Sony Alpha A9 II Review
Are you looking for an upgrade in mirrorless cameras? Do you want to shoot with the latest technology? Do you want to switch from DSLRs? The Sony Alpha A9 II is here to outsmart the competition in every way. Nikon was leading the pack in professional photography with the D5. Canon’s EOS 1D X Mark II is often called the king of professional photography. But Sony launched Alpha A9 and heads were turned. Light, ridiculously fast, and built for speed, the A9 was the original full-frame mirrorless sports shooter. The newest addition, the Sony Alpha A9 II is the second generation model of this super quick and efficient camera.
The second-generation A9 is a modified version of the first. They may not seem a lot to amateurs or hobbyists but they will matter to professionals. The little tweaks and modifications will definitely please professional photographers who appreciate smart design. With the launch of the Alpha A9 II, the A9 has seen a drop in price. The Alpha A9 II was launched in 2019. The A9 II is priced at $4,500/7,299 AUD. This is a considerable investment so let’s find out if the Alpha A9 II is worth its hefty price tag.
One of the changes you notice in the A9 II is that there is a larger and deeper grip. What this does is it makes the camera really comfortable to hold and use for hours. For photographers with small hands, this is something quite useful. The AF-ON button is prominent and the multi-selector joystick is textured. These changes make it really easy for you to use it without taking your eye off the viewfinder.
One thing that the Alpha A9 II can do unmatched is shooting continuously twice as fast. Using the mechanical shutter, it can capture up to 10 frames per second. This makes it amazing to shoot under artificial lights. If you are a sports photographer shooting in indoor stadiums, there’s a new anti-flicker mode that detects fluorescent lighting and adjusts exposure accordingly. The anti-flicker mode is not available while shooting videos or using the electronic shutter.
The improvements to the camera’s connectivity that makes this the best option for professional photographers. The upgraded 100BASE-T Ethernet port is ten times faster than the 100 MB/s Terminal on the original A9. The USB-C port is faster than the Gen 1 standard, while Wi-Fi supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz as opposed to just the 2.4GHz in the original A9. These features will make transferring and uploading files a breeze for photographers.
Photographers who shoot often and for long hours will be relieved to hear that the battery life is strong and long-lasting. The improvement in battery life means you can shoot longer without any worry. There is an exciting new feature which is the voice memo. Vocal notes or instructions of up to 60 seconds can be recorded for individual images or a series of shots. If you have a team or assistant who uploads or edits the photos, these notes can come handy for them. The voice memos can also be converted into text using the Imaging Edge app.
The new Bionz X processor boosts the auto-focus immensely. Subject tracking has been made simple. You can use smaller apertures with Focus Priority switched on. Tracking is really precise and you can keep with constantly moving or shifting live subjects (birds, animals, or people). There are reported glitches if the head of the subject disappears or moves out of focus. The AF system can track the body more effectively.
Keeping in tradition with the A9, the Alpha A9 II with its 24.2 MP sensor delivers sharp images, precise colors, and impeccable details. There is an issue that RAW files have more chroma or noise as compared to JPEGs. This is due to the camera’s high calculation rate. But this can be easily fixed in post-production.
This camera is crafted for photojournalists, professional photographers, and someone looking to upgrade from A9. The new features are intricate, tech-based, and definitely an overkill or unnecessary for new users or amateur photographers. Some complaints are that Sony could have used this to answer the faults in A9 such as the limited touchscreen functionality. Even the absence of XQD or CFexpress card slots that could save files to card quickly is concerning. There are no special upgrades to shooting movies or filming videos. Other than the real-time eye-AF to 4K video recording upgrade.
With Sony’s recently launched long lenses, the Alpha A9 II becomes a competitor to the top best cameras in the market. Sports journalists, photojournalists, and photographers should definitely consider investing there money in this if they can. The 43 new features in it provide a fluid, sleek, and comfortable shooting experience for professional photographers.