Sony a99 II
Announced September 19, 2016
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
Strong
The Sony a99 II is a powerful full-frame camera that excels at high-resolution stills and rapid burst shooting. Although it provides a robust feature set for action photography, the platform suffers from significant video limitations and a lack of support for the A-mount system.
Weighted from 18 reviewer scores
Pros
- Rapid 12 fps continuous shooting with advanced hybrid autofocus
- Rugged, weather-sealed body with extensive physical controls and customizable buttons
- Versatile articulating screen and 5-axis in-body image stabilization
- High-resolution 42MP sensor with excellent detail and dynamic range
- High-quality 4K video recording with S-Log support
Cons
- Restricted video autofocus and exposure control
- Mediocre battery life compared to other professional models
- Complex, non-touch interface with an unresponsive joystick
- Uncertain future for the A-mount lens system
- Slow buffer clearing and lack of UHS-II support
- Launch price $3,199 (USD)
- Sensor 42.4MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS
- Stabilization In-body IS
What the Reviewers Say
All 18 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 85/100
Even with its video and autofocus quirks, the a99 II manages to be the world's first all-rounder camera capable of both high-resolution and 12 fps burst shooting with AF.
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Bottom line, apart from slow buffer clearing and sluggish power-on to first shot time, the Sony A99 Mark II's performance is excellent for a full-frame "DSLR", with fast AF, low shutter lag, very fast cycle times and incredible burst speeds for the resolution and sensor size.
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So if you're doing any sort of sports, action, journalism and you want to use A-mount glass, I do think that this platform is definitely worthwhile.
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I can see the appeal here for professional photographers though. [...] However, I don’t anticipate many videographers accepting the compromises found in the Sony a99II when the DSLR for video market is already highly saturated.
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The Sony Alpha A99 Mark II is a combination of Sony's latest technogies, including the excellent 42 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, which gives both high resolution images, and low noise, delivering excellent image quality.
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Sony has produced an excellent camera with the A99 II, following on from the excellent work of the original A99.
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The Sony A99 II is a great full-frame camera for sports and action photographers.
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The A99 II’s specs are stunning. Never before have photographers been able to shoot at these frame rates and this resolution.
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No other camera can capture high-resolution images at an extreme burst rate, making the Sony Alpha 99 II an attractive option for shooting fast-moving action.
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Given the four-year gap between the Sony A99 II and its predecessor, it’s no surprise to see the A99 II as a significantly stronger camera.
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[T]his is absolutely a great camera.
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I have to say the Sony a99 II is exceptional for still images, but for video it kind of feels like they've crippled the potential of it.
- Digital Trends 8/10
The A99 Mark II is a long time coming. Despite the quirks, Sony has delivered a winning camera.
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[T]he Alpha 99 II is a marked improvement over its predecessor and a brilliant all-rounder. And when it comes to 4K video capture, well, there are few that can compete at this level. The A99 II is a triumph for translucent.
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With its price tag and DSLR-like build, the A99 II isn’t for everyone. And if you’re already invested in the Nikon or Canon systems, you’re probably better off going with those company’s respective full-frame models so that you can use your existing lenses.
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All right, so my final thoughts on the Sony a99 II. This was one of the best cameras I've ever used in my life.
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Now if you're taking a serious look at this camera and you have a lot of A-mount lenses, this might be a great option for you, especially if you're upgrading from a lower end model.
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The Sony A99II is one of the greatest cameras on the market today and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. It’s a camera that seems to be amazing at everything with virtually no weaknesses.
