My first proper evening with the A900

And now, for my first proper shots from the Sony Alpha 900! All EXIF data is included.


Minolta 70-210mm F4 beercan at 210mm F8. I always shoot plants with Daylight WB to give the green its color. DRO Level 3 helped, too.


Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 EX at 17mm F2.8. Note how shallow the depth of field is… even my watch is out-of-focus. I love the natural light fall-off at the edges, and I waited for the sunlight to hit my hands to pull extra attention to it.


Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 EX at 17mm F16. This is with DRO Level 3. Hmm wait what’s that on the second floor?


Right, it’s a person.


Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 EX at 17mm F2.8. This is with DRO Level 5. Did I mention that I love the light fall-off?


Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 EX at 17mm F2.8. This is with DRO Level 5.


Minolta 70-210mm F4 beercan at 210mm F4. This is a 50% crop! Despite the A900 having only a 10.58 megapixel APS-C crop mode, it is actually advantageous when tracking – the AF assist sensors spread around do a much better job than the center double-cross AF sensor of the A700 (which packed 12.2 megapixels in APS-C) or the A350 (which packed 14.2 megapixels in APS-C). Also, the AF sensors of the A900 are only in the APS-C area, so you know if your subject is off the frame. Being able to see outside your APS-C area, when APS-C capture mode is selected, is very useful for fast-flying birds.


Minolta 70-210mm F4 beercan at 210mm F4. This is a 100% crop.


Minolta 70-210mm F4 beercan at 210mm F4. This is in APS-C capture mode.


Minolta 70-210mm F4 beercan at 130mm F4. This is in APS-C capture mode, regrettably; if I had quickly switched back to full-frame capture mode, I could zoom in at 210mm and get a shallower depth of field. But I still like this picture, the car was glowing and begging me to take its picture! DRO Level 3 boosted the background.

On the LRT, I tweaked my Creative Style: Vivid to -3 Contrast, -3 Saturation, +3 Sharpness, -2 Brightness and -1 Zone. This gave a muted look to the pictures that will follow (but they also decrease noise dramatically.)


Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 EX at 35mm F4. My friend asked if I was afraid to whip out my camera – I said no, knowing the location and the conditions. In this case I wasn’t brandishing a battery grip (though I wish my Minolta 50mm F1.4 was on, for ultimate stealth.)

Oh, and what’s he going to do, get up? That would’ve made a more interesting picture…


Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 EX at 17mm F3.2, cropped. Later at Tarita Low Yat, a photographer (who has a food book coming up with pictures from his A350!) checks out the A900 + F58 + battery package. I gave him a few pointers but I had to go so I didn’t see the deal through. 🙁

Yes, that’s the kit lens on it. Told him how to bypass auto-APS-C mode, too!


Minolta 50mm F1.4 at 50mm F1.4, ISO1600, WB set at 3200K M4. Gotta love how F1.4 throws everything else into defocus. That’s a wonderful camera by the way, the Canon Ixus 870 IS… 28mm wide and pretty darn good macro! Of course, the Panasonic LX-3 was all sold out…


Minolta 50mm F1.4 at 50mm F1.4, ISO1600, WB set at 3200K M4. This alone granted the setting memory slot #2!

This is what I’ve been looking for all this while – INSPIRATION! And the A900 renewed it. If the solid rubber grip, 100% bright viewfinder and pump-action shotgun mirror slap don’t inspire you to shoot some magical pictures, I don’t know what will.

6 thoughts on “My first proper evening with the A900

  1. povege Post author

    AAAAAaaaHHHHhhh… I love your camera!

    Even if I’m not a pro nor am I into photography but I totally LOVE the pictures taken with your new A900!

    Reply
  2. JL(65) Post author

    Ahhhh…I’m so so tempted now.
    Did you have to pay exactly it’s suggested retail price of RM9999.99 for it or you somehow gotten a discount even with the F58 + battery set?

    Reply
  3. Albert Ng Post author

    KJ: Yeah maaan!

    povege: Indeed, I love it too! And yes, I feel an immense inspiration!

    JL(65): You can get street prices of about RM8800 or less with the F58 and battery package but only while stocks last.

    Reply

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