Verdict

It should come as no surprise that the A900 is a solidly built DSLR, capable of producing highly detailed images. From a practical consideration, its resolution and the Carl Zeiss optics currently available make it a perfect match for landscape and studio photographers, as well as anyone else needing high-resolution files. With its full-frame sensor, those still holding on to their Minolta lenses will also regain their wide angles. Hats off to Sony for the grip and flash options it provides for use with the model, too. These really go above and beyond the norm, and if they are indicative of how committed Sony remains for the professional then we can?t wait to see what comes next. But just as it?s clear what applications the A900 does suit, we?d be more hesitant to recommend it for anything that requires shooting at high sensitivities. With such a populated sensor we see a slight disadvantage when it comes to controlling noise, and this, together with its resolution, narrows the market for whom the A900 would be the ideal camera. We make this point not to demean the camera?s performance, but more to highlight how better suited it is to certain applications than others.

Yet despite this, we do admire what Sony has done with the A900. It blends a capable feature set with highly detailed images, adding a further dimension to the full-frame DSLR market.