Here's a question for those not liking the Nikon colors.....do any of you ever shoot with a custom WB? I have started being a lot more diligent in trying to do that for all my closer in shooting with my Canons, and I will say that it makes a world of difference. Yes, you can do an adjustment to the RAW files in processing, but I have been seeing much nicer overall results by doing a custom WB before shooting the next series, where the light may change a bit. There is a lot going on in the tint that none of the camera settings ever seem to get right. So, if you are not doing a custom WB, at least toss in a proper gray card with each set of shots and balance from that. Remember, the camera settings are "averages", and the AWB is going to vary all over the place in a shot as the focus point moves over different areas. None are reliable, and the results are that folks wind up spending a whole lot of frustrating time trying to get a good WB later, and most resort to just accepting whatever the camera offers up. The tint is critical.
I do agree that the curves from the various cameras are also different, but I would bet that if folks were seriously doing a custom WB for each section of shots in changing light, they would be much happier with what they were seeing from the start.
Sorry if that is a bit off topic, but folks talking about the various colors and looks from the various cameras may be missing a big neutralizer from the start, and not being able or willing to make the tiny tint adjustments later. Just a thought.
On topic, I do think the A900 with some of that Zeiss glass is delivering some absolutely great looking color right out of the box, and that is has "come out of nowhere" as Marc says, catching a lot of folks scratching their heads. Sony appears to be on the right track with this thing.
LJ