Sony · Alpha

Alpha 99 II

Released November 2016

A 42.4 MP full-frame A-mount camera combining a translucent mirror, hybrid phase-detection autofocus and full-resolution 12 fps shooting.

Type: Translucent mirror
Sensor: Full frame
Megapixels: 42.4
Lens: Sony A-mount
Video: 3840 × 2160 at 30 fps
Body weight: 770 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised detailed images, fast shooting, the viewfinder and adjustable screen. PhotographyBlog reported underexposure in some scenes and slower low-contrast focusing; Digital Camera World found metering dependable. Both saw high-ISO detail loss. Digital Camera World also criticised the joystick and short battery endurance relative to professional DSLRs.

From photographyblog.com, digitalcameraworld.com, digitalcameraworld.com, digitalcameraworld.com and digitalcameraworld.com

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Translucent mirror
Sensor format: Full frame
Sensor type: Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS
Sensor dimensions: 35.9 × 24 mm
Effective resolution: 42.4 MP
Largest image: 7952 × 5304
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 100–25600
Sensor detail: 43.6 million total photosites; back-illuminated full-frame sensor without an optical low-pass filter; translucent mirror directs light to the dedicated AF sensor
Image formats: JPEG Extra Fine/Fine/Standard, compressed or uncompressed 14-bit RAW (Sony ARW 2.3) and RAW+JPEG; 3:2 or 16:9 stills; APS-C capture up to 5168 × 3448; Sweep Panorama
ISO detail: Standard still and movie ISO 100–25600; expanded still ISO 50–102400; Auto ISO 100–6400 with adjustable bounds
Image processor: BIONZ X with front-end LSI

Lens and shooting

Lens mount: Sony A-mount
Stabilisation: Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst: 12 fps
Lens detail: Sony, Minolta and Konica Minolta A-mount AF lenses; hybrid AF availability depends on lens compatibility
Autofocus: 79 dedicated phase-detection points including 15 cross sensors and a central F2.8 sensor, combined with 399 on-sensor phase-detection points (323 selectable) for 79 hybrid cross points. Central dedicated point sensitivity EV −4–18 at ISO 100 with F2.8 lens. AF-S/AF-A/AF-C, direct manual focus, Eye AF, Lock-on AF and AF micro-adjustment; on-sensor system unavailable for movies
Shutter: 1/8000–30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; selectable electronic first curtain; maker shutter durability claim more than 300,000 operations with electronic first curtain active
Burst detail: Up to 12 fps Hi+ at full resolution with AF/AE tracking; up to 8 fps Hi with continuous live view, 6 fps Mid or 4 fps Lo. In Hi+, focus locks on the first frame at F9 or smaller apertures with hybrid AF, or at F4 or smaller without hybrid AF. Maker Hi+ buffer: 60 Extra Fine/63 Fine/64 Standard JPEG, 54 compressed RAW or RAW+JPEG, 25 uncompressed RAW or 24 uncompressed RAW+JPEG. Anti-flicker shooting can reduce speed; rates depend on lens, card and conditions
Stabilisation detail: Five-axis sensor-shift SteadyShot INSIDE for stills and movies; maker CIPA claim 4.5 stops for pitch/yaw with SAL135F18Z and long-exposure noise reduction off
Flash: No built-in flash; ADI or pre-flash TTL with compatible external flash; Multi Interface Shoe and flash sync terminal
Exposure controls: PASM, automatic, panorama and three memory-recall settings; 1200-zone metering including highlight-weighted and whole-screen average modes; ±5 EV compensation; D-Range Optimizer, Auto HDR and anti-flicker shooting

Video

Highest video resolution: 3840 × 2160 at 30 fps
Video detail: XAVC S 4K 3840 × 2160 at 30p/25p or 24p depending on region, at 100 or 60 Mbps. Super 35mm mode provides full pixel readout without binning. Full HD XAVC S up to 120p/100p at 100 or 60 Mbps. S&Q capture 1–120 fps with no sound. S-Log2/S-Log3, time code, gamma display assist, zebra and clean HDMI output. Maker continuous recording limit approximately 29 minutes; 100 Mbps requires UHS-I U3 SDHC/SDXC
Audio: Built-in stereo microphone, adjustable recording level, 3.5 mm microphone input and headphone output; mono playback speaker

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 1,228,800
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Three-way WhiteMagic LCD: approximately 134° upward/180° downward tilt and 180° clockwise/90° anticlockwise rotation; top status display; no touch input
Viewfinder detail: 0.5-type XGA OLED Tru-Finder with 2,359,296 dots, 100% coverage and approximately 0.78× magnification; ZEISS T* and outer fluorine coatings

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
Battery life (maker's claim): 390 photographs
Body weight: 770 g
Release detail: Sony Canada specifies North American shipment in November 2016
Recording media: Two SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I slots, one also accepting Memory Stick PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo; simultaneous recording, RAW/JPEG separation and copying available
Ports: Multi/Micro USB terminal, micro HDMI Type D, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, flash sync terminal, DC input, wired remote connection and Multi Interface Shoe
Wireless connections: IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz, NFC and Bluetooth 4.1; location data can be acquired from a compatible paired phone; no built-in GPS
Battery life detail: NP-FM500H; maker CIPA claim approximately 390 photographs with viewfinder or 490 with LCD
Charging: Supplied BC-VM10A external battery charger
Dimensions: Approximately 142.6 × 104.2 × 76.1 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Approximately 770 g body only or 849 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo
Materials: Magnesium-alloy body with dust- and moisture-resistant measures; complete resistance is not guaranteed
Colours: Black
In the box: NP-FM500H battery, BC-VM10A charger, shoulder strap, Micro USB cable, body cap, eyepiece cup and shoe cap; lens depends on kit

Pros and cons

Pros

High-resolution stills with fast full-resolution bursts
Five-axis sensor-shift stabilisation
4K recording, dual card slots and headphone output

Cons

No built-in flash
High-speed autofocus depends on lens and aperture

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyAlpha 68	Translucent mirror	APS-C	24.2	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 30 fps	596 g	Mar 2016
SonyAlpha SLT-A99	Translucent mirror	Full frame	24.3	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	733 g	Oct 2012
CanonEOS 5D Mark IV	DSLR	Full frame	30.4	Canon EF	4096 × 2160 at 29.97 fps	800 g	Sept 2016

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

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