Sony Alpha 900

The Alpha 900 is a full-frame DSLR from 2008, built around a 24.6MP CMOS sensor and a Bionz image processor. It takes Sony Alpha-mount lenses.

It is a big machine at 895g with a 156 x 117 x 82mm body, so expect classic DSLR handling rather than something you carry everywhere just in case.

Owning one means shooting stills only. There is no video, no live view and no wireless transfer, so images come off the memory cards. In return you get an optical pentaprism viewfinder and stabilisation built into the body.

The full-frame CMOS sensor is the heart of this camera, and its resolution leaves room for generous cropping. The shutter reaches 1/8000s at its maximum speed.

Stabilisation sits in the body rather than the lens, so every Sony Alpha-mount lens you attach benefits from it. By reducing camera shake it makes handheld shooting practical at slower shutter speeds than would otherwise be possible.

Autofocus uses nine points and the maximum burst rate is 5fps, a peak figure rather than a sustained one. The point count alone does not tell you how tracking behaves in practice.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 200 to 3200, which covers bright and moderate conditions but stops short of what darker scenes would demand. The optical pentaprism viewfinder gives a direct view of the scene while you compose.

The Alpha 900 does not record video of any resolution or frame rate, and it has no built-in timelapse mode either. Video was simply not part of this camera's design, and it is purely a stills tool.

There are no resolution or frame-rate options to weigh up, because there are no movie modes at all. The fastest sequential capture on offer is the 5fps stills burst, a maximum rate that applies to photographs rather than video recording.

Anyone who needs motion clips alongside photographs will want a second device. For photographers shooting stills only, the absence costs nothing in day-to-day use, and images can be reviewed on the 3-inch LCD between shots.

The features score is modest, and the camera sits in the lower range of cameras in our database for Features. The missing touchscreen, live view and Bluetooth account for most of the shortfall.

The 3-inch LCD carries 921,600 dots, giving a detailed playback display. The screen also flips, useful for reviewing images from awkward angles, though with no live view you always compose through the optical viewfinder.

Weather sealing helps protect the body against dust and moisture outdoors. There is no built-in flash, but an external flash unit is supported when you need extra light.

There is no GPS, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Copying files to a computer means a card reader or cable, so plan for that in your workflow.

The storage and battery provision scores well. Two card slots accept CompactFlash Type I or II and Memory Stick Duo or Pro Duo, so you can fit two cards at once and carry spare storage without swapping.

CompactFlash UDMA Mode 5 support is built in, and the camera handles cards formatted with FAT12, FAT16 or FAT32 file systems.

The NP-FM500H battery is rated at 880 shots, a figure that is not a promise of real-world endurance. There is no USB charging, so you cannot top up over a USB cable, and packing a spare battery is worth considering for extended trips.