Comments on: Sony Alpha 900: First analysis

By: Roumazeilles Yves

Roumazeilles Yves — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:09:53 +0000

Ekovalsky, I like your evaluation of the image of the LiveView. The fact that the pentaprism will be very difficult to handle in order to get the same results as for the A300/350 is also a good argument.

Maybe I shot too quickly on this one.

By: ekovalsky

ekovalsky — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:31:53 +0000

Two observations:

I would think the “little flower” button is a backlight for the top LCD, based on the symbol and its location.

Also, I’m not convinced the A900 will have live view. I see basically no difference from the A700, with the same fixed 3″ primary LCD and absent live view switch. The live view diagram sure looks like it was part of the A300/350 exhibit — showing a pentamirror with one tilting mirror moving the viewfinder image onto a secondary sensor for contrast-AF. And the shape of the finder roof — sloping up towards the eyepiece and with a flash shoe — is consistent with the A300/350 also.

It would be great if Sony has figured out a way to implement their very good live view system with an uncompromised pentaprism finder, but seems unlikely. Perhaps it will have live view like some of the Canon cameras, with phase-AF done off the main sensor and enabled via the menu controls or custom function…

I look forward to the final product. With or without live view, this should be an amazing camera particularly if it comes under well below the price of the D3 as rumored.

By: Yves Roumazeilles

Yves Roumazeilles — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 06:18:37 +0000

Two possible explanations I was given for the “little flower” button on top of the camera:

+ This is the control to switch on/off the top LCD. The location is right, but I would not add such a switch on the camera.

+ this is the control switch for LiveView. Looks a little more credible.

Both are credible, but the “little flower” does not look right for the LiveView switch.