It looks like the first DSLR to be announced “for” photokina, (other than the Canon 50D and Nikon D90) …is the Sony A900. The much anticipated 24 megapixel full-frame sensor is here finally!

Some notes:

1.) Sony ONLY says this camera can “meet the demdands of serious enthusiasts!” Wow, they’re STILL not openly going for Canon / Nikon’s jugular? Interesting. I’d say they’re a consideration for even the most demanding pros, but we’ll see…

2.) In-camera stabilization for a full-frame sensor: HERE, they are definitely attacking Canon Nikon head on, mentioning specifically how this system allows a 2.5-4 stop shutter speed advantage, “especially for wide angle and fast-aperture lenses” (where obviously Canon and Nikon have ZERO IS / VR lenses…)

3.) Viewfinder: 100% coverage and 74% magnification. Holy cow, if I’m not mistaken that is bigger than ANY other full-frame DSLR in history.

4.) Dual- processor allows for 5 FPS, even at 24 megapixels RAW.

5.) Has a “DX crop mode” like Nikon FX bodies. Ouch, Canon?

6.) ISO 100-3200, with 6400 as HI.

7.) AF system is 19 point, but only 9 points accessible. (arranged much like Canon’s 5D) Definitely NOT more spread out around the viewfinder than current full-frame DSLR’s, which is my one complaint about full-frame technology so far.

8.) Dual cards with one CF slot, but the 2nd is for MSDuo, a nearly useless memory card type.

9.) Pretty decent control layout, WB and ISO are on their own buttons (unlike Canon) and on the right side of the camera. (unlike Nikon) Also the vertical grip is “dropped” down to a more comfortable level, which LOOKS really weird but actually makes the camera handle incredibly well I would imagine… It also has weather sealing, of course.

10.) Here’s the kicker. Are you ready? $2999. Yep, the busted this out at under $3K. Wowzer. Canon and Nikon are going to hurt a little. Canon’s 21 megapixel 1Ds mk3 is still $7800, and Nikon’s 24 megapixel “equivalent” is not yet here but will undoubtedly cost more than $5000. So it looks like Sony really IS the advanced amateur’s only choice for high-resolution… Now only time will tell if the image quality, autofocus performance, and lens arsenal are up to the task of fully professional photography…

Speaking of lenses, Sony also announced a Zeiss 16-35 f/2.8, sure to make Canon and Nikon shooters alike very jealous, and a 70-400 f/4-5.6 super-zoom, sure to make Nikon 80-400 users jealous…

Gotta get back to work!

=Matt=

Got to snap a few test images with the Nikon D700 today after I returned rental gear from this weekend.

The D700 is really nice, it has a few extra features that I like above the D300, and a few, well, I’ll call them differences, that I don’t like…

Viewfinder- Circular viewfinder eyepiece, and an awesome, definitely bigger than the D300 viewfinder! (D300 is 0.95x and the D700 is 0.72x though, so it’s still close) …And a locking diopter adjustment that works similarly to analog watches. You pull it out a click, adjust it, then push it back in. NICE touch, Nikon! Makes the dang thing feel all the more like a Rolex!

Metering dial a la D300 etc- I’ve never liked where the metering mode dial is on the flagship cameras, and I hope they STOP putting it on the side of the viewfinder. It’s SO much better where it is on the D700 / D300- right where I can flip it with my thumb without even taking my eye away from the viewfinder. I REALLY use all three metering modes like crazy, you have no idea!

The return of individual RGB highlight warnings- They had this on the D200, took it away on the D300, and brought it back on the D700. I cannot tell you how many times I have blown the red channel and not known until later… (I shoot sunsets and people, sometimes both at once haha…)

The fully professional autofocus- debates rage about this; whether or not the D300 actually has a less-powerful AF system than the D3, and now the D700. All I can say is, the D300 and all other non-flagship cameras I’ve ever tested are really spotty at best when you pass f/2.8 and head towards f/1.4. I mean if you’re on a tripod shooting a stationary object you’d have no problem locking perfect focus on any of the D300′s focus points, but it’s the hand-holding in low light, the continuous focus, etc. that really kills your accuracy. Every 85mm f/1.4 that I have ever rented has been nothing but trouble on both my D200 and D300, when shooting hand-held in dim light wide open, continuous OR single focus. On the other hand however, the two BORROWED 85 1.4 and 1.8 that I’ve tried, have performed pretty flawlessly. So maybe I just need to stop putting up with battered rental lenses and BUY one for myself. But my point was, I am NOT satisfied with the AF performance of any camera I’ve owned when shooting in the pitch dark, and I am indeed wondering how much better a D3 might perform. I’ll at least wait to see how the SWM / HSM f/1.4 lenses do for focus accuracy, when they get here. My Sigma 50-150 focuses like a laser beam in ANY light, seriously!

OKAY, now the things I don’t like:

The separate “OK” button in the center of the joypad- Meh, not a fan…. I Don’t like this setup, I really got used to simply pressing the center of the joypad and it has worked great for me. Now that there is a button inside a button, it just feels slower to navigate because you have to be a little careful. But I’m sure a month with the camera and it’d be second nature, so I wont’ complain.

(Canon) amateur-style memory card door- Booo! I don’t like this! I like Nikon’s older style lever-action card door release. Obviously the D3′s card door latch is the most superior, on par with Canon’s 1D-series style, and I guess that is just going to be one of the things that separates the $5000 pro body from the $3000 semi-pro body. Like the lack of dual-card slots in the D700 as well.

QUASI VERDICT- You know, never play with professional gear if you can’t afford to sate the resulting appetite for such pro gear. Now I not only want a D700, I also want a D3! Gah I don’t have $8000 to spend on camera bodies though! I mean, who does? Oh wait, Mike Colon and Becker do, but you get my point.

So yeah. The D700 is nice, but I want it for reasons other than the FX sensor. Or at least, the FX sensor isn’t the only reason I want it. I shot a handful of ISO 3200 / 6400 test shots which I will compare to my D300, but I already know that the D300 is about 1.5-2 stops below as far as that is concerned. D700 looked oh-so-clean even at 3200, and 6400 could make a pretty decent print I’m sure. No loss of saturation, DR or detail, just a bit of noise. And I like the look of the noise anyway…

But like I said- I guess I wish I had a D700 / D3. What I REALLY wish is that I could get a D700 with dual card slots, and a D300 with the rest of the D700 features, and FLAGSHIP PERFORMANCE AUTOFOCUS… Because to be honest, I really do like the DX crop for some things. Having 12 megapixels at 1.5x is a thing of beauty for telephoto work, trust me. (Of course the D3X, or whatever the next 24 megapixel flagship is going to be, might change the game, with a ~11 megapixel DX crop mode!)

Aight I’ve got way too much work to do to be blogging this trivial stuff. Bye!

=Matt=