Do I really need an a900?

[Winston]

Try a Canon 1Ds MkIII for the viewfinder comparison. It is a very slightly larger view (by a percent or two in scale) and slightly less bright, but similarly large and clear.

David

Is it a good comparison for eyeglass wearers?

[David Kilpatrick]

Good enough comparison. The A900 is excellent for eyeglass wearers, and the 1Ds MkIII is similar but maybe just a little tighter for position.

Honestly, there really is no better overall finder than the A900.

David

[Winston]

Thanks David, I'll see if I can find one in this photographic backwater.

[Tom F]

I wear glasses and also have the start of cataracts. Using the diopter-adjustment dial I can make the A900 viewfinder bright clear and very sharp with or without my glasses.

[Winston]

I was more concerned about eye relief. The following excerpt from the DPReview is why:

"Aside from the headline-grabbing sensor there's no doubt that the single feature Sony decided to concentrate on with the Alpha 900 was the viewfinder (even the design looks like the entire camera was built around the prism). And what a viewfinder it is; with 100% field of view and an incredibly bright, clear image it sets a new standard for this class of camera that I can't see being improved upon in the near future. The eye relief is a little tight (you need to get pretty close to see the entire engulfing view), but boy is it worth it. Start using the Alpha 900 'in the field' and you soon forget about fripperies like live view and simply enjoy the experience of a truly involving photographic experience."

[aster]

Do I really need an A900?

Yes!

If an Alpha better be the A900...

Yildiz

[01af]

I was more concerned about eye relief. The following excerpt from the DPReview is why:

"... The eye relief is a little tight (you need to get pretty close to see the entire engulfing view ..."

I am wearing weak-strength eye-glasses, and when shooting I usually take them off (I can do fairly well without eye-glasses when not reading or staring at a computer screen). But sometimes I use my camera with eye-glasses on. So I can tell you: The A900's viewfinder is pretty well usable with eye-glasses. Not quite as comfortable as without (I guess that's true with any optical viewfinder) but certainly viable without any problems.

-- Olaf

[David Kilpatrick]

The eye relief is 20mm. That is, for example, 2.1mm better than the A350 and that has the screen sticking out to make life difficult.

The A700 is 25mm. That is class-leading and would be described by Nikon as a 'high eyepoint' viewfinder. Very few cameras have 25mm relief.

For example, the Nikon D300S is only 19.5mm eye relief. That's FAR worse than the 700, and worse than the A900.

David

[Winston]

That could be a deal breaker.
Do you wear yoiur glasses when using your A900?Can you see the whole view (image & info) without moving around a lot?

[David Kilpatrick]

I can see the whole view easily. I can use either glasses, or no glasses - the dioptre range covers my sight if I prefer to adjust. Might not cover yours.

David

[bossel]

The A700 is 25mm. That is class-leading ...

Bummer - on my A700 I can't see the full vf when wearing my glasses. And they're very thin ones! So on they A900 I would miss even more?

[David Kilpatrick]

I am surprised about your experience with the A700. You certainly would not like a Nikon or Canon then.

I do press the camera to my specs - I may sometimes push them back to my eye a fair amount. But I have fairly flexible robust glasses, and they are not too large. I have to use many cameras and I can not think of any where my view was restricted and I could not see the frame properly.

David

[braeside]

I am short sighted and wear my distance glasses normally when using the A900. I do not have a problem seeing all of the VF and the display below. At one time I had a pair of glasses that had a short height to the frames and I did not find those very suitable for looking through the VF, my other pair have bigger frames and they allow me to comfortably get my glasses in the right position on the rubber eyepiece so that I am looking through the best part of the glasses.

The range of the diopter adjustment on the A900 will just accommodate my vision and no more if I do not wear my glasses.

My problem is that I have to peer over the top of my distance glasses to review the shots on the LCD.

[Winston]

The A700 is 25mm. That is class-leading ...

Bummer - on my A700 I can't see the full vf when wearing my glasses. And they're very thin ones! So on they A900 I would miss even more?

I am also surprised. My a700 experience with glasses are the same as David's. I do mash the camera against my face which pushes my glasses back, distorts the frames a little (no permanent effect) and collapses the body's eyepiece.

[alanscape]

Do you NEED an a900 or do you WANT/DESIRE/LUST AFTER an a900. I answered the question and bought another a100 body, new, for £190 and spent the savings on a month taking photographs in Greece. I don't print above A3 and am fond of my humble a100s and my R1.
This is only my viewpoint of course but when I want to get serious, out comes my 16x9 Linhof.