Sony NEX-7 and Sony A900 ISO comps

Posted by Kurt on January 24, 2012 in Images Jottings

For those of you wondering about how the NEX-7 handles high ISOs as compared to the A900, look no further.  I’ve made some comps of both RAW and jpeg images, cropped from the center, with no changes other than converting the RAW (using ACR 6.6) to jpeg for posting.  I shot the scene in RAW+jpeg, and the jpeg is right out of the camera.

The Sony CZ 24/1.8 was used on the NEX-7, the Sony CZ 16-35mm (at 35mm) on the A900.  The coverage area is very similar on both cameras.

The NEX-7 seems slightly sharper if you look really close, no doubt due to the excellent prime lens.  Both were focused properly, AF was not used.

Let’s start with the jpeg crops.

 

ISO NEX-7 jpeg A900 jpeg
100 sony a900 iso
200
400
800
1600
3200
6400

 

I see blotchy color noise on the A900 at higher ISOs, but that approach holds the color together (look at the fabric) better than the NEX-7, which applies much more chroma noise reduction.  Luminance (smearing) noise reduction seems to be applied at the same levels for each camera.

Now for the RAW crops.

 

ISO NEX-7 RAW A900 RAW
100
200
400
800
1600
3200
6400

 

Shooting in RAW really levels the playing field.  The crops look similar up to about 3200, where the NEX-7 is arguably cleaner with slightly better color, however, the A900 seems to show a hair more detail, visible in the narrow light fabric stripes.  The NEX-7 shows cleaner straight lines.

I’m quite surprised by the very good high ISO performance of the NEX-7,  and prefer this look over the A900, although technically it may not show the absolute most detail.

That’s it for this comp, thanks for stopping by.

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  • Aslanjandima

    When the lens is very sharp, it does not matter the size of the matrix, if the resolution is the same. You can see the advantage of full frame matrix if the do portrait type test. If you have an equally strong background blur, then a full frame would be much better to work out front. Sorry for terrible English

  • Matthew Durr

    The comparison on the RAW images was very surprising. I wasn’t expecting it to resolve just about as well as the larger sensor.
    What is this black magic Sony has used to make an APS-C perform as a FF?

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      I’m surprised too, but remember the A900 is over 3 years old, 24mp on FF with the latest sensor technology should be at least a whole stop better than what you see here.

      • Rubicon

        True, the same time they have to develop an accompanying full frame translucent mirror, i can imagine that uniformity across it will be much harder to achieve since it would be bigger, might deteriote the image more than the A77 does…(but it is negligible on the a77..)

        • Matthew Durr

          I agree, I doubt a FF SLT will happen, as that film (it’s not a mirror) will be even more prone to temperature and humidity changes since it will have to be bigger. I would LOVE to be proved wrong though.
          At the same time I’ll never get a FF DSLR, so my point is moot. :)

  • Andrzej Dworaczek

    I’ m really looking forward to a Full Frame version of Nex – 7?

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      If it does come out, it’ll be years before Sony has a decent lens selection, unless they optimize the camera for using Leica type configured lenses, but I don’t see that happening:(

  • Rhtubbs

    Nice work!
    It would be interesting to see the same test run with the A900 using the new CZ24 F2. :)

  • Rhtubbs

    Nice work!
    It would be interesting to see the same test run with the A900 using the new CZ24 F2. :)

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      Probably won’t happen here, that lens was a loaner and it’s long gone!

  • Sesopenko

    You compared a zoom with a prime? tsk tsk tsk

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      The comp was for the ISO performance, just mentioned the lenses for the record….