Latest - Review by DPExpert (added 26 November’08)
Sony announced the A900 September 9th, 2008 and it is a full frame 24.6 MP CMOS sensor DSLR featuring sensor-shift image stabilization, 9-point Center Dual-cross auto focus, 100% Viewfinder, 0.74x Magnification, 3.0 ” xtra fine TFT LCD, 5 fps continuous shooting, and ISO range of 100 to 3200. Camera dimensions ar 156 x 117 x 82 mm and it weighs 850 g without the battery and 895 g with the battery.
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Reviewers Conclusions & Verdicts - (updated 26 November’08)
DPExpert
“Do cameras really need to have such mass in order to be indestructible? High ISO images are not as clean as from the Nikon and Canon equivalent cameras.”
TheOnlinePhotographer (Compared to the Nikon D3)
“If I were an art photographer, especially shooting for fine printmaking, I’d get the A900. Its image quality is superlative, yet it’s still reasonably portable, fun and comfortable to shoot with, and easy to use.”
PhotoReview
“It’s important for potential buyers to note that this is a photographer’s camera and, as such, it is wasted on anyone who isn’t prepared to explore (and utilise) the many controls and functions it offers.”
Rating: 
Lets Go Digital (letsgodigital.com)
“Some features that struck me in practice are, for example, the limited functionality of the dual card slot. Besides that, some information flows from the camera to the photographer don’t seem to be complete, or at least; they are limited and certainly when compared to the rivals in this segment.”
Rating: 
Digital Camera Info (digitalcamerainfo.com) (First Impressions)
“It also fits well into the hand and is comfortable to hold, although it is somewhat bulky. Having the vast majority of functions assigned independent buttons is fantastic as it avoids navigating menus whenever possible.”
Popular Photography (PopPhoto.com)
“Sony plays it safe when it comes to metering. The camera’s 40-segment Multi-segment (its name for evaluative) metering mode is terrific at preserving highlight detail. But that also means that it tends to underexpose, especially in scenes with high contrast.”
Kemple Media
“Overall I was pleasantly surprised by its robust build, and ability to handle the elements. I say surprised because on the surface the camera is extremely light and unassuming in the hand.”
DPReview
“More than anything else at this end of the market, a true photographer’s camera, with at least one totally unique feature (the Super SteadyShot stabilization) and one that offers the best viewfinder and highest nominal resolution (and the lowest ‘cost per megapixel, incidentally) in its class.”
Rating: 
Camera Labs
“Ultimately Sony has created a worthy flagship for the Alpha range that not only boasts high resolution full-frame performance, but delivers it with a responsive and enjoyable photographic experience.”
Rating:
Gizmodo (Hands-on Preview)
“I also liked the large, comfortable eyepiece - it makes my ancient Nikon D70 feel like a pinhole camera—and the very bright,100% coverage viewfinder. The controls around the 3-inch, 270dpi LCD screen were quite intuitive.”
British Journal of Photography
“Noise is a little unnatural, which was to be expected by this enormous pixel count. The very fine salt-and-pepper character of noise will often virtually vanish, as just a few pictures will need to be enlarged to 100% or more.”
Luminous-Landscape (Field Report)
“As far as image quality is concerned, bear in mind that I had to look quite closely at the files – serious pixel-peeping really – to see the differences. I always figure that if I have to look this closely then the differences are probably so close as to be insignificant.”
ImagingResource (Full Review)
“What’s sure is that the Sony A900 is a fit rival for Canon’s best camera, which costs $5,000 more.”
DCResource (Preview)
“As you’d expect from a flagship, $3000 camera, the DSLR-A900 is exceeding well made — the cliché “built like a tank” is quite appropriate. The body is made of magnesium alloy, though do note that it is not weather-sealed. The only parts of the camera that could be a little stronger are the plastic doors over the memory card and battery compartments.”
DPRreview (Preview)
“As we started to dig a little deeper, pore over the fine print and actually use the Alpha 900 we were, increasingly surprised - and almost always pleasantly so - at some of the decisions made by Sony’s engineers when designing its flagship SLR.”
Actual Owner Feedback
“Coming soon…”
Sample Photos
[Sample Photos at Lets Go Digital]
[Sample Photos at Kemple Media]
[Sample Photos at DPReview]
[Sample Photos at Camera Labs]
[Sample Photos at ImagingResource]
[Sample Photos at DCResource]
[Sample Photos at DPRreview]
Specifications & Camera Profile
Press Excerpt
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 9, 2008 – Sony is introducing its full-frame ? (alpha) DSLR-A900 camera, aimed at serious photo enthusiasts looking for traditional SLR performance with the added benefits of digital photography.
It is designed to deliver ultra-fine picture quality with the world’s highest resolution, 24.6-megapixel, 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor and fast image processing with a new dual BIONZ® processing engines. The camera is also the first to have a body-integrated image stabilization system for a full-frame sensor with Sony’s SteadyShot® Inside anti-shake system.
One look at the camera’s distinctive pentaprism and nostalgic body design will evoke its full-frame optical performance. It features a bright, clear optical viewfinder with 100% field of view coverage that would impress even film photography loyalists.
“The ? (alpha) DSLR-A900 introduction solidifies Sony’s position as a leading camera manufacturer that can meet the demands of serious enthusiasts,” said Phil Lubell, director of digital camera marketing at Sony Electronics. “It represents the best in sensor and image processing technologies and offers enhanced functions, performance and reliability so photographers can push their creativity to the limit.”
Ultra-Fine Images As The Human Eye Perceives Them The camera’s Exmor™ CMOS sensor delivers the photographic expressive power of wide angles and perspective that only a 35 mm full-frame sensor can offer, and is designed to take advantage of the resolving power of high-precision ? (alpha) lenses. Its high pixel count and large size provide enhanced image detail and a wider dynamic range for natural color reproduction and subtle tonal gradations.
The sensor is produced using proprietary Sony planarization technologies to ensure an ultra-flat surface across the entire imaging area. Instead of a single analog/digital convertor, the sensor uses over 6,000 on-chip, column-parallel A/D converters to convert analog signals to noise-resistant digital signals at the earliest possible stage. The result is reduced noise and high-speed transfer of data.
Image processing gets a boost in speed and power from the application of two BIONZ image processing engines. Large amounts of data captured by the 24.6-megapixel sensor can be quickly processed to achieve a fast shooting response. Additionally, this dual BIONZ processing system applies advanced noise reduction algorithms producing images of exceptional quality and detail, especially at high ISO sensitivities.
World’s First Anti-Shake System for a Full-Frame Sensor The camera’s newly-developed, body-integrated SteadyShot Inside unit achieves an anti-shake effect equivalent to shutter speeds faster by 2.5 to 4 stops. This new unit provides stabilization for Sony, Minolta and Konica-Minolta wide angle, large-aperture lenses, which is difficult for lens-integrated systems.
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