EXCERPT page containing first few paragraphs. 2024-04-23 16:30:38
UA_SEARCH_BOT_compatible_botmozilla/5.0 applewebkit/537.36 (khtml, like gecko; compatible; claudebot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com) @ 3.141.41.187
For full access, subscribe here. Or click title to login. 
Ergonomics
Useless invention of the year: a little plastic cover for the hot shoe, visible in the picture at top. I’ll lose it the first time I shoot with a flash. If Sony really thinks this is useful, a 12-pack of them should be included with the camera!
In the hands
The first thing I noticed about the A900 was how compact and lightweight it felt, as compared with the Nikon D3 and Canon 1Ds Mark III, roughly comparable in size to the Canon EOS 5D. Now that I could get used to! It feels nicely balanced even with the large 135mm f/1.8 lens mounted, though that combination is front-heavy when mounted on the tripod.
I was not able to easily attain the same 4-point “jam” shooting style I use for sharp pictures handheld. This is simply a function of the A900’s body being to short (height) to wedge into position with hands/head/shoulder. All smaller cameras have the issue, so this should not be taken as a criticism, but just a fact of linear measurements.
Article continues for subscribers...
Diglloyd Advanced DSLR is by yearly subscription. Subscribe now for about 16 cents a day ($60/year).
BEST DEAL: get full access to ALL 8 PUBLICATIONS for about 75 cents a day!
Diglloyd DAP is DSLR-oriented, but also contains workflow and other topics. Much of the focus is on Canon and Nikon but also Pentax and Pentax medium format.
Special emphasis is placed on lens evaluation, focusing on Canon and Nikon and Sigma lenses, but with a few others like Rokinon/Samyang.
- Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away.
- Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly some of the new Sigma Art lenses vs Nikon and Canon.
- Workflow discusses image organization, raw conversion and post processing. Many examples show processing parameters for direct insight into how the image was converted.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops [past 2 years or so].
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt as well as extensive blog coverage, for example on Nikon or on Canon or on Pentax.
