Sony A9 II -runko

Sony Alpha A9 Mark II body

The Sony a9 II is a professional's tool for the 2020 Olympics in Japan. Often, camera manufacturers release their top models and telephoto lenses before major sporting events, and Sony is no exception.

The newly released a9 Mark II contains much of the same as the first version, but with small details, fast data connections and improved weather protection, the body is even better suited to world-class requirements. And this development work will also be a joy for active hobbyists and professional photographers, including in Finnish nature and sports arenas.

The previous Sony A9 will still be available as normal. Sony has been releasing updates to the older model frequently. The latest updates have included, among other things, great features for autofocus: real-time EyeAF in video recording, continuous focusing also on animal eyes, and many other improvements. So even the older version is one of the best Pro cameras!

Features in a nutshell:

• Better weather protection and revised body ergonomics (larger grip and slightly thicker body, similar to the Sony A7R IV model)
• 10 fps continuous shooting with mechanical shutter (previous model 5fps)
• 20 FPS is possible with the electronic shutter, without the viewfinder going dark or slowing down, the focus works and the images
• 693 phase-detection AF points (covering 93% of the image area
• Real-time Eye AF during video, EyeAF also works with animals
• Both card slots are UHS-II type
• Ultra-fast data transfer via gigabit LAN (yes, a wired network connection!)
• Fast 2.4/5Ghz Wifi
• Voice memo and smarter image tagging features
• New faster BIONZ X processor, Eye AF locks on to the subject faster

Some of the features, such as the 24 megapixel image sensor, are the same as in the previous model. The processor and with it the autofocus locking has been faster and the viewfinder lag is smaller. Sony's autofocus is definitely worth trying and experiencing! 693 focus points and they cover 93% of the image area. The focus system tracks moving objects in real time and with amazing accuracy. The focus is updated 60 times per second, always recognizing the subject's eyes (works on people and now also on animals such as dogs). If the eyes are covered, it switches to face detection and then subject tracking. When the eyes appear, the focus immediately snaps back to its original position.

Like the previous model, the new Sony a9 II also includes face capture and prioritization in focus: you can take a picture of the bride and groom, save them to the camera's memory, and the camera will always focus on the wedding couple, even in group photos!

Continuous shooting with the electronic shutter is the same whopping 20 frames per second, the image remains in the viewfinder the whole time, so you can follow a moving subject closely. Using the mechanical shutter, the focusing speed is now 10 frames per second, and there is also an antiflicker feature, meaning that in difficult artificial lighting, the camera times the shutter so that the exposure is as good as possible. This feature is especially helpful when shooting in indoor halls with varying levels of lighting!

The manufacturer promises an internal stabilizer that moves the sensor with an aperture value of 5.5.

The body size has increased with better weather protection and a more ergonomic design. The innovations are similar to those on the a7R IV, so both models can use the same Sony VG-C4EM battery grip .

Video recording is possible at 4K UHD resolution, the image is created using 6K images from the pixels of the entire sensor area. This ensures the sharpest possible image without aliasing errors. Like the previous model, there is no S-Log recording.

Better workflow for professionals

The Sony a9 II includes very comprehensive data transfer options for professionals, the body has a 1000BASE-T network connection, images can be transferred directly to an FTP server. Settings for various FTP servers and the camera can be saved directly to the memory card. Image transfer via Wifi is faster and the camera supports the 5GHz frequency. The USB Type-C connection is also faster than version 3.2. In remote use with the Remote Camera tool, the image delay is lower than before.

A big innovation is the Voice Memo, which allows you to record a short audio description at the time of shooting. This is a very convenient way to quickly record the names of the subjects or the situation. This information can also be attached to the metadata of the image files.

The shutter mechanism has been redesigned, the mechanical shutter causes as little vibration as possible and tests have reached over 500,000 shutter cycles. The battery is the same proven Sony NP-FZ100, but this one is expected to offer an even higher number of shots.

Specifications:

• Sony FE mount
• 24 megapixel CMOS sensor ISO 100-51200, expandable 50-204800)
• Built-in 5-axis image stabilization
• 693 phase detection autofocus points
• Shutter speeds: 1/8000 - 30 s, 1/250 x-sync
• Serial: 20 fps with electronic shutter, 10 fps with mechanical
• Video: 8Bit 4K UHD 30P, no S-Log mode
• Two UHS-II style SD memory card slots
• Display: 7.5 cm tilting LCD, 1.44M touch screen
• 3.5mm microphone and headphone jack
• USB Type-C (USB 3.2) HDMI Micro, 1000BASE-T LAN, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• Size: 128.9 x 96.4 x 77.5mm
• Weight: 678g

The sales package includes:

Sony Alpha a9 II body, Sony NP-FZ100 battery, Sony BC-QZ1 charger, Sony ALC-B1EM body cap, shoulder strap, USB C cable