Sony A9 Mark II: Is it worth it?
Sony A9 II
For any professional photographer looking for a new camera body, the Sony A9 Mark II is an excellent choice. The Sony A9 II’s mechanical shutter is the same one that you’ll find on the Sony A7R4. Battery life has improved by about 10%, and the autofocus got a speed boost compared to its predecessor, the Sony A9.
This full-frame mirrorless camera offers impressive features such as a 24.2MP Exmore RS sensor, a fast 20fps continuous shooting speed, and an impressive 5-axis in-body image stabilization. It has an improved Ibis mechanism of 5.5 S stabilization versus five stops on other Sony cameras. The weather sealing and ergonomics have been improved, like the Sony A7R4, released in the same year. Sony A9 II has 3.7 million as its predecessor and the same touch screen as the Sony A7R4, which means they’re still behind the competition like Nikon Z6.
Sony A9 Mark II Specs
| Company | Sony |
| Model name | Alpha 9 II |
| Form factor | Mirrorless |
| Effective still resolution | 24.2 MP |
| Special feature | BIONZ X Image Processor and Front-End LSI; 693-Point Phase-Detection AF System; 5-Axis Steady Shot INSIDE Stabilization IONZ X Image Processor and Front-End LSI; 693-Point Phase-Detection AF System; 5-Axis Steady Shot INSIDE Stabilization |
| Colour | Black |
| Connectivity technology | Bluetooth, wi-fi, USB and Ethernet |
| Screen size | 3 Inches |
| Video | 4K video quality |
| Photo Sensor Size | Full Frame (35mm) |
| Shooting modes | Hi Continuous Shooting |
With Sony A9 II, you can move the focus box while half-pressing the shutter, which is the first for any Sony camera. The Sony A9 II has five gigahertz Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port to easily transfer files in the background even when the camera is off. Now you can also do voice memos with the Sony A9 II.
The Sony A9 II has two U HS2 SD card slots compared to the original A9 with one card slot. A9 II provides phenomenal image quality. It has a wide ISO range of 100-51,200, and you can shoot in full-resolution RAW or JPEG format. The camera also offers 16-bit RAW support, allowing more detailed color and tone gradations than standard 12-bit RAW files.
The camera’s autofocus system is one great feature. It has 693 phase-detection autofocus points covering 93% of the frame and 425 contrast-detection autofocus points. This makes capturing sharp images in all kinds of lighting conditions much easier.
The camera also features a tilting LCD touchscreen, making composing shots from unusual angles easier. It also has a built-in electronic viewfinder, which is great for reviewing images and adjusting settings. The Sony A9 Mark II is an excellent camera for professional photographers. It offers superb image quality, fast autofocus, and various features, making capturing amazing shots easy.
High-speed BIONZ X™ image processing engine
The camera’s image-processing algorithms represent the latest advancements, allowing higher natural tonal gradations and more stable AWB for continuous shooting.
Silent shooting
Explore the advantages of high-speed silent shooting with a fully digital shutter- without a physical mechanism. The electronic shutter allows silent shooting without a mechanical mirror and shutter noise. It’s ideal for sports and subjects that demand quiet operation, greatly expanding camera versatility.
Real-time Tracking
Real-time Tracking technology uses AI to detect moving subjects from the wealth of information captured by the image sensor. Spatial data consisting of colour, pattern (brightness), and distance information are processed in parallel at high speed. Human and animal face and eye location data are detected continuously in real-time using AI, realizing high accuracy with automatic detection and tracking performance for moving subjects.
Reliable Durability and Weather Resistance in Tough Situations
The A9 II enhances body durability by using lightweight, high-rigidity magnesium alloy for covers and internal frame, keeping the camera rigid and light. In response to pro opinions, enhanced sealing is applied to the battery cover, terminal cover, and all joints in the chassis. A double-sealed sliding mechanism replaces the hinge of the media compartment lid for better moisture resistance. Routes to dust and moisture entry have been re-examined, and a cushion around the lens mount has been added to ensure reliable operation in challenging environments.
Faster Data Transfer; 5 GHz Wi-Fi® and USB 3.2 Gen 1
Connectivity has been improved, with new support for the IEEE 802.11ac 5 GHz band Wi-Fi® when the camera is connected in wireless mode, along with the camera’s USB Type-CTM terminal that supports USB 3.2 Gen 1.
Real-Time Eye AF for Humans and Animals
Real-time Eye AF relies on advanced AI to continuously analyze and detect eyes from the image sensor’s copious data, with left- or right-eye preference possible with a simple toggle. By half-pressing the shutter button, even animal eyes are detected. Team it up with Real-time Tracking for superior tracking performance of live subjects.
AF/AE-tracking continuous shooting with A-mount lenses
The body’s 693-point focal-plane phase-detection AF provides wide-area coverage, fast response, and high tracking performance, not only for E-mount but also for A-mount lenses with a mount adaptor (LA-EA3). Continuous shooting of up to 10fps with AF tracking is possible.
Incredibly Fast Continuous Shooting
Thanks to the Sony A9 II’s incredible speed, continuous shooting is possible at up to 20fps with the electronic shutter and 10fps with the mechanical shutter to capture fast-moving subjects with either shutter mode even at its highest speed; the flash can be synchronized with the mechanical shutter.
Full-Frame Stacked CMOS Sensor with Integral Memory
Sony A9 II is the mirrorless camera that delivers next-generation high-speed performance far exceeding SLRs. It has an outstanding 35 mm stacked CMOS image sensor with integral memory for an impressive overall readout speed. This 24.2 MP image sensor achieves high sensitivity of up to ISO 204800 (extended) with the design of a back-illuminated structure.
Works with iMovie and Final Cut Pro X
This product is compatible with Final Cut Pro X and iMovie.
| PROS | CONS |
| Touchscreen LCD | No built-in flash |
| Dual SD card slots | The fastest full-frame mirrorless camera on the market |
| Fastest full-frame mirrorless camera on the market |
Who is Sony A9 mark II for?
The Sony A9 II camera is clearly for your working sports, photojournalism, wildlife photographer, casual hobbyists, and beginners. It is perfect for capturing sports, wildlife, action shots, everyday photos, and videos. Great for landscape, portrait, and event photography. Sony A9 ii is a great camera for video recording, with excellent low-light performance and 4K recording capabilities.
Final Verdict
The Sony A9 Mark II is an excellent choice for professional photographers specializing in sports or wildlife photography with a rugged magnesium alloy body and weather-sealed design. It is compatible with Sony’s extensive collection of E-mount lenses.
I recommend looking Sony Alpha 1, which is more advanced than Sony A9 II.
Sony A9 II is an outstanding pricey camera, but worth the investment for those who need the best performance and reliability.
Sony A9 II Camera with 21-110mm lens