Sony a9 II
Announced October 3, 2019
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Exceptional
Sony a9 II is a refined, high-speed tool that excels in professional sports and wildlife photography thanks to its market-leading autofocus and blackout-free burst shooting. While it offers meaningful ergonomic and connectivity improvements over its predecessor, some users find its video capabilities and menu interface remain behind current industry standards.
Weighted from 21 reviewer scores
Pros
- Industry-leading autofocus system with extensive frame coverage and reliable subject tracking
- Enhanced physical design featuring a deeper grip and improved button layout
- High-performance burst shooting with no viewfinder blackout
- Professional-grade connectivity options including Ethernet and faster Wi-Fi
- Reliable battery longevity and durable, weather-sealed construction
Cons
- Complex, disorganized menu system with limited touchscreen integration
- Lack of advanced video features, profiles, and high-resolution frame rates
- Viewfinder resolution is lower than other models in the same price tier
- Manual battery door lock and other minor ergonomic frustrations
- Missing modern storage standards like CFexpress or XQD support
- Launch price $4,499 (USD)
- Sensor 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked CMOS
- Video 4K 29.97p
- Stabilization In-body IS, 5.5 stops (CIPA)
- Burst 20 fps electronic 10 fps mechanical
What the Reviewers Say
All 21 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 90/100
The Sony Alpha 9 Mark II comes with the best autofocus system we've seen. It's compact yet has a good-sized grip, produces great Raw and JPEG files, offers excellent battery life and solid video capture.
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The Sony a9 II makes a case for selection when challenging subjects and important shoots are involved.
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The Sony Alpha 9 Mark II is a very different kind of new camera for Sony. Whereas the first a9 left the camera world wowed with its amazing performance, the a9M2 has left many photographers uttered a jaded, “meh”.
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If you feel like one of these people, just know that the A9 II is the more future-proof, fine-tuned option.
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If you look at the improved ergonomics, you look at the improved processor and the improved algorithms for real-time tracking and and things like the shutter mechanism has been enhanced a little bit, it's got more dampeners to it so it's a little less vibration.
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[W]hilst the camera is definitely capable of delivering high-speed images, and producing great looking images, we wish there were further tweaks that would make the camera even easier to use.
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The new Sony Alpha A9 II is faster, more refined, more durable and more versatile than the two-year-old A9 camera that it succeeds, making it simply a better tool for the professional sports photographers and photojournalists that it's even more clearly aimed at.
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I don't think a DSLR is going to keep up and acquire it just like I was able to do with the A9 II.
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The Sony A9 II is a fast, ferocious full-frame sports camera. Its blistering burst speed and autofocus performance are matched by its phenomenal connectivity, which promises to be a game changer for pro shooters.
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The Sony a9 II's blackout-free capture experience sets it apart from its full-frame rivals, and its 20fps subject tracking is unmatched.
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For the target audience though, this is one heck of an upgrade over the original A9. It feels a lot more refined and a far more efficient tool for photographers in the field.
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At first glance, the new Sony A9 II doesn’t appear to offer much over its predecessor, but when you move past the sensor and look under the hood, you’ll find a camera that is faster, more refined and arguably much more versatile than the camera it succeeds.
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The Sony a9 II may not be Sony’s newest flagship, but it remains one of the most dependable tools for professional photographers.
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When the A9 was released, it was a game-changer. The A9ii extends on that by improving usability and ergonomics as a natural evolution.
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Look, hands down, if you need the best auto focusing system on the market, it's the Sony Alpha 9 II. There's no way around that, and I think it's going to be the best for quite a while.
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Stick with lenses sold by Sony, be they branded Sony or Zeiss, for the best results as you expect. Sony's GM lenses are especially excellent in every way on the A9 II.
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At $4,500 the a9 II is in my opinion the best sports and wildlife camera ever made.
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Besides that though, I really enjoyed using the Sony a9 II. It's just I love the improvements that Sony's done on it.
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The auto focus performance, including the tracking, is good enough to get you a much higher keeper rate. The frame advanced rate of 20 frames per second is more than enough for wildlife photography.
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They are not many, the improvements on the Sony a9 II, but they have made an already formidable sports camera a little faster, a little better to use, and a little more relevant as an alternative to Canon and Nikon’s fastest professional cameras.
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I love to shoot sports, I love to shoot sports with Sony, the glass, the Sony a9 II, phenomenal tools that make my life so much easier.
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