Photoclubalpha

My a900 has just failed on me with it not registering any lens aperture at all. I have fortunately still got it insured and have put it in for repair. The repairer apparently is still awaiting a reply from Sony re the parts ordered and I wondered if anyone knew as to just how available parts are for the A900?

Just guessing of course but it could be the aperture control unit (some part of it) the ring, the rollers or the drive gear, I checked a few parts the rollers seem to be available and the ring as well so you could be in luck for parts if that’s all that is wrong with it.
The mirrorbox assembly without all of the drive motors is no longer available (the entire thing including motors could be, didn’t check that).
Greg

Cheers Greg, fingers crossed.

Apparently its the main circuit board that's gone the repairer is waiting on Sony re spares.

Kaf kaf https://www.servicesplus.sel.sony.com/A ... ArrayVal=0

That sucker is the mainboard but the price is pretty steep at $483 USD, I hope you can get it cheaper than that.
Greg

Oops the availability window link doesn’t work without the original part number search window being there as well. Here is the part number window for the mainboard search. (Part Number A-1565-987-A when entering a part number on the Sony site you have to get rid of the hyphens that are in the service manual part number just click the 'new search' button).
Greg
Ps https://www.servicesplus.sel.sony.com/P ... type=parts

Ps I might as well add the page diagram for the board as well.

Cheers Greg

Thankfully I am insured for repairs so as the cost of the board is cheaper than a replacement I should be ok.

I'll keep you posted.

Richard

Well its bad news and good news. The part arrived last Monday but after being fitted the A900 was still dead and after talking to the insurers they have agreed to pay for an equivalent. So the good news is that an a99 is on its way to me today. Be interested to see how good it is compared to the A900.

The A99 beats the A900 in every situation except taking studio flash shots at ISO 100 (which is why I still have an A900 and don't have an A99). Basically - if I can use an A99, I can equally well use an A7 or A7R. In practice I find those awkward for the studio. Regret not having an A99 but I can not use six or seven cameras at once or afford them!

What's the problem re studio shots, David?

Electronic viewfinder is the problem in the studio. It's not impossible, but where the A900 has a memory setting which can be studio-ready (M, 1/160th at f/14, ISO 100, daylight balance) so I just turn the camera to memory position 1, the A7R and all other Sony EVF cameras will not store the 'setting effect off' in a memorised setup.

I also use memory position 2 in the studio for tungsten light work, a complete different setup.

It might seem to be a minor point but when you move regularly between outdoor and general shooting and the studio, the risk of leaving a camera in Manual exposure mode with Setting Effect Off is too great - I could change the settings to allow studio work, then maybe take the camera outside and apparently see a normal image through the finder when in fact it's greatly over or under exposed.

I know the argument is that you can do this with an optical finder camera too, but when using an EVF I like to see the exposure effect and for me that's an important part of the trade-off. If the Sony memory positions including the Setting Effect on/off, I would start using the A7R in the studio.

David

Thanks David.

I do a small amount of Studio work so will bear this in mind. I must admit to not having sorted out memory settings yet!

Regards

Richard