Sony · Alpha

Alpha SLT-A99

Released October 2012

A 24.3 MP full-frame A-mount camera with a fixed translucent mirror, dual phase-detection autofocus and a three-axis articulating screen.

Type: Translucent mirror
Sensor: Full frame
Megapixels: 24.3
Lens: Sony A-mount
Video: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Body weight: 733 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised image quality, the electronic viewfinder and video handling. PhotographyBlog found default JPEGs slightly soft and criticised the joystick and occasional video focus jumps. Photo Review praised high-ISO results but noted weaker battery endurance than rivals and gaps in the A-mount lens range available at the time.

From photographyblog.com and photoreview.com.au

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Translucent mirror
Sensor format: Full frame
Sensor type: Exmor CMOS
Sensor dimensions: 35.8 × 23.9 mm
Effective resolution: 24.3 MP
Largest image: 6000 × 4000
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 100–25600
Sensor detail: 24.7 million total photosites; fixed translucent mirror directs light to the dedicated phase-detection AF module while the main sensor supplies live view
Image formats: JPEG including Extra Fine, 14-bit RAW (Sony ARW 2.3) and RAW+JPEG; 3:2 or 16:9 stills; no 3D panorama
ISO detail: Standard ISO 100–25600; expanded ISO 50, 64 and 80; multi-frame noise reduction ISO 100–51200; movie sensitivity ISO 100–6400 or Auto ISO 100–3200
Image processor: BIONZ with front-end LSI

Lens and shooting

Lens mount: Sony A-mount
Stabilisation: Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst: 6 fps
Lens detail: Sony, Minolta and Konica Minolta A-mount AF lenses; APS-C crop mode available; kit lenses are separate from body specifications
Autofocus: 19 dedicated phase-detection points including 11 cross sensors, with 102 on-sensor assist points; AF-D and assist points require supported lenses and firmware. AF-S, AF-A, AF-C, AF-D, direct manual and manual focus; AF range limiter and AF micro-adjustment; EV −1–18 at ISO 100 with an F2.8 lens
Shutter: 1/8000–30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; selectable electronic first curtain; maker-tested approximately 200,000 shutter operations
Burst detail: Full-frame continuous shooting up to 6 fps, APS-C up to 7 fps, or 2.5 fps Lo. Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE offers 8 fps at approximately 10 MP or 10 fps at approximately 4.6 MP; 10 fps is JPEG only. With UHS-I SD and ISO 320 or lower, or high-ISO noise reduction off, full-frame Hi buffer is 15 Extra Fine, 24 Fine or 29 Standard JPEGs, 15 RAW or 12 RAW+JPEG; Auto ISO with normal noise reduction reduces this to 11/12/12/10/8 frames respectively
Stabilisation detail: SteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift for stills, maker claim approximately 2.5–4.5 stops; electronic stabilisation for movies
Flash: No built-in flash; compatible external flash uses ADI or pre-flash TTL; Multi Interface Shoe, with supplied ADP-MAA adapter for Auto-lock accessories
Exposure controls: PASM, automatic, scene, panorama and tele-zoom continuous AE modes; 1200-zone metering; ±5 EV exposure compensation in 1/3 or 1/2 steps; D-Range Optimizer and Auto HDR

Video

Highest video resolution: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detail: Japan/NTSC: Full HD AVCHD 2.0 at 60p/28 Mbps, 60i/24 or 17 Mbps, and 24p/24 or 17 Mbps; MP4 up to 1440 × 1080 at 30 fps. A/S/M movie exposure requires manual focus; continuous phase-detection AF uses automatic exposure. Clean uncompressed HDMI output can operate alongside internal recording; recording limit approximately 29 minutes or 2 GB per file
Audio: Built-in stereo microphone, external stereo microphone input, headphone output, adjustable audio recording level and level display; mono playback speaker

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 1,228,800
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Three-axis WhiteMagic RGBW LCD tilts 140° upwards or 180° forwards and rotates 180° right or 90° left; 1,228,800 dots count colour subpixels; separate top status LCD
Viewfinder detail: 0.5-type XGA OLED Tru-Finder with 2,359,296 dots, 100% coverage and approximately 0.71× magnification with a 50 mm lens; focus peaking and magnification

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 410 photographs
Body weight: 733 g
Release detail: Sony Korea announced late-October 2012 retail availability; Sony Japan specifies 26 October 2012. October is the earliest maker-stated on-sale precision read
Recording media: Two SD/SDHC/SDXC slots with UHS-I support; one also accepts Memory Stick PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo; simultaneous backup and RAW/JPEG separation available
Ports: USB 2.0 mini-B, mini HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, remote, DC input and flash sync terminal; Multi Interface Shoe
Wireless connections: SLT-A99V incorporates GPS geotagging; Japanese specification and photograph represent this regional model
Battery life detail: NP-FM500H; CIPA maker claim approximately 410 photographs with the viewfinder or 500 with the LCD; optional VG-C99AM grip holds two additional batteries
Charging: Supplied BC-VM10A external charger
Dimensions: Approximately 147 × 111.2 × 78.4 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Approximately 733 g body only; 812 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo
Materials: Magnesium-alloy body with dust and moisture resistance measures; complete resistance is not guaranteed
Colours: Black
In the box: NP-FM500H battery, BC-VM10A charger, USB cable, ADP-MAA shoe adapter, accessory shoe cap, shoulder strap, body cap, eyepiece cup and software CD

Pros and cons

Pros

Sensor-shift stabilisation with compatible A-mount lenses
Phase-detection autofocus during movies and continuous shooting
Dual card slots, headphone output and clean HDMI video

Cons

No built-in flash
Fastest burst modes crop the image

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyAlpha 99 II	Translucent mirror	Full frame	42.4	Sony A-mount	3840 × 2160 at 30 fps	770 g	Nov 2016
SonyAlpha SLT-A37	Translucent mirror	APS-C	16.1	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 30 fps	448 g	May 2012
SonyAlpha SLT-A57	Translucent mirror	APS-C	16.1	Sony A-mount	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	539 g	Apr 2012

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

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