Sony Add in National Geographic
http://forum.xitek.com/showthread.php?threadid=556627

does that say "Dual Bionz?"

yep: http://piccies.clan-sy.com/a900.jpg
well, if it's true: We will know more and better next week. But that makes sense, since there will be a lot of data to process -and probably different things to process at the same time. BTW, DRO has already it's own chip/processor.

It's true - a real ad. It is reveals 'Intelligent Preview'. I do not have all the details, but this is what Sony will offer in place of Live View - it is a sort of Polaroid pre-test on screen, with some more information or accuracy, compared to just shooting a pic and reviewing it on any DSLR. Also, I believe that it is viewed from the buffer and not stored on to the memory card. I have not seen any explanation on how or what this function does though, beyond knowing that it is intended to show accurate depth of field, check focus, and check exposure more accurately than reviewing a quick shot - and to do it fast without needing to take a saved test shot.

Note the information about the sensors - I have got a diagram, but can't publish it. The nine sensors are tightly packed into the APS-C zone, they do not cover the full frame area. The APS-C zone is marked out with a rectangle not just corner marks, as the camera clearly functions with DT lenses in APS-C crop mode. So the AF sensor is really an APS-C model. It is differently laid out to the A700, and has 'AF assist metering' cells located next to the AF sensors. These obviously map the light levels for the AF sensors and maybe instruct a boost in sensitivity to local sensors (or at least fine tune the response to match brightness levels).

The 5 fps was - obviously - revealed in the Sony story about the new MS PRO-HG Duo high speed cards which mentioned Sony's latest DSLR having 5fps (it is the top story since this morning on the main website pages here). I think we can now add that the A900 will have 5fps and a dual memory slot.

I can also say now, in view of this leaked ad, that I was told about a month ago the name would be Alpha 900.

David

David,

Do you secretly have the Alpha 900 ready to review?

It all looks very exciting, I read somewhere that there might be two A900's one a 14mp.

Here is that somewhere I read it...

http://www.roumazeilles.net/news/en/wor ... alpha-900/

Gerard

Boy you and the search engines get around quickly!

http://www.neutralday.com/sony-a900-abo ... t-preview/

So concerning the focus points my first idea, though not completly right, was going into the right direction (i.e. you can't focus on the 10 extra sensors or select them as focus point):

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=29195525

David,
thanks for the info so far.
Is there a way you could hint (without hurting any agreement) whether the 8 other sensors in the APS-C area are single line sensors or something "better"? I mean apart from the 10 additional sensors which are not selectable...

Thanks, Jonathan

Patience my friends, patience...
I think A900 will have other new issues too that will shake... you know whom

One more thing I noticed in the reposts of the ads around the news sites. it looks like they changed the name of Super steady shot to "SteadyShot INSIDE" which is a smart take off on "intel inside" because it directly implies in body stabilization just by it's name. (it would be cool to get a look at the list of new trademarks Sony has registered in the last 6 months

Concerning the preview, what about this:

When switched on, you half-press the shutter. If then within 0.1 second you don't press the shutter, the camera will take a picture on its own and display it, maybe enlarged around the selected focus spot and optionally with histogram. You can then fullpress to take the pic (a new one) or recompose or change settings. However there is now way to grab the previewpic. Optionally there could b an autogain mode - if taking the preview pic would take too long, the camera could increase the ISO so taking the preview would take never more than 0.2 seconds.

Another idea: when you halfpress, the camera focuses. It then lifts the mirror and you get liveview from the main sensor. You can then recompose (with liveview, exposure & focus are locked) and full press when have the perfect framing. Then the liveview stops til you half press again.

That would be great to (the live view on the 1/2 press) but the way DK described it sounds appealing to if I understand correctly it could take a shot thats held in memory and you could watch the screen and make camera settings adjustments and the live (from the buffer ) image reflects those changes on the screen.

Your idea of the live view on 1/2 press makes more snese and a pro level camera. where what i'm describing sounds more like something that would appeal to someone new.

I don't have a camera and the individuals I know who DO have a camera are not allowed to say anything detailed - though one of them took his A900 on holiday without even taping over the logos, on the assumption that no-one would spot it. He didn't tell me, a friend of his in Sony in another division, not Alpha, told me! I do not know where he went on holiday. I believe you will find that the sensors are line not cross, except the central one which closely resembles the A700 central composite (f2.8 plus double cross). This may disappoint some people. I don't know really, I have always found the Alpha AF system to be perfectly reliable a sensitive (if not always well calibrated) and I've used all the others. I really have no preference. They focus. I don't need anything much more and I tend to turn off all the bells and whistles anyway and just use the central sensor, even on the most advanced Nikon system.

I like Bossel's idea for a semi-live-view based on first shutter pressure but I don't think this is the way it works. I would be delighted if it was, but equally happy if it turns out to be a refined version of the 'shoot, view, delete or save' idea which both Fuji and Olympus have used in the past.

All the recent cameras have had this on a label attached to the hot shoe. When the dealer unpacks the camera, inside of a hot shot cover there is a flexible plastic flag saying this, which flips up for display.

David

If the AF is an APS model, how better can it be, regarding the A700? I have some issues focusing, specially with wides and super wides (not fast enough, not accurate enought) Or this doesn't really affects accuracy ar capacity or improvement?