Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

alaTest has collected and analyzed 475 reviews from magazines and websites. People really like the image stabilizer and lens. The build quality and viewfinder also get good feedback, but the shutter and focus get mixed reviews. The color and software get less positive comments.

image quality, viewfinder, build quality, lens, stabilizer

flash, value for money, software, color

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital SLR Cameras the Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 93/100 = Excellent quality.

See all Sony Digital SLR Cameras

Review analysis

(Based on 474 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (63% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (28% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (4% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (1% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (4% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

Image quality
  Show positive (40%)Show negative (4%)(Show all)
Build quality
  Show positive (79%)Show negative (1%)(Show all)
Viewfinder
  Show positive (47%)Show negative (5%)(Show all)
Lens
  Show positive (26%)Show negative (11%)(Show all)
Focus
  Show positive (19%)Show negative (19%)(Show all)
Flash
  Show positive (15%)Show negative (21%)(Show all)
Stabilizer
  Show positive (55%)None yet(Show all)
Glare
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
Shutter
  Show positive (22%)Show negative (26%)(Show all)
Value for money
  Show positive (27%)Show negative (27%)(Show all)
More features

Showing 332 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews
Showing 1 - 10 of 332 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (146)

Expert review by:

Alpha A900

 

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...

The 24.6-megapixel Sony A900 is a high-res, high-performance and high-priced camera, selling for $2999 for the body alone. There are several impressive specs, including maximum 5 frame per second burst shooting at full resolution and an excellent...

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Expert review by:

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 (body only)

 

Sony makes a point of not calling this a "professional" camera, instead referring to it as the "flagship" model of its dSLR line. However, it's priced like a pro model, and its full-frame competitors--the Nikon D700 and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II--are...

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

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.

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Expert review by:

Sony Alpha A900

 

The Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 is a powerful digital SLR camera aimed squarely at professionals and enthusiasts who covet a full-frame sensor--and who can afford the investment. This camera costs $3000 for the body only, and $5250 with a 24mm-to-70mm f/2.8...

Easy to use, accurate, and solid ; In-camera stabilization really works

Noise reduction softens images ; A bit pricey for new Sony buyers

A high-quality, respectable member of its class, but noise handled poorly above ISO 800

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EDITORS' CHOICE

Expert review by:

Sony alpha DSLR-A900

 

D-SLRs are definitely where the action is in digital photography. Sales of compact point-and-shoots may have hit a wall in this recession, but digital single-lens reflex cameras continue to do well as prices have come down and quality has gone up. The...

Beautiful 24.6MP stills; outstanding viewfinder; Intelligent Preview works great; easy to use

Expensive - for serious photographers only; limited "cheat" modes; heavy and bulky

If you want pure picture prowess, definitely consider the alpha A900.

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Expert review by:

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

 

In the cut-throat digital camera market it's increasingly unusual for products to be shown in prototype form or announced more than a matter of weeks before they hit the stores. There's several reasons for the manufacturers' habit of playing their...

Class-leading resolutionv (as long as your lenses are good enough) ; incredibly solid build quality, environmental sealing ; Intuitive operation and uncluttered control and menu system ; Excellent out of camera JPEG results with superb tonality,...

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 noise at anything over ISO 400 (ISO 6400 is of very, very limited use) ;...

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...

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Expert review by:

Sony A900 SLR Digital Camera First Impressions Review

 

The Sony Alpha 900 is Sony's new full-frame, flagship SLR. It shoots 24.6 megapixel (6048 x 4032) shots at a maximum burst rate of five images per second. This impressive feat is courtesy of the new design for the shutter, and the dual BIONZ...

- Full frame for a reasonable price - Solid, weather resistant construction - Well laid out controls and settings - Unique buttons for most common settings

- Heavy (2 lbs before battery and lens) - Still costs $3000

The Sony Alpha 900 offers a full frame SLR at a reasonable price. In the short time we got to use it, it appeared sturdy, well designed, with clearly labeled buttons and a logical menu structure. It also fits well into the hand and is comfortable to...

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Expert review by:

Upstart Sony DSLR Pops Nikon and Canon on the Chin

 

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

Bright, vivid and spacious viewfinder. Excellent in-camera image stabilization system. Easy no-menu adjustments with Fn button and multi-selector toggle. Killer price for the highest resolution, high functioning, easy to use DSLR

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 ISO in viewfinder. Power switch on left side of body

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Expert review by:

Sony A900 Full-Frame: Hands-On Preview

 

At 24.6MP it's the highest-res DSLR, and the A900 is the first full-frame with body-integrated IS (image stabilization). Does the Sony A900 flagship deliver performance as promised?

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Expert review by:

Sony Alpha A900 and A850 Firmware Version 2.00 (link)

 

It makes me wonder if this was another Sony UK deviation from the rest of the group -sort of situation again, guess we will see

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Expert review by:

Sony Alpha A900 DSLR Review

 

When deciding to write a review on the A900, I realized that this camera has already been reviewed, previewed, and examined from many different media and photography sources. So, instead of writing the stereotypical format review where I would just end...

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Product Specifications

The standard in digital photography has arrived with the Sony a (alpha) DSLR-A900. Packed with features, this flagship DSLR is the first a (alpha) 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 full frame Exmor CMOS image sensor. Equipped with Dual BIONZ imaging processors, the alpha A900 delivers continuous shooting up to 5 fps with superb image quality and ultra-low noise. The A900 also offers a large, ultra-bright glass pentaprism viewfinder with 100 percent coverage, a 3.0-inch Xtra Fine LCD display and HDMI output with PhotoTV HD compatibility. The A900 features a 35mm full frame Exmor CMOS image sensor. The result is a larger capture area, improved wide angle performance, and tighter depth of field control. In addition, its 24.6MP resolution maximizes the resolving power of your existing lenses and delivers sharper, higher contrast photos. The A900 provides direct HDMI output to your BRAVIA HDTV and other compatible HDTV screens, so you can view and share photos in breathtaking clarity and detail. Additionally, PhotoTV HD capable BRAVIA HDTVs will automatically optimize display settings, such as sharpness, gradation, and color to display your images in a way that more closely matches the natural look of printed photographs. The A900 features an impressive design befitting a premium flagship model. The simple form eschews ornamentation and exudes competence, while the iconic pentaprism design element conveys superior optical performance. The A900 also incorporates a distinctive cinnabar-colored ring circling the lens mount.

Battery

Battery Form Factor:Manufacturer specific
Manufacturer Battery Name:Sony NP-FM500H

Digital Camera

Digital Camera Type:SLR
Supported Flash Memory:CompactFlash / Memory Stick Duo

Digital Storage Media

Type: None

Dimensions & Weight

Depth:3.2in
Height:4.6in
Weight:1.9lbs
Width:6.1in

Display (Projector)

Diagonal Size:3in
Diagonal Size (metric):7.6cm
Display Form Factor:Built-in
Technology:TFT active matrix
Type:LCD display

Header

Manufacturer:Sony
Model:DSLR-A900
Packaged Quantity:1
Product Line:Sony a (alpha)

Lens System

Lens for SD:Body only

Optical Sensor

Optical Sensor Size:24 x 35.9mm
Optical Sensor Size (metric):24 x 35.9 mm
Optical Sensor Type:Exmor CMOS
Sensor Dust Reduction: Yes
Sensor Resolution:24.6Megapixel

Optical System

Built-in Optical Image Stabilizer: Yes
Image Stabilizer:Optical (Steady Shot)

Optical Viewfinder

Type:Fixed eye-level pentaprism

Storage Floppy Drive

Type: None

Video Input

ISO (Max):6400
Light Sensitivity:ISO 100-6400
Special Effects:Autumn / Black & White / Clear / Deep / Landscape / Light / Neutral / Night View / Portrait / Sepia / Sunset / Vivid
Still Image Format:JPEG / RAW / RAW + JPEG
Type:Digital camera

Viewfinder

Viewfinder Type:Optical
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