Sony A900 VS Nikon D700
Sony A900 boasts the biggest megapixel so far in digital slr, which is 24megapixel. Nikon D700 will be the other main rival for the Sony A900, as both bodies are priced at roughly the same point (US$3K). So would you rather buy a 12MP Nikon D700 or 24MP Sony A900? Here is a table of the two cameras’ specifications.
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Nikon D700 Sony A900 |
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Announced |
2008-07-01 |
2008-09-09 |
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Dimensions |
147×123x77 mm |
156×117x82 mm |
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Weight |
995 grams |
850 (without batteries), 895 grams |
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Viewfinder |
Reflecting (TTL) |
Reflecting (TTL) |
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Image Stabilizer |
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optical, |
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Resolution |
12.87 Megapixels |
25.7 Megapixels |
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Sensor Size |
35 mm (36 x 24 mm) |
35 mm (36 x 24 mm) |
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Color Depth |
42 |
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ISO Min |
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100 |
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ISO Max |
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6400 |
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Min Shutter |
1/8000 s |
s |
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Max Shutter |
30 s |
s |
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Photo Max Size |
4256×2832 |
6048×4032 |
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Record Sound |
No |
No |
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Record Video |
No |
No |
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Manual Focus |
Yes |
Yes |
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Exposure Compensation |
+/- 5 EV with step 1/3 |
+/- 3 EV with step 1/3 |
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White Balance |
auto, manual, from the list, |
auto, manual, from the list, |
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Flash |
Internal, Red-Eye Reduction, Hot Shoe, synchrocontact, i-TTL |
Internal, Red-Eye Reduction, Hot Shoe, synchrocontact, ADI-TTL |
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Image Formats |
3 JPEG, RAW |
3 JPEG, RAW |
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Interfaces |
USB 2.0, video, HDMI, |
USB 2.0, video, HD-video, HDMI, |
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Memory type |
CompactFlash, CompactFlash Type II |
CompactFlash, CompactFlash Type II, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo |
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In the Box |
Accum EN-EL3e, Battery charger MH-18a, USB cable UC-E4, videocable EG-D100, AN-D700, BF-1A, Hot Shoe BS-1, BM-9, -CD-Disk |
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Just mentioned before, the biggest advantages of Song A900 is high 24.6 Megapixels, double the Nikon’s D700. But 24 megapixel seems like a little bit excessive for casual picture taking and it took out storage spaces. They also share same features including: full-frame sensors, 5fps continuous shooting, 3in VGA screens and HDMI outputs.
Nikon D700 has a much higher maximum sensitivity of 25,600 ISO, but the maximum ISO Sony A900 can handle is 6400 which is worse than Nikon D700. Nikon D700 has 51 points auto focus system with 15 high sensitive points and Sony has only 9 dual cross type (highly sensitive) AF points. Without them, Nikon D700 also features Live View capabilities, a popup flash which can be used as a controller, on-demand grid lines in the viewfinder, in-camera vignette and chromatic aberration correction, a shutter block rated for 50% more cycles, a virtual horizon facility and a more detailed upper information screen; there’s also an optional Wifi accessory.
Sony A900 has advantages on the huge image resolution, built-in body stabilization that made all of the Sony lenses or compatible lenses gain image stabilization 2-4 stops, a 100% viewfinder (which Nikon D700 features 95%).
Well, I guess if resolution is your only factor, then by all means go for the A900. Of course, if you have lots of Nikon lenses, the choice is clear (or wait for D3x, D800, etc, to come out). But for others without legacy considerations, the A900 seems to offer unbeatable value (less than half the 1DsMkIII) with more resolution than you will need for a long, long time… with awesome Zeiss lenses as bonus.
