Forget Nikon. Forget Canon. Meet the Sony a99.

Okay, I feel guilty already. I love Nikon, and Canon has their perks, too. But I really do hope both companies can take a clue from Sony. The a99 is a hell of a camera — read on…I promise you’ll be pleasantly (if oddly) surprised.

First, the specs:

– $2,799.99 PRE-ORDER ALREADY OUT HERE
– 24MP full-frame sensor
– 14-bit RAW output
– Full 1080p output at 24p, 60p, 60i!!!!!!!!! FINALLY!
– Uncompressed clean HDMI out
– ISO up to 25,600 (Wow)
– 6fps
– Dual SD card slots
– Dual Phase Detection AF System (a world first)
– Weather-sealed
– Built-in GPS (I don’t care that much about this, but was it really that hard, people?)
– Translucent Mirror technology that allows more continuous focusing
– Magnesium alloy body — lightest full-frame camera on the market at 733g (we’ll see when the D600 comes out)

ONE MAJOR BUT…

Unfortunately, I saw somewhere that the viewfinder is an OLED electronic viewfinder. While these are supposed to be awesome, my experience with similarly acclaimed viewfinders has been less than stellar — and since it’s what you’re looking through 99% of the time you’re shooting, it’s pretty important to have a great viewfinder experience. Maybe Sony cracked the viewfinder, though — you know, the way Steve Jobs supposedly ‘cracked’ the television (we’re still waiting on that one, Apple).

All in all, that’s a hell of a camera. I’ve heard some complaining about Sony’s lens line-up, among other things… But you know that if this was a Nikon or Canon (whatever camp you’re in), the pre-order would be filled in two seconds, flat. What do you guys think?