Sony VG900 - first image

[John Vincent]

Originally Posted by Jalan Salur

XLR unit looks interesting. What lenses can work with powered zoom?

Only one at this point - the adapted 18-200 kit lens.

The A99 will have full manual control. The VG 900 looks to be a VG20 with a FF sensor and rocker arm, meaning Chris is right - probably no control over sharpening, gamma, or contrast.

Interesting, but I think having the VG20/FS100 as a mainline A camera means an easier workflow. Having the A99 as a B cam for beauty CUs/tight spaces certainly is appealing, esp as now I can use all my NEX glass.

The NEX mount is def an advantage over other cameras. Sony sure is squeezing every ounce of life it can out of 8 bit/1080 technology... before everything switches over to 10 bit/2 K next year at NAB.

[Chris Joy]

The A99 has all the picture controls, from its spec sheet:

Creative Style : Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Autumn leaves, Black & White, Sepia (Contrast (-3 to +3 steps), Saturation (-3 to +3 steps), Sharpness (-3 to +3 steps))

The only thing listed on the VG30/900 specs along with cinematone:

Digital Picture Effects/Picture Effects : Movie and Still:Posterization,Pop color,Retro Photo, Partial Color, High constrast Monochrome, Toy Camera; Still Only:Soft Focus,Miniature

Still seems like Sony is dumbing down features since its not a "pro" camcorder, despite its price tag. Disappointing.

I'm seriously thinking about placing an order for the A99 to compliment or even replace my FS100 as Leica R and Zeiss C/Y lenses adapt to the A-mount fine. Hopefully someone will put the new VG's through the paces so we can get the skinny soon.

[Ron Little]

Why do they not have 30p?

[Halfdan J. Damskier]

Here is a field test of the A99 with 3 minutes on the VG900 at the end.

Worth a view :-)

Sony A99 Field Test with NEX-VG900 Field Test - YouTube

[Lee Mullen]

Originally Posted by Kris Zimbelman

Using an E-mount lens with the NEX-VG900 will also force the camcorder to use a cropped portion of the full-frame sensor. But Sony does throw in a free A-mount lens converter so you can get full sensor coverage with an attached A-mount lens.

And what is the base price for A mount lenses that are useful?

[Zach Love]

Originally Posted by Chris Joy

Still seems like Sony is dumbing down features since its not a "pro" camcorder, despite its price tag. Disappointing.

This is my gut reaction too. I feel like I want to like this camera, but it is too much handycam & would be a much more appealing camera if it was closer to a HVR-Z1U (HDR-FX1) as opposed to a HVR-A1U. But I guess that is what the FS100 is supposed to be.

[Steve Nunez]

I'm feeling impatient as I want one NOW!!!
FF with older Minolta legacy glass- count me in!!!!!

Was all set to buy the GH3 but FF is where it's at.

[Joe Ogiba]

Originally Posted by Chris Joy

Though this is interesting form factor aside - I think the A99 is the better option because you get steadyshot with A-mount lenses that are far superior to anything available in E-mount. I'm sure you can modify picture profiles on the A99 as well.

The A99 is a showstopper for me since I want to use my myriad of FF Pentax K-mount lenses. The VG900 will work with low cost E-mount to Pentax, Nikon, Leica etc lens mount adapters.

[Bill Koehler]

Originally Posted by Ron Little

Why do they not have 30p?

I am very curious about their 60i possibly being 30PsF.

[Chris Joy]

Originally Posted by Joe Ogiba

The A99 is a showstopper for me since I want to use my myriad of FF Pentax K-mount lenses. The VG900 will work with low cost E-mount to Pentax, Nikon, Leica etc lens mount adapters.

E-mount is among the most versatile as far as adapted lenses go, pretty much everything can be adapted.

Leitax sells adapters for Nikkor, ZF, C/Y and Leica R to the A mount - and they enable SteadyShot. I'm in the C/Y and Leica R camp so that suits me fine. I'm personally going for SS and control over the image - pending full tests.

[Bill Koehler]

Originally Posted by Chris Joy

... I'm personally going for SS and control over the image - pending full tests.

Pardon my ignorance Chris, but my personal decoder couldn't figure out the meaning of 'SS'.
Would you elaborate please?

[Chris Barcellos]

He was referring to Steady Shot, I think.

[Steve Nunez]

Is anyone planning on buying this on the 27th when it's available?

[Glen Vandermolen]

Originally Posted by Steve Nunez

Is anyone planning on buying this on the 27th when it's available?

I would sure like to rent one first.

[Chris Barcellos]

No reason for it, in my mind. If I want full frame shallow depth of field, I have the Canon 5D. While it has less resolution, for closeup shots (which is mostly what full frame should be used for) resolution is sufficient for most needs. Certainly, at the quoted pricing, the FS100 for a few hundred more is a much better buy, albeit it has only APC/super 35mm frame size. We all need to remember that in terms of film look, full frame is way beyond the shallowness of depth of field that 35mm cinemas cameras provided. APC/super35mm cameras are much closer to that. So the shallowness provided by a FF camera is more of an extreme than a standard.

On the other side, full frame does help with the low light shooter, both in terms of a larger chip size and the usability of faster normal lenses like 50mm F 1.4, which are common.