http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/ Engadget Comments for 15.2 megapixel Sony Alpha A800 DSLR rumored http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 12:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 12:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 12:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 2:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 3:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/
Technology marches forward...

You will not notice the noise in the Sony Alpha Camera (A800) at higher ISO because of the CMOS Xmor-R censor. It removes the circuitry which in other sensors partially blocks the light from reaching the photo diodes.]]>Jan 22nd 2009 3:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 12:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 1:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 7:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 12:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 12:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 1:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 23rd 2009 6:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 12:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/
http://www.photoxels.com/tutorial_iso.html]]>Jan 22nd 2009 12:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 12:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 1:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/a dsc p73 (i think) wich wasn't waterproof (!) and i have a baby alpha (a200)
both are great
my alpha is very fast and is a huuuuuuge step up from my previous compact (samsung nv5 wich was shit).
i know a few people with sonys camera in fact, they work fine.]]>Jan 22nd 2009 1:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 1:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/ Sometimes I wonder how Sony's still camera division manages to make any money.

#3 in worldwide sales 2008. Not that they sell NEARLY as many as Canon or Nikon, but if you wonder about Sony, you've gotta absolutely marvel at Pentax, Olympus, Panasonic, etc etc etc... ;-)



> ... but I don't see any compelling reason for people with even a moderate investment
> in cannon or Nikon gear to make the leap

a900 - sharpest fullframe DSLR from *ANY* maker. Kills the best of Canon & Nikon, and the DR is as good or better. Oh... and it's LESS than half the price of the CaNikon models that are ALMOST as good...
24-70ZA - the best optics on a "standard zoom" from any maker.

Those, right there, make it the best fashion/portrait setup you can get below the medium-format level (and recently, several European portraitists got together and did a Mamiya/Hasselblad/Sony shoot-out... they admitted themselves fair shocked to discover that the Sony images were perfectly at home in that company (not "ok for a budget set-up" but on-par)).

I know of working Nikon pro's who've bought Sony, such as:
http://www.marlonrichardson.com/

Sure, the Sony only has half the FPS of the top CaNikon's. So the pro sports-shooters go that way, no quiestion. Similarly, those who NEED the best in low-light / high-ISO buy Nikon, no question.

But if resolution and dynamic range are your game... Sony's the top of the pack.


> (except for in camera stabilization perhaps...
> nah I like it in the lens).

Oh? You can buy a stabilized 50/1.4, 85/1.4, 135/1.8, or the like?
I can, for my Sony. Note the (many!) fast primes that AREN'T
stabilized from CaNikon... JUST when you'd most want stabilization!

Also note that even on the low-end Sonys, ALL lenses (even the low
end ones) are stabilized.

]]>Jan 23rd 2009 12:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 23rd 2009 7:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/
Let me expound a bit: First lets talk VR \ IS. I prefer on lens image stabilization because I find myself switching it on and off quite a bit and I like having an easy to get to dedicated switch as opposed to doing it in the menus (in fairness, I've never messed with VR on a Sony. Is it more economical to do it in camera? Yes. But I find it less convenient. I do have one lens that doesn't have it (my 50mm. 1.4) that I wish it did, so doing it in camera certainly has its merits.

A900 is sharper then the D3X? somehow I doubt it. Then again you could own a fleet of A900's for the same price, so maybe its not a fair comparison. Cannon's top end camera is several years old. I suspect when it gets an update it will be sharper than everything currently available (and they will all keep leapfrogging each other).

I'm not knocking Sony... They make great cameras. Its just that I don't ever see anybody shooting them. Then again, If I'm around other photographers, its usually at a red carpet or some such non-sense, which doesn't sound like its Sony's target market.

Note: I'm an amature, but I occationally haul equipment around for some Pro's... So I get lots of time to look at what \ how people are shooting.
]]>Jan 26th 2009 12:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Apr 14th 2009 5:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Sony is the best selling digital camera brand world wide and a brand familiar to many. So, they buy em and like em. Regular people in other countries are not so brand fanatical as the Nikon and Canon gangs in the U.S.]]>Feb 4th 2009 11:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 1:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/
Minolta "G" Series lenses run with the best of Canon/Nikon and their standard glass is very good as well. Third-party modern lense support is improving daily...Sony bought a very nice system when they picked up KM. I doubt they would be as successful if they hadn't...I'm just glad I have an upgrade path for my old glass. I will never sell my KM 5D or KM 7D bodies however...those are a piece of history as the final KM dSLR models.]]>Jan 22nd 2009 3:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 6:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 2:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/
/\ \/]]>Jan 22nd 2009 2:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/Jan 22nd 2009 3:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/
Sony Alpha DSLRs are #3 in most markets, #2 in some markets.

Is this a FULL FRAME sensor, or are they cramming more into an APS sensor?

.]]>Jan 22nd 2009 6:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/
this is the successor to the a700 after all]]>Jan 22nd 2009 7:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/
I just hope to god Canon brings some bloody glass :( Its getting embarassing at this point with Sony and Nikon, and even PENTAX coming out with a lot of good interesting glass and Canon seems to be very "staying the course"

I will say I was critical of Sony, but to be honest, they have more modern and up to date optics that can actually match the needs of these pixel-hungry sensors where many of Canon and Nikon's lenses CANT [I'm not saying they're bad, its just that as of RIGHT NOW, there ARE a lot of very dated designs in Canon and Nikon's portfolio that dont hold up well on digital according to many tests]

Back on topic, its sounds to be good, I hope that new sensor is all its cracked up to be!

I have considered getting a Sony for a second camera sometimes, Mainly because I'd honestly love that Carl Zeiss 135 f/1.8 lens....

But I'm still a Canon shooter, and I have faith that my faith WILL be rewarded [Eventually, I'm just hoping for a bunch of new lenses for us Canon folk, like an updated 50mm f/1.4, and maybe some more affordable IS telezooms, I'd love a competetor to Sony's 70-300 G....and the 100-400 could use an update to its IS system!]]]>Jan 22nd 2009 7:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/
No reply needed from Tyler (IMHO). He asked "why" would someone go Sony. I answered him.

If you read my answer, you'll note that a good many folks *WON'T* have any incentive to get any of the Sony models. I'm guessing he's one of the ones for whom Sony offers no compelling features. He prefers in-lens stabilization, for example; Sony's in-body approach doesn't appeal (to him). And that's fine. More really *good* dSLR-makers means more competition to provide us, the buyers, with more/better choices.

All of us win this way! No single maker has "the one, best, ultimate camera" for all subjects/situations. But, courtesy of the several makers and the different strategies they have for differentiating their gear, we have some amazing choices available to us!]]>Jan 24th 2009 2:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/
I wouldn't mind if it would become a full frame but that would be too good to become true...
]]>Jan 24th 2009 12:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/
All three brands are excellent cameras, and start at what might be called the Canon standard - an all around great camera. But the Nikon and Sony distinguish themselves as follows. The Nikon has the best high-ISO picture quality. They use Sony sensors, but seem to have an edge in signal processing, so if you do a lot of low-light, high-speed shooting, Nikon has an edge. The Sony has the best user interface, by far. Every control is right there on the surface of the camera (including a dedicated on/off switch for sensor stabilization, contrary to what was said in another post), in a very intuitive layout, with programmable settings buttons. The Canon's and Nikons, in my experience, require more menu hunting and would be more daunting to a person learning how to shoot with DSLRs. Sony has also partnered with Carl Zeiss, the legendary optics company, and offers some of the best quality lenses on the market. They don't yet have some of the specialized lenses (e.g., tilt-shift) that the other two offer, but unless one has very special technical demands, Sony's line covers everything a serious amateur is likely to want and then some. And they are quickly building out their lens line with new Zeiss designs.

I considered switching to Nikon due to the high-ISO noise advantage, but I don't do much high-ISO shooting, the difference isn't that great, anyway, and Sony has just announced a new sensor design that promises to reduce noise significantly. And they are obviously committed to challenging Canon and Nikon. It's hard to bet against Sony when they want to compete in a market. So I have stuck with my A700 and expect it will be the right bet.
]]>Jan 29th 2009 6:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://cameras.webhostingoverview.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/18.jpg]]>Feb 7th 2009 4:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/minolta 24mm f/2.8 prime AF
minolta 50mm f/1.7 prime AF
minolta 135mm f/2.8 prime (old mount MF)
minolta 35-70 f/4 ("small beercan") AF
minolta 75-300 macro
+ all the accessories

To dude complaining on stabilization in the menue
it is actually a dedicated switch on the body]]>Mar 1st 2009 1:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/
By the way, can anyone suggest me a resource to refer to in order to select the DSLR that best suit my needs? ]]>Mar 8th 2009 4:12AM