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Sony A900

 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
 
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Released October 2008
  • Successor is Sony A99
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
62
Overall
64

Sony A900 summary

Sony A900 is Sony's Advanced DSLR camera initially launched on October of 2008. It houses a 25 MegaPixel, CMOS Full frame sized sensor and has a max resolution of 6048 x 4032.

Sony introduced the updated Sony A99 (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to update this camera.

The A900 is rated #43 out of 92 in Advanced DSLR cameras & overall #255 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should use our Advanced camera filter to get camera ratings based on your personal requirements.

Photography Glossary

Here is a chart of different factors used in the rating system.

Sony A900 family

The Sony A900 has a history of related digital cameras. Underneath, you can see all earlier and most recent models along with important specs.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Sony-Alpha-A99-II front thumbnailSony A99 II
A900 vs A99 II
42MPFull frame12.0 fps2016
Sony-SLT-A99 front thumbnailSony A99
A900 vs A99
24MPFull frame10.0 fps2012
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Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A850 front thumbnailSony A850
A900 vs A850
25MPFull frame3.0 fps2010
Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A900 front thumbnailSony A90025MPFull frame5.0 fps2008

Sony A900 Pros and Cons

Below is a selection of good and bad points of the Sony A900 based on features which are oftentimes considered important in a camera.

2 card slots
amazing MP (25 megapixels)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
does have Top LCD display
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
great minimum ISO (100)
has HDMI out
has phase detect AF
screen has good resolution (922 thousand dots)
screen size is good (3")
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
weather proofing
you can focus manually
can't shoot video
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have headphone support
doesn't have microphone support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
screen does not articulate
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Sony A900 Sensor specifications

The Sony A900 features the Bionz processor. The sensor spec in the Sony A900 is 35.9mm x 24mm (Full frame). The 862 mm² sensor is able to capture 6048 x 4032 pixels at aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. The camera features Image Stabilization (Sensor based). In body stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization as the latter can lead to cropping.

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The CMOS sensor has 25 megapixels and delivers a native ISO range of 100 - 6400. RAW format is saved so the user has wider room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath illustrates the A900's sensor dimensions in comparison to other common sizes. The A900 sensor has a crop factor of 1 and is showcased in green.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 sensor size Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony A900 dimensions

Sony A900 weighs about 1.97 lbs (895g / 31.57 oz) & has outer measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2"). The weight of typical Advanced DSLR camera is 776g so the Sony A900 is more heavy when compared with other rivals.

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Here is a shot of the Sony A900 next to a soft drink so you can get a sense of its scale.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 dimensions scale

The top view under will highlight the button layout on the A900.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 topview buttons dials

Sony A900 Lens specifications

The A900 works with the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount and has 145 lenses available for sale. Below is a few of the lenses we have in our collection which will fit the A900.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Schneider-PC-TS-Macro-Symmar-4.5-90-HM-Sony-Alpha lensSchneider PC-TS Macro-Symmar 4.590 HM90mmf/4.5 1110g
Sony-DT-35mm-F1.8-SAM lensSony DT 35mm F1.8 SAM35mmf/1.8 170g
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Sony-Carl-Zeiss-Planar-T-50mm-F1.4-ZA-SSM lensSony Carl Zeiss Planar T 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM50mmf/1.4 518g
Sony-70-200mm-F2.8-G-SSM-II lensSony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II70-200mmf/2.8 1500g
Sony-300mm-F2.8-G lensSony 300mm F2.8 G300mmf/2.8 2310g
Sigma-17-70mm-F2.8-4-DC-Macro-OS-HSM-Sony-Alpha lensSigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM17-70mmf/2.8-4.0 520g
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Tamron-SP-85mm-F1.8-Di-VC-USD--Sony-Alpha lensTamron SP 85mm F1.8 Di VC USD85mmf/1.8 700g
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Sony A900 Connectivity

The A900 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that feature NFC and / or Bluetooth support are able to be used wirelessly via smartphones. You can transfer photos and oftentimes adjust settings with no need to connect directly to the camera.

Some applications even allow a Liveview and hit the shutter in case you are not near the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it can easily be hooked up to an external monitor. Almost all cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack through the USB socket.

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Sony A900 Video specifications

Sony A900 does not take video. In case you are wanting a camera to take only photos, this is not a problem.

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Sony A900 Weather Sealing

Sony A900 comes with weather proofing making it a very good selection for use for rough conditions. This is particularly helpful in case you are not sure about the elements you might face for outdoor photography.

Sony A900 Display and Viewfinder

The Sony A900 is equipped with a 3 inch fixed screen boasting a resolution of 922 thousand dots.

Please note that the screen has no touch support. The A900 also has a builtin Top LCD display so it’s possible to instantly see camera settings.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 screen and viewfinder Photography Glossary

The View Finder specs for Sony A900 are below:

  • ViewFinder Optical (pentaprism)
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100%
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.74x

For sunny outdoor situations which make the camera displays washed out and hard to see, viewfinders can be particularly useful.

Sony A900 Shutter specifications

Sony A900 continuous shooting rate is 5.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/8000 seconds.

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Sony A900 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Sony A900 features external flash support but is without in-built flash. The highest flash sync is 1/250 seconds.

Sony A900 Autofocus specifications

Sony A900 features both Phase Detect AF as well as Contrast Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is more quicker & precise when compared with Contrast Detect focusing.

It supports 9 focus points to choose from. Sony A900 supports manual focus if required for low light occasions or you need to have more accurate focus control.

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Sony A900 Battery life

The battery pack (NP-FM500H) in the Sony A900 is built to last for 880 photos based on the CIPA specifications which is on par with it's competition. The usual Advanced DSLR camera battery life is 909. Nikon D780 offers the maximum (2260) battery life for this type of cameras.

Here is a number of Advanced DSLR cameras having the highest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
Nikon-D850 front thumbnailNikon D850
A900 vs D850
1840 yesyesyes
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Nikon-Df front thumbnailNikon Df
A900 vs Df
1400 yesnono
Canon-EOS-90D front thumbnailCanon 90D
A900 vs 90D
1300 yesnoyes
Nikon-D500 front thumbnailNikon D500
A900 vs D500
1240 yesyesyes

Sony A900 for different types of photography

The following chart gives a summary of the Sony A900 for different types of photography. To check out more, browse to the specific section underneath.

Sony A900 Portrait photography highlights

The Sony A900 receives a points total of 71 which is nice, and means the camera is a good pick to use for portrait images. Taking portrait images favors greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support plus the capability to work with external lighting.

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has manual focus
excellent megapixels (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
no liveview

Sony A900 as a Street photography camera

With a nice points total of 66, the Sony A900 is a fine pick to use in street photography. A good street photography camera features a good balance of image quality and portability.

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image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen

Sony A900 Sports photography advice

A nice sports photography rating of 70 means the Sony A900 is a very decent choice for shooting sports. A camera must have fantastic autofocus plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is great (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)

Sony A900 Travel photography info

Weight is super crucial when choosing a travel camera. All round, the Sony A900 gets a modest 54 as a travelling camera which is reasonably suitable to purchase for your holidays.

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weather sealing
great resolution (25 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly

Sony A900 as a Landscape photography camera

For anybody planning to pick a camera for landscape photography, the most essential aspect is going to be image quality. The Sony A900 and it's above average score of 72 for a landscape camera is a respectable fit within the current market.

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manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
great resolution (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
doesn't have liveview
missing Timelapse recording

Sony A900 as a Vlogging camera

A vlogging camera should really offer a articulating display screen, mic input and preferably IBIS. Considering all the details, the Sony A900 is just not suitable for vlogging as it gets a horrible score of 9.

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can't record video

Sony A900 Alternatives

If you need alternatives to the A900, below is a range of the top scored cameras which fall in to the class of Advanced DSLR.

The graph below provides you an overview of the A900 compared to it's highest rated competitors listed previously.

These are some more cameras you might check out as alternatives. To review a comprehensive comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

Photography Glossary

Specifications

General Information
Brand
Sony
Model
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Type
Advanced DSLR
Released
2008-10-22
Physical type
Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
Bionz
Sensor size
Full frame
Sensor measurements
35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area
861.6mm²
Sensor resolution
25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution
6048 x 4032
RAW pictures
Max native ISO
6400
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points
9
Lens
Lens mounting type
Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses
143
Crop factor
1
Screen
Type of display
Fixed Type
Display sizing
3"
Display resolution
922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech
TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.74x
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
79
DXO Color Depth score
23.7
DXO Dynamic range score
12.3
DXO Low light score
1431
Features
Min shutter speed
30s
Max shutter speed
1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate
5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
no built-in flash
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize
1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Max video resolution
None
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
895g (1.97 pounds)
Dimensions
156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
Other
Battery life
880 photographs
Battery style
Battery Pack
Battery model
NP-FM500H
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type
Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Card slots
2
Price at release
$2,736