Sony Alpha A99 II Review | 108 Data compared

The Sony Alpha 99 II (a99 II) marks a highly significant upgrade for the A-mount SLT community, combining elite-tier 42-megapixel full-frame resolution with the blinding speed of 12 frames per second continuous shooting. A primary pro of this flagship is its elite image quality, inherited from the Alpha 7R II but optimized via an enhanced "LSI" coprocessor that boosts fine texture details up to 100 line pairs more in lab tests. Its revolutionary hybrid autofocus system deploys 399 focal-plane phase-detection fields paired with a dedicated 79-point focus module, ensuring rapid, precise tracking even in extreme low light down to -4 LW. Video capabilities are equally top-tier, offering internal Ultra-HD (4K) recording at 30 fps oversampled from 15 megapixels, alongside a high-resolution, fluid electronic OLED viewfinder, a highly flexible 3-inch tilting display, integrated 5-axis image stabilization, and a splash-proof magnesium body. Despite these stellar attributes, the camera is held back by several notable software and hardware limitations. The most prominent con is the sluggish performance of the dual SD memory card slots, which cap transfer speeds at a meager 35 MByte/s;...

The Sony Alpha 99 II, reviewed by DKamera, is praised for its 42.4MP BSI sensor and a 79-point hybrid phase-detection autofocus system that enables 12 frames per second shooting. It features a robust, sealed magnesium alloy body, a sharp 3-inch articulated screen, and a high-resolution OLED viewfinder. However, the review highlights drawbacks including underwhelming battery life and slow buffer clearing due to a lack of UHS-II support. Additionally, the camera lacks a built-in flash, touch functionality, and has certain restrictions in video mode compared to its predecessor.

The Sony Alpha 99 II is a high-performance full-frame SLT camera featuring a 42-megapixel sensor without a low-pass filter, capable of 4K video recording and 12 frames per second burst shooting with continuous autofocus tracking. Its unique fixed, translucent mirror system routes light simultaneously to the image sensor and a dedicated 79-point phase-detection autofocus module, which combines with a 399-point sensor-AF system to provide expansive cross-sensor coverage. The sturdy magnesium alloy body is dust and splashproof, offering an exceptionally sharp 0.78x OLED electronic viewfinder, a highly flexible dual-axis tilting 3-inch monitor, 5-axis image stabilisation, a top info display, and dual SD memory card slots. The primary advantages (pros) highlighted in the review are the camera's phenomenally high image resolution, its top-tier, lag-free electronic viewfinder, and the exceptional burst speed that rivals professional sports cameras. Additionally, the larger body accommodates a battery that yields around 400 shots per charge, which can be further expanded using the compatible VG-C77 battery grip. On the downside (cons), the camera exhibits a relatively slow shutter lag of 0.39 to 0.47 seconds when using autofocus, falling...

The DigitalPHOTO review highlights the Sony Alpha 99 Mark II as a highly advanced A-mount flagship camera that inherits the exceptional 42.4-megapixel Exmor R CMOS full-frame sensor from the mirrorless Alpha 7R II. In testing, this sensor delivers outstanding image sharpness, clean subject separation, and an impressive dynamic range well-suited for professional street and daily photography. The camera's main strengths (pros) include its robust, un-gimmicky body designed for serious workflows, a high continuous burst rate, a highly effective 5-axis integrated optical image stabilization system that extends exposures by up to 4.5 stops, and a versatile standard ISO range of 100 to 25,600 (expandable from 50 to 102,400). Driven by the Bionz X image processor and a powerful hybrid autofocus system, it nearly achieves the publication's top-tier "SUPER" rating, easily outperforming the 91.13% overall score of its predecessor. However, the review and wider technical analysis point out notable limitations (cons) for this Translucent Mirror (SLT) system. Because it targets a dwindling, "alternative-less" niche of original A-mount lens users, finding new native lens support can be difficult, as highlighted by accompanying product...

The Sony A99 Mark II is a highly capable A-mount camera designed for professional photographers and videographers, serving as a powerful continuation of Sony's SLT (Single-Lens Translucent) hybrid system. The review highlights its exceptional 42-megapixel full-frame sensor, which captures immense detail (7,952 x 5,304 pixels) with rich dynamic range, highly natural color reproduction, and low luminance noise at ISO 100. Performance is a major strength; the camera achieves a rapid burst rate of 12 frames per second, supported by an expanded buffer that stores up to 60 JPEGs or 50 RAW files. It features an upgraded menu system, an abundance of physical controls including a rear joystick, and an advanced 5-axis image stabilization system that provides 4.5 stops of compensation while remaining compatible with older A-mount and Minolta lenses. For video, it excels in 4K resolution, capturing 1,959 out of 2,160 vertical lines for professional-grade sharpness and extensive post-production profiles. However, the review points out several distinct drawbacks to the system. On the physical side, the camera body feels bulky and clunky due to the necessary internal space required for...

The Sony Alpha 99 II is a high-performance full-frame camera utilizing a semi-transparent SLT mirror system that balances an impressive 42-megapixel resolution with high-speed shooting capabilities of up to 12 frames per second. It features an advanced autofocus system boasting 399 focal points—including 15 cross-type and 79 hybrid points—which provides exceptional sharpness and speed for static subjects, competitive with top-tier DSLRs. The camera excels in image quality, offering a remarkable dynamic range that outperforms rivals like the Canon 5D Mark 4, great handling of mixed light, and strong ISO noise performance that remains discreet up to ISO 1600. For video enthusiasts, it captures high-quality UHD footage, particularly in its Super-35 mode which uses 5K oversampling to deliver superior sharpness, enhanced detail, and reduced noise. However, the camera suffers from several functional and ergonomic limitations. Its continuous autofocus (AF-C) during high-speed bursts is inconsistent and prone to "pumping," making it less reliable for fast action or wildlife compared to more expensive professional sports cameras. The ergonomics are flawed due to an overly short grip that makes the chassis feel left-heavy, paired...

Sony Alpha 99 II The Sony Alpha 99 II successfully breaks the traditional trade-off between high resolution and high-speed performance by combining a 42.4-megapixel full-frame BSI sensor with a blazing 12 frames-per-second (fps) continuous shooting rate. In practical testing—specifically tracking a model airplane flying at speeds up to 220 km/h—the camera's 399-point autofocus tracking system proved highly effective, delivering a sharp-image yield of over 80% when paired with SSM lenses. The 42.4-megapixel resolution offers massive cropping flexibility, allowing photographers to crop down to a sharp DIN-A4 print size (approx. 8.7 megapixels) without losing visible print quality. Furthermore, despite a translucent mirror design that causes a -0.5 EV light loss, the copper-wired BSI sensor ensures outstanding image quality up to ISO 800, with highly usable results stretching up to ISO 12,800. However, the camera suffers from significant bottlenecks when processing large data volumes. During long continuous bursts, the camera heavily restricts user commands and menu access because it does not support faster UHS-II memory cards, relying instead on a much slower UHS-I slot. Additional usability flaws include a spongy rear joystick...

This field test evaluates the Sony Alpha 99 Mark-II (ILCA-99M2) paired with the SAL500F4G lens during a winter tour of the Poing Wildlife Park, comparing its real-world performance against the original A99, the APS-C A77 Mark-II, and a Canon 1Dx. The camera excels in autofocus speed and precision, particularly during challenging scenarios like tracking active foxes through thick mesh fencing, outperforming the comparison models. Its high-ISO performance remains impressive up to ISO 6,400 and produces usable still images even at ISO 25,600, though moving targets at extreme ISO settings fail to lock focus, and a slight green/magenta colour shift appears in low-light environments. Furthermore, the review praises the vastly improved energy management, noting that the camera outlasts its predecessor on a single battery, and highlights the elimination of shutter lag alongside a buffer that allows users to preview photos while writing to an older Class 10 SD card. Despite these significant generational leaps, the reviewer notes several downsides, chief among them being the 42-megapixel sensor. From a practical standpoint, this high resolution creates massive data loads that encumber editing workflows...