Sony DSLR-A900 with Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm f/2.8
Sony DSLR-A900 with Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm f/2.8
Image by Arkku
During a temporary(?) fit of insanity, I snatched up a Sony DSLR-A900 when I saw it available in Finland at a price close to the UK-only deals I’d been drooling over. I haven’t regretted the decision, and it seems to have been a very opportune moment—the camera disappeared from the online shop within hours of my order, and the shop informed me that it was because they had sold all they could get at that price.
For me the major advantage of this camera is finally being able to use my vintage lenses without a crop factor, i.e. on a sensor as large as the film frame the lenses were intended for. The only disadvantage is having to figure out what to do with my beloved Sigma 10-20mm lens, which doesn’t quite cover the full frame (although apparently the camera doesn’t force crop-mode with this lens). I may just sell it and get something like the upcoming Samyang 14mm f/2.8 instead.
(As a brief review: this camera is great. The viewfinder is the best I’ve seen, the ergonomics are excellent, and everything I need is included. A couple of additional, non-essential features that could have been easily implemented in software, e.g. mirror lock-up with the wireless remote, but overall the camera is very full-featured.)
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33 Comments
Why not just keep it and use it at 13mm and above? Or in crop mode?
Or, you could just sell it to me for $10. It’s a little overpriced, but I’ll help you out =)
The mount is not match…
Are you using a M42 adaptor?
See here about the lens (in short; it’s a C/Y mount lens that I first converted to Sony AF mount, then to M42 mount for additional versatility).
JSA2593: Well, I already have the 19mm Fujinon so it’s the shortest focal lengths that I end up missing, and even though it almost covers full frame from 14mm on, the edge quality is not very good at all. But, yes, I’ll have to consider all options… It would be useful to keep for travel with the A100, but I don’t think it will see much use on the A900.
Gratz on the A900!
congrates on the a900. where do u mount the bottom of the strap to? that looks like it would be a alot more comfortable way of holding carrying it around.
Jim U: To a Markins quick release plate (PG-33N in my case); it’s very convenient with strap holes, two-way design, and additional tripod threads on the bottom.
nice!
uhhh lucky! I can’t justify any of sony’s full-frames yet (which is probably good because i can’t afford one either) but I still get jealous whenever i see someone with one of those things! can’t wait to see some images from it
Wonderful….
Congrats Arkku, I just got one last month from Holland.
Excellent camera, I agree with you regarding the OVF. Every camera should have a viewfinder like the one in 900.
Looking forward to seeing new pics from you taken with this beast.
Congrats on great deal and new camera!
Does it have a built in intervalometer? It’s pretty much the only thing that’s annoyed me about the A700 so far.
congrats …..
-RobW-: No, it doesn’t have that. I’d forgotten about that feature (my DiMAGE A2 has one), but then again the cheap eBay intervalometer works well and doubles as a wired remote. (Still required because the wireless remote doesn’t do bulb or mirror lock-up, which is a bit annoying though not too serious.)
On the other hand, it’s still better than the A100 for macro and astro due to the “real” mirror lock-up mode (press once to take the mirror up, press again to take the picture), and built-in viewfinder cover. The 2 second mirror lock-up is also still there.
congrats, arkku.
what role do u imagine your
famous a100 will play now?
Ooh good job. I imagine you’re set for a very long time now. Jealous…
Sweet.
rise3high: I’ll keep the A100 as a smaller, lighter camera that can be taken along anywhere worry-free. And of course for testing various crazy DIY lens contraptions, etc.
Re: Temporary insanity. You are forgiven – lol-laughing out loud. Disregard comment if a duplication.
Thank You
http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Sony_Alpha_DSLR-A900
Ohh, I had this one in my hands a couple of times and I LOVE IT! … congratulations. You sure won´t regret it
Ehm.
Sydämelliset onnittelut!
I hope that was not so bad finnish
I would like to add you to my contacts as I also like to experiment with mount-conversions for my Konica Minolta 5D and I think you are a fine guy
hahaha.
What is computer science? Somethink like informatics? I want to study it too
…but next year, after my graduation…
Haleja pohjoisesta!
bye
Erwin K.
Erwin K.: I haven’t regretted getting the A900 (or doing the various mount conversions, many of which really go better together with full frame anyhow). And by all means feel free to add me to your contacts if you wish to follow my experiments… =)
Computer science is pretty much like “informatics”, i.e. theoretical study of information processing and computation. Except here in Finland it includes a fair amount of software engineering as well.
Cheers,
-K
buena cámara ,detalle estupendo
Congrats man!
That is the finest kind of insanity there is. I wish I could suffer it someday too ; )
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called Lens Porn, and we’d love to have this added to the group!
Fullframe is fun, isn’t it?
Yes! Especially for use with vintage lenses; full intended field of view but with all the digital benefits (free “film”, image stabilisation, instant preview). =)
.. variable white balance and sensitivity, histogram view…
…ah, WB, the kind of things that now one just gives for granted but then I remember the different films for different bulbs and all the Y2 and Blue 80A filters that I have buried somewhere in my closet.
And.. Congratulations!!!
I too, at least stepped from the a100 to the a700 this past month..finally. Someday I may think about going full frame, only for the joy of the old lenses intended FoV as you mention.
BTW: Your work is inspiring. Is it that hard to convert C/Y lenses? I mey get ahold of a couple in a near future.
Fernando Meza: No, it’s not hard to convert C/Y lenses, at least the MM versions. The steps are detailed here.
nice shot, thats a beautiful camera indeed!
a900 has the most real man look design of all alphas.
)
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