The Sony Alpha 900 has a staggering 24.6Mp sensor and has the accolade of offering the largest resolution of any full-frame D-SLR – even beating the £5000 24.5Mp Nikon D3X – quite a feat, especially when you consider the relatively low price. The ISO range of the Sony Alpha 900 is a little more sedate, but still capable, with a range of 200-3200 that can be expanded to 100-6400.
Utilising two BIONZ image processors to help churn the data, the Alpha 900 can manage a strong 5fps, particularly when you consider the file sizes. There’s a 9-point AF system with an extra 10 AF assist points to aid autofocus, but only the central AF point is cross-type. Not to be left out, the Alpha 900 has a 3in screen with a 921k dot resolution, though it doesn’t feature Live View. Instead, it offers Intelligent Preview, offering you a preview image to assess a range of White Balance settings and general exposure.
Anti-shakeThe Sony Alpha 900 features a built-in anti-shake system called SteadyShot INSIDE that offers a 4-stop shutter speed advantage on any lens attached. This is a real bonus, as you don’t have to invest in stabilised lenses. A slight issue though, is the hotshoe design and connection, as it doesn’t follow the universal standard used by every other manufacturer, making third-party attachments like studio triggers and other accessories incompatible unless you invest in an additional adapter. There is a separate PC sync socket, though so it’s not a huge problem.
The Alpha 900 has quite a functional look, with the distinctive pointed pentaprism, while the body is constructed from a mixture of magnesium and aluminium alloy for a solid feel. The handgrip allows your fingers to fit nicely into the grooves and the rubberised finish is good.
The Alpha 900’s 9 AF points are in a diamond formation and are grouped closely together in the centre, while the active AF point isn’t as clearly marked as we’d like – it’s only momentarily highlighted. The central cross-type AF point performs well, but the same can’t be said for the surrounding 8, struggling to lock on when the target point fails to meet their horizontal target. The small LCD on the top-plate is of limited use with minimal shooting information, and most of it is displayed on the rear screen. It feels like a compromise, but the Fn button is handy, allowing you to toggle through settings quickly on the rear menu system.
24.6Mp full-frame sensor www.sony.co.uk
