A 900 noise and firmware

[shrektoofiona]

Hi, new to the site, looks very promising, do you have any feedback on any type of firmware update for the A900. I love it but I would like to love it more. Noise is the issue and best practise raw proccessing. I would welcome any advice

[Birma]

Hi shrektoofiona - welcome to the forum. I'm sure you will find things of interest to you here. I haven't heard any news regarding A900 firmware updates iether here or on the other sony/alpha forums, the occasional person asking, but nothing other than hopes.

Hope we can look forward to seeing some of your A900 pictures. I think we're a generally friendly bunch so please don't be shy We seem to have quite a few A900 owners, but most of the pictures posted seem to come from the A1/2/3/700 users. Do those big 24Mp files just take too long to resize for the web ?

[Dr. Harout]

A welcome from me too, Shrektoofiona (short: Shrek , if you like )
As far as I know, no firmware update for the A900 is released yet. Probably they (Sony) are waiting something prior to announcing it. And I really think it will target noise reduction issues and improved lens calibration.

[David Kilpatrick]

There has not been a firmware update, v1.0 is still shown on new cameras sold. Noise is not a serious issue even with ACR/Lightroom, as long as the nature of the ISO ratings and exposure system can be understood.

My own comparisons can be found on the main website, and against the Nikon D3X the A900 shows up well in terms of colour preservation and deep shadow detail at high ISO. The actual exposure given is often an absolute minimum, making the A900 ISO 3200 more accurate equal the D3X set to 6400 (or 3200 and -1 override) in practical situations.

I simply turn off all raw process sharpening and use fairly strong NR - it does not damage detail even with 25-50 luminance and 50-75 colour. I also scale down high ISO files to 17 megapixels, the minimum photo library size.

Welcome to the forum. I've just been shooting Venice in the rain at night on the A900 - limited to 1600 ISO for hand held, and fixed to ISO 320 for a few tripod shots. So rainy we only managed one location (Rialto Bridge) and paid a heavy price for a restaurant table just under cover at the right viewpoint.

David

[shrektoofiona]

Thanks All,

What then is your favoured raw processing software for the A 900, I also shoot with all sharpening and nr reduction off and generally at iso 200 but am still not entirely happy with the noise texture in gradations (skys/water). Another question (sorry I have a few) are you aware of super steady shot efecting sharpness in any way?

Shrek is fine by the way, the uploaded image originates from a raw file at 35.6m and I dont mind waiting, the bigger the better just gimy them sharp as a razor and packed with info, oh yes and another bank of hard drives please.
Shrek

[Birma]

Hi Shrek - sorry I can't help on the A900 processing front, but just wanted to say I very much liked your shot - the sun had me turning down my monitor brightness and reaching for the sun glasses Lovely reflection and tone of colour. Where is it?

[shrektoofiona]

Thanks Birma, it was on the banks of Loch Lomond near a church just after dawn. We were on our way to Skye and had driven over night from Bucks, I was barely awake and suffering from an overdose of Red Bull, nasty stuff, never again!
Shrek, Ps here is another that I havn't quite finished fiddeling with.

[Birma]

Woo hoo, now that is is a stunning shot. You must have been quite high up in the Cuillins to get that - and such a clear day - not very typical in my experience. I'm no climber so I can't imagine where exactly you where to take the shot - not in a micro-light or soemthing? (There is a dark shape in the bottom left corner, but I guess that is to come out in further processing.) I don't think I have ever seen a shot that so well contrasts the red and black Cuillins. I'd love to see more shots. Perhaps you should start a "give it your best shot" thread as I'm taking this way OT

The Scottish west coast and the islands are my particular favourite place to visit, and my wife's folks live on Skye. I have had a similar red bull experience driving up to Oban from the west midlands. We tried to do it in one go, after work on a Friday, to get to Oban for the first Mull ferry on Saturday morning. Red bull kept us awake, but as you say, lack of sleep will eventually catch up with you some how - I slew the car across the road braking hard to avoid a red deer that wasn't there at all Luckily nothing was hurt, but a lesson on using artificial means to stay awake. Here are links to some shots of the Hebrides I've posted in the past, not up to your standard - I'm still learning .
http://www.photoclubalpha.com/forum/vie ... =17&t=2424
http://www.photoclubalpha.com/forum/vie ... =17&t=1334

[shrektoofiona]

Wow thanks again, It was taken from the top of the highest of the Red Cuillin, Blah Blein (sorry for what I am sure is a miss spellig, lol) what you mention in the corner is the mountain I'm standing on. I have just taken DK's advice and followed some of the A900 vs D3x thread, That American football fan sure embodies the sport, shame he seems to be right. Come on Sony you make the dam sensors, give us a firmware upgrade!

[Dr. Harout]

That second shot is awesome, very beautiful. TFS.

[shrektoofiona]

Thanks Birma and Doc

You both have some fantastic shots there, I particularly like your first image Birma that reflection in the sand makes it for me, and your reportage style b+w images doc have a certain transporting mood that I love. It puts the whole discussion re camera quality in perspective, great imagery from you both, I guess it's all about feel at the end of the day whether from a pin hole camera or a digital goliath.