You might remember we posted about the Sony A900 specifications just a few days before it was released, it had been rumoured for a while but when it came out with such competitive pricing everyone was shocked!

As a first competitor to the Nikon D700, the Canon 5DMKII and the highest resolution FF cam before this the Canon 1Ds MKIII

The full frame market is certainly heating up!

Features

• 24.6 MP 35mm format full-frame CMOS sensor (highest res in class)
• SteadyShot INSIDE full frame image sensor shift stabilization (world first)
• High Speed Dual Bionz processors
• Eye-level glass Penta-prism OVF, 100% coverage, 0.74x magnification
• 9 point AF with 10 assist points, center dual-cross AF w/2.8 sensor
• 5 frames per second burst, newly developed mirror box
• Intelligent Preview Function
• 3 User programmable custom memory modes on mode dial
• Advanced Dynamic Range Optimizer (5 step selectable)
• 40 segment honeycomb metering
• 3.0″ 921K pixel Photo Quality (270 dpi) LCD display, 100% coverage
• Direct HDMI output
• ISO 200-3200 (ISO 100-6400 expanded range)
• Magnesium Alloy body and rubber seals for dust and moisture resistance
• AF micro adjustment
• $2999.99 body price; available late October 2008

The interesting things to note are 100% viewfinder coverage - impressive, lack of live view, AF micro adjustment (everyone is jumping on this now with it available on the 5DMKII and started by Nikon), a decent performance with 5FPS shooting and a good high res LCD.

The image quality is pretty good too, you can see a comparison side by side of the A900 vs the Canon 1Ds MKIII here.

It shows excellent resolution but falls down at higher ISO (quite bad above ISO400) but at the same RRP as the Nikon D700!

You can read the full review here:

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Review

The Canon 5D MKII leaked specs weren’t quite accurate, but the more information got leaked towards the actual release date the more accurate it became.

One thing most people didn’t expect was full HD video (1080P)!

Features

• 21 megapixel CMOS sensor (very similar to the sensor in the EOS-1Ds Mark III)
• Sensor dust reduction by vibration of filter
• ISO 100 - 6400 calibrated range, ISO 50 - 25600 expansion (1Ds Mark III & 5D max ISO 3200)
• Auto ISO (100 - 3200) in all modes except manual
• 3.9 frames per second continuous shooting
• DIGIC 4 processor, new menus / interface as per the EOS 50D
• RAW and SRAW1 (10 MP) / SRAW2 (5 MP)
• RAW / JPEG selection made separately
• Permanent display of ISO on both top plate and viewfinder displays
• AF microadjustment (up to 20 lenses individually)
• 98% coverage viewfinder (0.71x magnification)
• 3.0″ 920,000 dot LCD monitor with ‘Clear View’ cover / coatings, 170° viewing angle
• Automatic LCD brightness adjustment (ambient light sensor)
• Movie recording in live view (1080p H.264 up to 12 minutes, VGA H.264 up to 24 mins per clip)

Most people find the frame rate a little slow, but then it can’t be faster or it’d be eating into the Canon EOS 1Ds MKIII section of the market! It’s already full frame and with the same resolution, it’s a dangerous move by Canon..

Much like what Nikon have done with the new Nikon D700 Full Frame dSLR.

There was an awesome video shot by Vincent Laforet here, but it’s been taken down as Canon can’t handle the bandwidth! How crazy is that.

There some more preview stuff here, some high ISO shots here and plenty of other info popping up all over the web.

I have to say even has a Nikon user, this is a fantastic camera!

Full preview here:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Hands-on Preview

It looks like the Full Frame 24.6 megapixel Sony A900 might be a reality, it has been rumoured for a long time.

From the leaked advert:

The new a900 has arrived. A new height in the “a” revolution is now within reach. Engineered with the exclusive 24.6 Mega Pixel Full Frame Exmor CMOS sensor, an industry breakthrough from Sony, this powerhouse integrates only the best imaging technologies from the world’s leading image sensor manufacturer. A work of art for the truly discerning individual.

• 24.6 Mega Pixel Full Frame Exmor CMOS Sensor
• Dual BIONZ Image Processing Engine
• Intelligent Preview
• 100% Viewfinder, 0.74x Magnification
• 3.0”, 921K-out Hybrid LCD
• 9-point Centre Dual-cross AF (with f2.8 sensor and wide-area 10-point assist)
• 5 fps Continuous Shooting
• SteadyShot INSIDE

It looks like its going to be a beast of a camera aiming at the lower medium format market, much cheapear than a digital back. Also squarely aimed at the market only the Canon 1Ds MKIII currently occupies, with the Nikon D3x not yet released there is only one full frame, high res camera available.

I’ve heard rumours it’s going to be priced around the same price as the Nikon D700 - is that even possible?

September 10th or 12th (depending who you listen to) will be an interesting day for Sony uses and the rest of the camera world.

More, higher spec, high megapixel, full frame cameras will make it cheaper for all of us.

Almost bang on the Nikon schedule of 2 years for a replacement the Nikon D90 is finally here and no it looks nothing like the Spoof D90 I posted last year.

It’s a good looking camera, the updates are expected with one inclusion which I don’t think anyone thought would be coming in a Nikon dSLR - Video!

Nikon D90 Key Features

• 12.9 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor (effective pixels: 12.3 million)
• 3.0-inch 920,000 pixel (VGA x 3 colors) TFT-LCD (same as D3 and D300)
• Live View with contrast-detect AF, face detection
• Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
• Illuminated focus points
• Movie capture at up to 1280 x 720 (720p) 24 fps with mono sound
• IS0 200-3200 range (100-6400 expanded)
• 4.5 frames per second continuous shooting (buffer: 7 RAW, 25 JPEG fine, 100 JPEG Normal)
• Expeed image processing engine
• 3D tracking AF (11 point)
• Short startup time, viewfinder blackout and shutter lag
• Slightly improved viewfinder (96% frame coverage)
• Extensive in-camera retouching including raw development and straightening
• Improved user interface
• New optional compact GPS unit (fits on hot shoe)
• Same battery and vertical grip as D80
• Vignetting control in-camera
• 72 thumbnail and calendar view in playback

It also comes along with a new 18-105mm VR kit lens which is a pretty nifty range, hopefully it’ll be sharper and optically better than the 18-200mm.

Just up next will be Nikon D3x or whatever they are going to call it with the 24 megapixel beast of a sensor!

Nikon are really pulling ahead in the race now.

Wow now even though the rumours were rife recently, no one expected to see this come out! Nikon has pulled out not one, but 2 full frame FX format cameras within a year!

After the superb Nikon D3, now comes the well specced Nikon D700 a full frame camera in a D300 body. This will be making all of those waiting for the elusive Canon 5D MKII cry.

It’s a great move by Nikon and gives a lot of pro shooters a backup body without having to carry another heavy D3, for wedding shoots and those who don’t need the rugged build and high-speed of the D3 this is the perfect choice.

With the excellent new FX lenses from Nikon as well they are really leading the market now.

• 12.1 megapixel full-frame sensor
• Image Sensor Cleaning (vibration)
• ISO 200 - 6400 (with boost up to ISO 25600 and down to ISO 100)
• Also supports DX lenses, viewfinder automatically masks (5.1 megapixels with DX lens)
• 14-bit A/D conversion, 12 channel readout
• New Kevlar / carbon fibre composite shutter with 150,000 exposure durability
• Multi-CAM3500FX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
• 95% coverage, 0.72x magnification viewfinder
• Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning), fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings
• 5 frames per second continuous with auto-focus tracking
• Optional MB-D10 Battery Pack (same as D300), increases burst rate to 8 fps
• 3.0″ 922,000 pixel LCD monitor
• Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast detect Auto Focus
• Virtual horizon indicates if camera is level (like an aircraft cockpit display)
• ‘Active D-Lighting’ (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve)
• Magnesium alloy body with connections and buttons sealed against moisture

It adds sensor cleaning and the horizon tilt in Live View over the D3.

You can find a full Preview of the Nikon D700 here:

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikond700/

Some hands on testing from Joe Mcnally here:

http://www.joemcnally.com/blog/2008/07/02/rollin-with-the-pride-of-midtown/

Some Extreme Weather shots from the D700 here:

http://www.jimreedphoto.com/gallery.html?gallery=New%20Nikon%20D700

And some official test shots from Nikon here:

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/slr/d700/sample.htm