsized to a similar file size as the D3). I’ll just add that I don’t think Kilpatrick’s contention is the superiority of the A900, rather the A900 can hold its own, in addition to adding some resolution to the spec sheet, while being priced for considerably less.

Check out Kilpatrick’s tour with the Sony A900 here.

Amazon: Sony Alpha A900 24.6MP Digital SLR Camera
B and H: Sony Alpha A900 24.6MP Digital SLR Camera $2999.95

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1. 

   David Jenrette says:

   September 26, 2008 at 2:39 pm

   The Sony quite possibly could equal or surpass the Nikon D3 in one or more categories, but the only thing going against it is that it is still not a Nikon, with the glamour and aura that Nikon has regained, plus Nikon’s collection of lenses and supporters. And I bet the skilled photographer vs the not-so-good will have better pix and more sales — no matter which camera each one uses!
   David Jenrette

   reply
2. 

   Patrick says:

   September 27, 2008 at 10:32 am

   David,

   All good points, but I wonder how many will reach for the A900, given the specs the 5D Mark II now puts on the table. I suspect many people, even some A700 shooters will be tempted to go for the new 5D. Just my hunch.

   reply