Sony DSLR-A900 Manual

35mm Full-Frame 
Digital SLR Camera

Printed in USA

CA649W

Main specifications of

Intelligent Preview / Optical Preview selectable from menu

Shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, white balance, ISO sensitivity, 
drive mode, battery remaining, remaining no. of recordable images, with illumination

Single, Continuous (Hi / Lo selectable), Self-timer (10 sec. / 2 sec. delay selectable),
Mirror Lockup, Remote Commander
Hi: approx 5 frames per sec. (max.), Lo: approx. 3 frames per sec. (max.)
Standard: 285, Fine: 105, Extra Fine: 11, RAW: 12, cRAW: 12, RAW & JPEG: 10, cRAW & JPEG: 10 

Specifications are based on the information available at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice. 

Exif Print, Print Image Matching III, PictBridge

One Rechargeable Battery Pack NP-FM500H, one CR2025 for Wireless Remote Commander 
Approx. 880 shots (measured using CIPA standards) 
AC Adaptor / Charger  AC-VQ900AM (optional)  

Windows 2000 Professional / Windows XP / Windows Vista
Mac OS X (v. 10.13 or later) 

Digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera for use with interchangeable lenses
Sony     mount 
Sony     lenses, Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses

13

JPEG (DCF2.0 and Exif 2.21 compliant, DPOF supported), RAW (Sony ARW 2.1 format), RAW + JPEG
<Aspect ratio 3:2>
L size: 6048 x 4032 (24M), M size: 4400 x 2936 (13M), S size: 3024 x 2016 (6.1M)
<Aspect ratio 16:9>
L size: 6048 x 3408 (21M), M size: 4400 x 2472 (11M), S size: 3024 x 1704 (5.2M)
 <APS-C size capture>
L size: 3984 x 2656 (11M), M size: 2896 x 1928 (5.6M), S size: 1984 x 1320 (2.6M)
RAW, cRAW (compressed), RAW & JPEG (Fine), cRAW (compressed) & JPEG (Fine),
Extra Fine, Fine, Standard
Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, 
CompactFlash (Type I / Type II, UDMA Mode 5 compliant), Microdrive
Dual slot for Memory Stick Duo / CompactFlash, selectable with Quick Navi or from Setup Menu
Long exposure NR: On /Off selectable, available at shutter speeds longer than 1 sec.
High ISO NR: High / Normal / Low / Off selectable at  ISO 1600 or higher
sRGB / Adobe RGB selectable from Recording Menu 
13 image styles: Standard / Vivid /Neutral/Clear/ Deep/ Light /Portrait/ 
Landscape/Sunset/Night View/Autumn Leaves / B&W/Sepia
Adjustable parameter: Contrast / Saturation / Sharpness / Brightness / Zone Matching

14

6 settings can be registered. 
Modes: Off / Standard / Advanced Auto / Advanced (Lv 1 to 5)
DRO Advanced Bracketing: 3 frames,  Hi / Lo selectable 

Image-sensor shift mechanism  
SteadyShot scale and camera-shake warning in the viewfinder 
Equivalent to approx. 2.5 to 4 steps in shutter speeds 

(varies according to shooting conditions and lens used) 

    system flash units (optional) 
ADI, Pre-flash TTL
3 / 5 frames, +/- 3 EV (0.3 / 0.5 EV steps selectable) 
Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync, Wireless

16

, Slow Sync, High-speed Sync

3 / 5 frames, 0.3 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 2.0

15

 EV step selectable

Built in, adaptable to the sync terminal of the opposite polarity  

Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type
1/8000 to 30 sec., Bulb
1/200 sec. with SteadyShot INSIDE, 1/250 sec. without SteadyShot INSIDE

3.0-inch

10

 Extra Fine LCD  

921,600 dots
100%
Adjustable in +/- 5 steps

Fixed eye-level, pentaprism
Approx. 100 %
Approx. 0.74 x (with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m

-1

) 

-3.0 to +1.0 m

-1

 

Approx. 20 mm from the eyepiece (at -1 m

-1

) 

Spherical acute matte screen (Type G). User-replaceable Type L (grid type) and 
Type M (super-spherical acute matte type) available (both types optional)
AF area, spot  AF area, spot metering area, shooting area for aspect ratio 16:9, APS-C size area
Flash compensation, flash charging, wireless flash, high-speed sync, manual focus, focus signal, 
shutter speed, aperture, EV scale, AE lock, shot-remaining counter, camera shake warning, 
SteadyShot scale, aspect ratio 16:9
Built in 

Type: TTL metering
Cell: 40-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC
Range: EV 0 – 20 (EV 2 – 20 in spot metering mode) (at  ISO 100 with F1.4 lens)
Modes: Multi Segment, Center-weighted, Spot
Modes: Auto, ProgramAuto (P, with program shift), Aperture priority (A), Shutter priority (S), Manual (M) 
Exposure compensation: +/-3 EV, 0.3 / 0.5 EV steps selectable
Bracketing: 3 / 5 frames selectable, single or continuous selectable, 0.3 / 0. 5/ 0.7 / 2.0

15

 EV steps selectable

Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash
Color Temperature (2500 – 9900K) with color filter (19-step magenta / green compensation),
Custom (3 settings can be registered) 
3 frames, Hi / Lo level selectable

Single (with or without shooting information, with 4 previous / following images, 
RGB histogram & highlight / shadow warning), 4 / 9 / 25-frame index view, 
enlarged display modes (max. zoom ratio: L size: 19x, M size: 14x, S size: 9.4x)

Number of recordable frames for single media  (Aspect ratio 3:2, image size L 24MB / M 13MB / S 6.1MB)  

When you shoot with aspect ratio set to [16:9], or with APS/C size Capture function [On], you can record more frames than shown above. 
However,  when you record an image in RAW format with 16:9 aspect ratio, number of recordable frames is the same as with 3:2 aspect ratio. 
For further details, please visit our website and go to ”Support.”  

Approx. 156.3 x 116.9 x 81.9 mm (6-1/8 x 4-5/8 x 3-1/4 in.) (excl. protrusions)
Approx. 850 g (1 lb 14 oz) (w/o battery, memory card, accessories)
0 – 40 degrees C (32 – 104 degrees F)

USB2.0 Hi-Speed, Mass Storage / Multi LUN / PTP / PC Remote Control 
NTSC / PAL selectable 
HDMI mini connector, 1080i / 720p / SD selectable (optional HDMI cable required) 
Wired control: Remote Commander RM-S1AM / RM-L1AM (optional) 
Wireless control: with supplied Remote Commander
PhotoTV HD supported

The body cap of     900 uses polyamide 11 vegetable-based plastic derived from castor oil.

Sensor type
Effective pixels
Total pixels
Aspect ratio
Anti-Dust function
ISO sensitivity 
(recommended 
 exposure index) 

35mm-film format (35.9 x 24.0 mm), Exmor

™

 CMOS sensor 

Approx. 24.6 megapixels   
Approx. 25.7 megapixels
3:2
Charge protection coating on low-pass filter, image-sensor shift mechanism
ISO 200 – 3200 in 1/3 EV steps (ISO 100 – 6400 can be set as expanded ISO range)
ISO Auto Range: ISO 200 – 1600, ISO 400 – 1600, ISO 400 – 800, ISO 200 – 800, 
ISO 200 – 400 selectable

TTL phase detection system
CCD line sensors
9 points (center dual-cross type) with 10 assist points
EV 0  – 18 (at ISO 100)
Single-shot  AF (AF-S), Automatic AF (AF-A), Continuous AF (AF-C), Direct Manual Focus (DMF), 
Manual Focus (MF)  
Wide, Spot, Local (9 local focus areas, selectable with multi selector)
AF micro adjustment (+/- 20-step increments for up to 30 different lenses), predictive control, 
focus lock, AF illuminator (LED, Range: approx. 1 – 7 m, Auto / Off selectable)

16GB

2GB

4GB

8GB

Quality
Standard
Fine
Extra fine
cRAW & JPEG
RAW & JPEG
cRAW
RAW

Capacity

L

294
196

85
55
41

M

477
334
152

63
45

S

766
582
275

68
48

77
52

L

582
388
168
110

81

M

944
662
302
125

89

S

1517
1152

545
135

95

154
103

L

1169

779
339
221
164

M

1896
1330

606
251
180

S

3048
2315
1094

273
191

309
208

L

2369
1579

687
449
333

M

3844
2697
1229

509
365

S

6179
4694
2219

553
388

627
423

16GB

2GB

4GB

8GB

Quality
Standard
Fine
Extra fine
cRAW & JPEG
RAW & JPEG
cRAW
RAW

Capacity

L

296
197

86
56
41

M

481
337
153

63
45

S

773
587
277

69
48

78
52

L

593
395
172
112

83

M

962
675
308
127

91

S

1547
1175

555
138

97

157
105

L

1185

790
343
224
166

M

1922
1348

614
254
182

S

3090
2347

1109

276
194

313
211

L

2370
1580

687
449
333

M

3844
2697
1229

509
365

S

6180
4694
2219

553
388

627
423

Sony,     , BIONZ, BRAVIA, Cyber-shot, Exmor CMOS Sensor, Handycam, InfoLITHIUM, Magic Gate, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick 
PRO-HG Duo, Picture Station, S-Frame, SteadyShot INSIDE, VAIO, Xtra Fine LCD, and the Sony, BIONZ, Exmor CMOS Sensor, Full HD 1080, PhotoTV, Picture Station, S-Frame and VAIO logos 
are trademarks of Sony. PlayStation and the PlayStation logo are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment of America. Adobe is a trademark or registered trademark or Adobe 
Systems incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Blu-ray Disc is a trademark. CompactFlash is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. HDMI, the HDMI logo and 
HIgh-Definition Multimeida Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC. Intel, Intel Core, MMX and Pentium are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel 
Corporation. Microdrive is a registered trademark of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows and Windows Vista are 
trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Features and 
specifications are subject to change without notice. Non-metric weights and measures are approximate. Screen images simulated. 

1

Effective megapixels (approx.).

2

Stabilization effect varies according to lens and shooting conditions.

3

Available in winter 2008/2009.

4

Not waterproof or splashproof.

5

D-Range Optimizer Advanced-use techhology provided by Apical Limited.

6

Mac OS not supported.

7

Compatible operating system: factory preinstalled only.

8

64-bit editions and Starter (Edition) are not supported.

9

Compatible Sony BRAVIA HDTV and HDMI cable (sold separately) required for PhotoTV HD viewing. 

 Specifications of the BRAVIA HDTV shown vary according to market region.

10

Viewable area, measured diagonally.

11

Accepts high-speed CompactFlash UDMA, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo

™

, 

  Memory Stick PRO Duo

™

 and Memory Stick Duo media.

12

For use with DSLR-A900, an application update is required. 

  Please access http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/www/accy/gps/ for more information.

13

DT lenses are not recommended for use with 35mm full-frame sensors due to their differing 

  image circle size, which may affect light metering accuracy in certain shooting situations.

14

Saturation cannot be set for B&W and Sepia.

15

2.0 EV bracketing limited to 3 frames.

16

HVL-F58AM, HVL-F56AM, HVL-F42AM, HVL-F36AM supported; 

  full multi-flash functionality requires at least one HVL-F58AM unit.