Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

Review based on a production Alpha DSLR-A900

In the cut-throat digital camera market it's increasingly unusual for products to be shown in prototype form or announced more than a matter of weeks before they hit the stores. There's several reasons for the manufacturers' habit of playing their cards so close to their chests, not least that they can't afford to harm sales of the models they've already released. Sony, the newest 'new kid' on the DLSR block, has no such worries, this being its first proper 'high end' DSLR. In fact, if anything the pressure was on the company to show it was committed to becoming a major SLR system player and that it wasn't going to squander Minolta's long legacy in this market after picking up the assets Konica Minolta shed when it pulled out of the photography market. Thus we saw the first prototype of the Alpha 900 - Sony's flagship full frame digital SLR - back in early 2007 (it appeared behind glass at trade shows such as PMA in March 07), and information has been trickling out ever since; most significantly with the announcement in January of this year of a 35mm full frame CMOS sensor.

And so when Sony finally showed the finished Alpha 900 to us back in the late summer there were few surprises at the basic specification or the appearance of the camera. As we started to dig a little deeper, pore over the fine print and actually use the Alpha 900 we were, however, increasingly surprised - and almost always pleasantly so - at some of the decisions made by Sony's engineers when designing its flagship SLR.

The success of the Alpha 900 amongst the Minolta, Konica Minolta and Sony faithful seems assured; at a launch price of just shy of $3000 it offers a lot of 'bang for your buck' and there is undoubtedly a significant number of Minolta film SLR users who've been waiting years for a full frame digital body on which to use their existing lenses. The challenge for Sony, however, is to generate some interest from people without an existing investment in the Minolta (or subsequent Alpha) system. And on paper the Alpha 900 looks promising - and we're already impressed with the build, handling and viewfinder, so let's find out how well the latest addition to the small but growing 'full frame club' performs.

Key features

• 24.6 MP 35mm format full-frame CMOS sensor (highest res in class)
• SteadyShot INSIDE full frame image sensor shift stabilization (world first)
• High Speed Dual Bionz processors
• Eye-level glass Penta-prism OVF, 100% coverage, 0.74x magnification
• 9 point AF with 10 assist points, center dual-cross AF w/2.8 sensor
• 5 frames per second burst, newly developed mirror box
• Intelligent Preview Function
• 3 User programmable custom memory modes on mode dial
• Advanced Dynamic Range Optimizer (5 step selectable)
• 40 segment honeycomb metering
• 3.0" 921K pixel Photo Quality (270 dpi) LCD display, 100% coverage
• Direct HDMI output
• ISO 200-3200 (ISO 100-6400 expanded range)
• User interchangeable focusing screens (3 options)
• CF Type I/II and MS slots, LI-ION battery, STAMINA 880 shots
• Weight 850g (without battery, card, accs)
• New Image Data Converter SR software (includes vignetting control)
• New Vertical Grip
• Supplied with wireless remote control
• Magnesium Alloy body and rubber seals for dust and moisture resistance
• AF micro adjustment
• $2999.99 body price; available late October 2008

Compared to Alpha 700 - key differences

As someone who has used the Alpha 700 extensively I was immediately struck by just how similar its new big brother is; the basic design and layout is almost identical, as are the user interface and the core feature set. Unlike Canon and Nikon, who tend to add further differentiation to their professional products with swathes of extra features and (especially) custom function options, Sony has gone for almost total consistency between the A700 and A900.

Obviously there are some pretty significant differences both physically and functionally (some of which are upgrades we'd expect to see in the Alpha 700's eventual replacement); aside from the obvious (sensor size/resolution) the key changes are:

• Dual Bionz processors (A700 only has one)
• Three custom modes on mode dial in place of A700's scene modes
• All magnesium alloy construction
• New 9 point AF with 10 assist points for Wide AF mode
• 100% viewfinder coverage (A700 is 95%)
• Improved noise reduction options (including 'off')
• Improved D-Range Optimizer auto function
• No grip sensor or built-in flash
• Top LCD info panel
• Intelligent Preview Mode
• Increased pixel pitch due to improvements in sensor design

	Sony Alpha A900	Sony Alpha A700
Body material	• Magnesium Alloy Chassis and exterior • Environmental seals	• Aluminum chassis • Magnesium Alloy body shell • high grade plastic exterior • Environmental seals
Sensor	• 35.9 x 24.0 mm CMOS sensor 'Exmor' • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in fixed low-pass filter • 25.7 million total pixels • 24.6 million effective pixels • On-chip Column A/D Conversion & NR	• 23.5 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor 'Exmor' • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in fixed low-pass filter • 13.05 million total pixels • 12.25 million effective pixels • On-chip Column A/D Conversion & NR
Processor	Dual Bionz	Bionz
Crop Factor	1x	1.5x
Image sizes (3:2)	• 6048 x 4032 (24M 3:2) • 4400 x 2936 (13M 3:2) • 3024 x 2016 (6.1M 3:2) • 3924 x 2656 (11M APSC) • 2896 x 1928 (5.6M APSC) • 1984 x 1320 (2.6M APSC)	• 4288 x 2856 (L RAW) • 4272 x 2848 (L) • 3104 x 2064 (M) • 2128 x 1424 (S)
Auto Focus	• TTL CCD line sensors (9-points, center dual cross types + 10 assist sensors)	• TTL CCD line sensors (11-points, 10 lines with center dual cross sensor)
Custom modes	Three	Three
Bracketing	• Single or continuous bracketing • 3 or 5 frames • 0.3, 0.5 , 0.7 or 2.0 EV steps (2.0 EV steps for 3 exposures only)	• Single or continuous bracketing • 3 or 5 frames • 0.3, 0.5 or 0.7 EV steps
Continuous	• H: Approx 5fps max • L: Approx 3fps max • RAW: Up to 12 frames • cRAW (compressed): Up to 25 frames • RAW+JPEG: Up to 10 frames • JPEG (XFINE): Up to 11 frames • JPEG (STD/FINE): 285/105	• H: Approx 5fps max • L: Approx 3fps max • RAW: Up to 18 frames • cRAW (compressed): Up to 25 frames • RAW+JPEG: Up to 12 frames • JPEG (XFINE): Up to 16 frames • JPEG (STD/FINE): Unlimited (to card capacity)
Viewfinder	• Optical glass pentaprism • Spherical Acute Matte focusing screen (interchangeable) • Frame coverage approx 100% • Magnification approx. 0.74x • Eye-relief 20 mm from eyepiece, 21 mm from frame • Eyepiece shutter	• Optical glass pentaprism • Spherical Acute Matte focusing screen (interchangeable) • Frame coverage approx 95% • Magnification approx. 0.9x • Eye-relief 25 mm from eyepiece, 21 mm from frame
Vertical Grip	Optional vertical Grip VG-C90AM	Optional vertical Grip VG-C70AM
Dimensions	156 x 117 x 82 mm	141.7 x 104.8 x 79.7 mm
Weight	• No battery: 850 g • With battery: 895 g	• No battery: 690 g • With battery: 768 g
Other	• Intelligent Preview mode • New raw converter software • AF Micro Adjustment • Top LCD panel	• Grip sensor • Built in flash • Scene modes

Nikon D700

Review based on a production Nikon D700

The introduction of Nikon's new D700 may have been one of the worst kept secrets in an industry with more leaks than the Titanic, but it was still something of a surprise coming so hot on the heels of the D3 and D300. Essentially a D3 shrunk down and squeezed into a body roughly the same size as a D300, the D700 is Nikon's first 'compact' professional SLR, and in its segment of the market will compete with the recently announced Canon EOS 5D Mark II and Sony DSLR-A900.

The imaging side of the D700 is pretty much the same as the D3; it shares the acclaimed 12.1MP full frame ('FX') sensor and has the same processing engine, so we would presume output to be almost identical. The main differences (aside from being considerably smaller) are physical; there's a different shutter (good for 150,000 exposures rather than 300,000 on the D3), different viewfinder prism (with 95% coverage) and a slower burst rate. You also lose the rear LCD info panel (there's no room for it) and one of the D3's two CF card slots, but you do get a couple of extra features to soften the blow slightly; most notably a self-cleaning sensor and a built-in flash. We'll look a little more in-depth at the differences between the D3 and D700 in a moment.

The D700 joins the D3 as a fully-fledged 'professional' model; it has the same tank-like build quality (though we're sure the pop-up flash will cause a few raised eyebrows), and gets you the full pro service from Nikon. And the pricing (around $2999) reflects this; anyone hoping for an 'affordable' semi-pro full frame Nikon SLR will have to wait until the cost of producing such large sensors falls considerably.

Nikon D700 Key Features

• 12.1 megapixel full-frame sensor (8.45µm pixel pitch)
• Image Sensor Cleaning (vibration) *
• ISO 200 - 6400 (with boost up to ISO 25600 and down to ISO 100)
• Also supports DX lenses, viewfinder automatically masks (5.1 megapixels with DX lens)
• 14-bit A/D conversion, 12 channel readout
• Same ultra-fast startup and shutter lag as D3
• Nikon EXPEED image processor (Capture NX processing and NR algorithms, lower power)
• New Kevlar / carbon fibre composite shutter with 150,000 exposure durability *
• Multi-CAM3500FX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
• Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor)
• 95% coverage, 0.72x magnification viewfinder *
• Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning), fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings
• Scene Recognition System (uses AE sensor, AF sensor)
• Picture Control image parameter presets
• 5 frames per second continuous with auto-focus tracking*
• Optional MB-D10 Battery Pack (same as D300), increases burst rate to 8 fps *
• UDMA compatible single CF card slot *
• 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor
• Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast detect Auto Focus
• Virtual horizon indicates if camera is level (like an aircraft cockpit display)
• HDMI HD video output
• 'Active D-Lighting' (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve)
• Detailed 'Control Panel' type display on LCD monitor, changes color in darkness
• Magnesium alloy body with connections and buttons sealed against moisture
• Improved Info display on main screen *

* Different to D3

Nikon D700 vs D3: Key Differences

Although the D3 and D700 are essentially the same camera in a different form factor (the D700 being far closer to the D300 in design and control layout), there are a few important specification differences.

• Smaller, lighter body *
• Built-in iTTL flash (G.No 17 / ISO 200)
• No rear information panel (new info display on main LCD)
• D700 doesn't have the D3's 5:4 aspect ratio option
• 95% coverage, 0.72x viewfinder (D3: 100% / 0.7x)
• Focus screen DX mode now indicated with a rectangle rather than shaded area
• Lower burst rate (5.0 fps / 8.0 fps with optional MB-D10)
• 100 frames maximum in continuous shooting mode
• Smaller battery (EN-EL3e)
• Optional battery grip (MB-D10, same as D300)
• Expanded Function button options (can assign any camera menu item)
• Live View can be assigned to FUNC, AE-L or Preview buttons (allowing LV + different drive modes)
• Virtual Horizon can be overlaid on Live View preview image
• Different shutter (150,000 cycle rating - same as D300)
• Image Sensor cleaning ('sensor shake' dust reduction)
• Single CF slot (D3 has two)
• Minor menu and control differences (control layout is almost identical to D300)

* D700 is approx 34mm (1.3 in) shorter, 13mm (0.5 in) narrower and 10mm (0.4 in) shallower.
Weight (no battery) : D3 - 1240g, D700 - 995g

The D700 in the Nikon line-up

The table below shows how the D700 squeezes into the Nikon DSLR line-up, between the APS-C D300 and the full-frame D3.

	Nikon D300	Nikon D700	Nikon D3
Price (body only)	$1800 [check]	$2999[check]	$5000 [check]
Dust removal	• Self-cleaning filter • Dust-off image	• Self-cleaning filter • Dust-off image	• Dust-off image
Sensor size	23.6 x 15.8 mm	36 x 23.9 mm	36 x 23.9 mm
Effective pixels	12.3 million	12.1 million	12.1 million
FOV crop	1.5x	1x	1x
Sensitivity range (boost setting)	(100), 200 - 3200, (6400)	(100), 200 - 6400, (25,600)	(100), 200 - 6400, (25,600)
Shutter life	150,000 exposures	150,000 exposures	300,000 exposures
Continuous rate (high)	6.0 fps (8.0 fps with battery grip)	5.0 fps (8.0 fps with battery grip)	9.0 fps (11 fps in DX crop mode)
Continuous buffer	• 100 JPEG Norm • 17 RAW	• 100 JPEG Norm • 17 RAW	• 130 JPEG Norm • 17 RAW
Built-in flash	• Manual pop-up • Guide no. 12 (ISO 100)	• Manual pop-up • Guide no. 12 (ISO 100)	None
Storage	CF (inc. UDMA)	CF (inc. UDMA)	CF (inc. UDMA) x2 slots
Viewfinder	• 100% coverage • 0.94x magnification	• 95% coverage • 0.72x magnification	• 100% coverage • 0.7x magnification
Top panel LCD	Yes	Yes	Yes (plus rear info panel below screen)
Battery	11.1 Wh	11.1 Wh	27.75 Wh
Vertical grip	Yes, MB-D10	Yes, MB-D10	Built in
Dimensions	147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in)	147 x 123 x 77 mm (5.8 x 4.8 x 3.0 in)	160 x 157 x 88 mm (6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in)
Weight (no batt)	825 g	995 g	1240 g
Weight (inc batt)	903 g	1075 g	1420 g

Technology under the skin

FX format sensor (Nikon design)	Sensor and sensor cleaning module
RGB 1005 segment metering sensor	EXPEED processor
Weather sealing on the D700 body

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Panasonic's LX series has always been home to the company's most ambitious compacts, offering a range of photographer-friendly features in a small, stylish and solid body festooned with external controls. It's been two years since the launch of the LX2 and the market has changed a lot in that time - the level of features offered even on inexpensive models has grown and the cost of all cameras, particularly DSLRs, has fallen drastically. Both of these trends risk reducing the potential market for premium compacts if their features are available on cheaper compacts, and much better photographic tools (in terms of flexibility of purpose and image quality) are available for only a little more money. So the LX3, more than its predecessors, has to play to its strengths - it needs to offer some of the best compact camera image quality, a good degree of user control and a body that is more convenient and pocketable than DSLRs can be.

And Panasonic seems fully aware of these challenges. When announcing the camera, the company pointed out that more pixels on the same sized sensor does not always result in better image quality and described its approach with the LX3 as: "boldly reversing the industry trend of pushing toward ever-higher pixel counts." It's an admirable position (though one that would be easier to acclaim if the company hadn't, on the same day, released one of the most pixel-dense cameras we've ever seen), and one that seems promising - the benefits of newer sensor and processing technology without those advances being strangled by the downsides of smaller pixels. (And we believe that if you offer more pixels with the hard drive clutter and slower camera operation they bring, then those pixels must be good at the pixel level, otherwise, what benefits do those additional pixels bring?)

Headline features

• 24mm wide 2.5x optical LEICA DC lens
• F2.0-2.8 maximum aperture range
• MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer)
• Venus Engine IV
• Joystick-operated manual control
• Large 3.0” 460k dot LCD monitor
• Raw and JPEG recording modes
• Up to ISO 3200 sensitivity
• Up to 1280x720 (30 fps) pixel movie capture
• Manual exposure and focus options
• 1/2000th to 60 sec shutter speeds
• Available in black or silver

LX3 vs LX2: main differences

Although the outward appearance hasn't changed that dramatically, the LX2 and LX3 are very different creatures. The the easiest thing to miss about the LX3 is its lens - a part of the specification sheet that is sometimes easy to overlook as a string of numbers. With the LX3 it's really worth spending a moment thinking about it: starting at 24mm equivalent is pretty unusual in a compact camera. Offering an aperture range of F2.0-2.8 is extraordinary. But to combine the two and include Image Stabilization is simply astonishing - this is not an everyday lens and it's something that defines how the camera behaves and what it can be used for.

To put that aperture range in perspective, this means it's one 'stop' faster (brighter) at the wide end and over 1.5 brighter at the long end than the F2.8-4.9 lens fitted to its predecessor. And this means that you can get the same exposure using the same shutter speed but using a lower ISO setting than with the older camera.

Beyond that, there the new, higher-resolution rear screen that conforms to the more traditional 3:2 aspect ratio, rather than its forebear's 16:9 unit.

The other differences are:

• Similar pixel count sensor (10.1 vs 10.0 MP)
• Venus Engine VI (vs Venus Engine III)
• 3:2 aspect ratio 3-inch screen (was 2.8-inch 16:9)
• Flash hot-shoe
• Threaded lens barrel for adding optional conversion lenses or filters
• USB 2.0 Hi Speed interface (at last!)
• More internal memory (50 MB)
• 720p HD movie mode now at 30fps
• Closer minimum focusing distance: 1cm, rather than 5cm
• Faster continuous shooting (2.5fps for 8 frames, cf. 2fps for 5 frames)
• Separate component video out (for HD playback)
• Improved battery life
• Minor control and interface changes

Multi-aspect ratio

4:3	3:2	16:9

The LX3 does away with its predecessor's unusual 16:9 aspect ratio sensor, instead using a more conventional 3:2 sensor but then using only a crop from it, depending on aspect ratio. The key thing is that the LX3 even uses a crop from the sensor at 4:3 ratio, rather than using the entire sensor. Although this may seem perverse, the result is that the lens offers the same diagonal angle of view regardless of selected aspect ratio, making it much easier to get a feel for the behaviour of the lens. It also means you make the most of the sensor's area, getting similar pixel counts in all modes.

	The image on the left shows the result of shooting the same scene at the same zoom setting using the LX3's different aspect ratios. Unlike any other camera we can think of, all three shots end up with the same angle of view.

DMC-LX3 specifications

List price (EU)	• UK £399.99 • US $499.95
Sensor	• 1/1.63" sensor • 11.3 million total pixels CCD • 10.1 million effective pixels • Primary Color Filter
Image stabilization	• Lens-shift • MEGA O.I.S. (Auto/Mode1/ Mode2)
Image sizes	4:3 Aspect Ratio: • 3648x 2736 pixels • 3072 x 2304 pixels • 2560 x 1920 pixels • 2048 x 1536 pixels • 1600 x 1200 pixels • 640 x 480 pixels • 3:2 Aspect Ratio: • 3776 x 2520 pixels • 3168 x 2112 pixels • 2656 x 1768 pixels • 2112 x 1408pixels • 2048 x 1360 pixels • 16:9 Aspect Ratio: • 3968 x 2232 pixels • 3328 x 1872 pixels • 2784 x 1568 pixels • 2208 x 1248 pixels • 1920 x 1080
Movie mode	• QuickTime Motion JPEG • 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 640 x 480 pixels 30 fps or • 320 x 240 pixels 30 fps/10 fps • 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 848 x 480 pixels 30 fps • HD（16:9 Aspect Ratio）: 1280x720 pixels 24fps"
Output formats	• JPEG ( Exif 2.21 standard) • RAW
Image processor	Venus Engine IV
Lens	• 2.5x zoom • f=5.1-12.8mm (35mm Equiv.: 24-60mm) • F2.0 - F2.8 • LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON • 8 elements in 6 groups • 4 Aspherical Lenses / 4 Aspherical surfaces)
Focus modes	• Normal • Macro • Quick AF • Continuous AF • Manual Focus (Joystick) • One Shot AF • AF Area Select • AF Tracking
AF assist lamp	Yes
Shooting modes	• Intelligent AUTO • P(Program) mode • A(AperturePriority) mode • S(Shutter Priority) mode • M(Manual) mode • Motion Picture • Custom1 • Custom2 • Scene mode
Scene modes	• Portrait • Soft Skin • Self-Portrait • Scenery • Sports • Night Portrait • Night Scenery • Food, Party • Candle Light • Baby1 • Baby2 • Pet • Sunset • High sensitivity • Starry Sky • Fireworks • Beach • Snow • Aerial photo • Hi-Speed Burst • Flash-Burst • Film Grain • Pin Hole
Metering	• Intelligent Multiple • Center Weighted • Spot
AE Bracketing	+/- 0.3/0.5 EV
Exposure compen.	• +/-2 EV • 0.3 EV increments
Sensitivity	• Auto • 80 • 100 • 200 • 400 • 800 • 1600 • 3200 • High Sensitivity Mode : Auto(1600 - 6400)
Shutter speed	• P: 1-1/2000sec (Selectable minimum shutter speed) • A/S: 8-1/2000sec • M: 60-1/2000sec • Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60sec.
Aperture values	• Wide: F2.0 - F8.0 Tele: F2.8 - F8
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Shade • Flash • Halogen • Color Temperature • White Set 1 • White Set 2 • White Balance Adjustment
Drive modes	• Single • Continuous
Burst speed	• 2.5 frames/sec Max. 8 images (Standard), Max 4 images (Fine), Max 3images (RAW) • High-speed Burst Mode: approx. 6 frames/sec (recorded in 3M for 4:3, 2.5M for 3:2, 2M for 16:9)
Self-timer	10 sec. / 2 sec.
LCD monitor	• 3.0", 3:2 Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display • 460K dots • Field of View : approx. 100% • AUTO Power LCD mode
Viewfinder	Optional
Flash	• Auto • Auto/Red-eye Reduction • Forced On • Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction • Forced Off • Flash Synchro 1st / 2nd • Flash output Adjustment (1/3EV step, -2 - +2 EV) • Hotshoe
FLash coverage	0.8 - 8.3m (Wide/Macro/ISO Auto), 0.3 - 5.9m (Tele/ISO Auto)
Connectivity	• DC Input • AV Output (NTSC/PAL) • HD AV Output (Component) • USB2.0 High speed
Storage	• SD Memory Card • SDHC Memory Card • MultiMediaCard (Still image only) • Internal Memory (approx. 50 MB)
Power	• Li-ion Battery Pack (3.7V, 1150mAh) • Battery life: 380 pictures (CIPA standard) • AC Adaptor (Input: 110-240V AC) (Optional)
Dimensions	108.7 x 59.5 x 27.1 mm
Weight (with battery)	Approx. 265 g