Sony A900 Sample Image Gallery
Sony A900 Image Sample Gallery
(Firmware Version 1.0, Production Copy A900)
| This gallery contains images from a production sample Sony A900 with firmware Version 1.00. I wanted to have a separate gallery so that I could update images here while testing the camera and writing the final review. I will consider requests for images from a particular lens or with certain exposure values. However, please understand that I may not be able to honor all requests, as I am limited in my lens catalog and time with the A900 itself. I have used lenses from both Sony and Minolta for some images in this gallery, the images are noted when you mouse over them. Please request permission to reproduce our samples in any form. Thank you! |  |
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Our aim is to provide a comprehensive selection of images to all of you so that you will be able to make your own personal determinations on image quality. We are considerate of the various internet speeds available to our readers, so most of the samples are Jpegs of various sizes. Other than resizing some images for web viewing convenience, the original images have not been altered in any way.
Raw samples will also be available soon. Please make sure that if you are making any image quality determination of the raw images based on a 2nd party converter, please keep in mind that Image Data Converter III is currently the only benchmark for compatibility as of the date of this article.
C.Garrard
Gallery #1, ISO Sample Gallery
Mouse over images for image information. Thumbail images are resized to 1152x768 in CS2 from the original Jpeg for viewing. Linked text below the thumbnail images are the original Jpeg files (Be wary, large file sizes). Images captured with the Sony Zeiss 24-70 2.8 SSM.
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| ISO 1600 NR OFF | ISO 3200 NR OFF | ISO 1600 NR ON |
ISO 3200 NR ON |
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| ISO 800 | ISO 200 | ISO 400 | ISO 800 |
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| ISO 1600 NR OFF |
ISO 3200 NR OFF | ISO 1600 NR ON | ISO 3200 NR ON |
Gallery #2, Free Hand Image Gallery
Mouse over images for image information. Thumbnail images are resized to 1152x768 in CS2 from the original Jpeg for viewing. Linked text below the thumbnail images are the original Jpeg files (Be wary, large file sizes). Images captured with the Sony Zeiss 24-70 2.8 SSM.
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| ISO 400 Sample | ISO 1600 Sample |
ISO200 Sample |
ISO 800 Sample |
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| ISO 800 Sample | ISO 100 Sample | ISO 800 Sample |
ISO 800 Sample |
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| ISO 800 Sample | ISO 3200 Sample | ISO 400 Sample |
ISO 800 Sample |
Gallery #3, Raw and Tiff/Jpeg conversions from Raw files via IDC III
I am converting some of the images above from Raw, if you have a particular image in mind you would like me to convert let me know, otherwise I will post what I see fit. Jpegs are high quality (setting 1 highest in IDC III), about 18-25mb each at that level. Tiffs will follow.
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28MB Hi-Res Jpeg |
18MB Hi-Res Jpeg |
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15.8MB Hi-Res Jpeg |
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24MB Raw ISO 400 |
24MB ISO 100 RAW |
24MB ISO 800 RAW |
RAW Low ISO Landscape example
It sure would be great to see some better quality RAW converted, low ISO examples taken with all noise reduction off, similar to what you have shot in JPEG, saved out of Photoshop(quality 10 or so) as a high quality jpeg and posted. I believe there are a lot of people, myself included, who are very interested in the absolute best per pixel, low ISO quality this camera can produce. Thus far, it does not seem to match Canon in this regard as there appears to be some very fine, on chip noise reduction going on which smooths out fine detail in grass ans so forth, as shown in this review: luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/a900-nr.shtml
Perhaps you Firmware and camera is further along then what was tested there.
They're coming.
Hi Tariq, they are coming. As soon as Carl's ready he'll post some RAWs.
Re: the noise reduction, we don't know whether this is down to IDC or inherent in the A900. As and when other converters accept the A900 files we'll know for sure.
Priority
Its a good suggestion and one I will take in consideration.
At this point the gallery serves as an untouched image platform, for those who want to see out of camera results.
Raw images will follow soon here (they are of course very large).
And I am already working on ISO 100 shots right now. I will also post some 6400 shots as well.
Carl
Thanks
Thanks for the consideration. Even if you just posted a few images which were shot as RAW, converted with the Sony software and later saved as high quality JPEG's without any manipulation OR even post sharpening in Photoshop as I'm sure that would be much better than what comes out of the camera or the Sony software. I was not suggesting you post the actual RAW files as there is nothing we can convert them with as of yet.
Sounds good!
I am interested to see the outcome as well :).
Time is always a factor here. If I could run this site full time, we could do so much more for everyone.
Raw files were already in the works fyi :)
Carl
In a way your early sample
In a way your early sample shots remind me of the first results from the a700. I have used some of the same sharpening techniques (USM, resize, High Pass) that I used with the images from a review sample a700 and have had some quite pleasing results to date. NOTE: I used some NR in PSP X2 before sharpening.
http://img701.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/10/a9003200offsharp-4btev8svj.jpeg
This is the ISO3200 shot with in-camera NR off.
Which image for RAW conversion
I would be interested in seeing the ISO 200 and ISO 100 images converted from RAW with no noise reduction. I have heard some say that by default, the on chip noise reduction is on, even with RAW images, and this appears to be creating an issue with very fine texture and detail. Do you know if this setting was on during your shooting and if it is possible to disable all noise reduction? Is this the feature which was just made possible with the A700 update? That is, the ability to turn off noise reduction for RAW files.
Indeed just like the A700 version 1 firmware
That is just what I got done telling someone else :).
I am posting a raw conversion high res jpeg now, NR off of course. it is 28 megabytes when converted to high quality jpeg (setting 1 in IDC III).
Ill let you decide brettania :)
Carl
I tried the fountain
Fountains are difficult subjects! But I tried the BIG file anyway. The result can be seen here...
http://img107.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/09/11/a900fountainsharp-4btteutpt.jpeg
Similar processing used.
Hope we get ACR support
Hope we get ACR support soon, then we can really see what is going on IQ wise. I admit, it's starting to grow on me a tad ;-)
RAW ISO 1600 image
Thats the test I would like to see. If I can use my F2.8 lens at ISO 1600 with relatively low noiseat an evening wedding I will be very happy. You may want to chime in these raw images over at DPReview. People by the dozen are wanting to see the A900's 1600 and 3200 ISO image quality.