Sony Announces Flagship 24.6MP SLR
Sony rounded out its digital SLR lineup today with the Alpha 900, a high-end, full-frame 24.6-megapixel model priced at $2999 for the body alone
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The A900 has dual slots to accept both MemoryStick and CompactFlash cards simultaneously, and plenty of storage is certainly recommended: the top image size is 6048 x 4032, a 24-megapixel image. Uncompressed RAW files are supported, along with lossy and lossless RAW compression and four levels of JPEG file quality. Our tests shots in extra fine JPEG mode each took up 14 to 22 megabytes.
The 3-inch LCD boasts a very high 921,600-dot resolution and full 100% coverage, Unlike most digital SLRS, the optical viewfinder also boasts 100% coverage (with 0.74% magnification), though the Live View feature found in three out of four previous Sony SLRs was sacrificed to make this possible. HDMI output for display on high-def TVs is available with the purchase of an optional cable.
A unique feature premiering in this camera is Intelligent Preview. When the depth-of-field preview button is depressed, a photo is saved to temporary storage and displayed on-screen. The user can then tweak the image by varying exposure compensation, white balance and other settings, seeing the results reflected in the preview image. After getting the adjustments to your liking, it’s time to press the shutter and take the final photo, deleting the preview image in the process.
"Official" ISOs range from 200-3200, with ISO 100 and 6400 available as extended settings. Shutter speeds span from 1/8000 sec. to 30 seconds plus Bulb for extended exposures. D-Range optimization is available while shooting, with user-selectable levels and automatic bracketing available.
The auto focus system relies on nine sensors plus 10 'assist points,' not visible on the viewfinder but designed to help track moving objects smoothly.
The camera is a substantial but manageable 1 lb. 14 oz. (850 g) without battery, memory card or lens, and measures 6.13 x .63 x 3.25 inches (156.3 x 116.9 x 81.9mm). It is scheduled for shipment in November.