Sony A9 Review

Last Updated on July 23, 2022 by Sharon Advik

Pros
  • 20 frames per second with subject tracking
  • 24MP full-frame image sensor
  • Blackout is eliminated through an electronic shutter.
  • LCD screen that tilts
  • Very little weight and a small form factor
  • The new sensor provides impressive performance.
  • Outstanding image quality at both low and high ISOs
  • Enough dynamic range
  • Incredible 20 frames per second burst speed with compressed RAW
  • Twelve frames per second without compression.
  • Deep buffer, two SD card slots
Cons
  • A single UHS-II compatible slot
  • Speed is reduced to 12 fps by uncompressed raw capture.

Sony A9 Review:

Overview:

Its model number is ILCE-9, a Sony full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera.

As of 2017, it was Sony’s top-tier camera.

The camera is a supplement to the 7 lines of digital cameras rather than its replacement.

Sony describes the 9, unveiled on April 19, 2017, as a genuine professional mirrorless camera system.

The A9 is very similar in size and weight to the A7 series of cameras, measuring 127 x 96 x 63 mm and weighing 673g (23.7 oz) with the battery.

Similar to its A7 siblings, the camera has a compact, well-made feel, and its larger grip ensures a secure fit.

Sony claims that the A9 is dust and moisture-resistant in terms of weather resistance.

Detailed discussion about some of the essential features:

Exceptional Resolution:

With Sony a9’s unique features, any content you can upconvert to a lifelike 8K1 resolution.

For 8K photographs with four times the resolution of 4K for scenes rich in depth, texture, and detail, our Picture Processor X1TM Ultimate, which is twice as fast as the X1TM Extreme, correctly analyses and processes data.

With the help of an exclusive 8K database, 8K1 X-RealityTM PRO2,12 can upscale even photos shot in 4K and 2K to an almost 8K resolution.

Then, Object-based Super Resolution optimizes each subject’s resolution to replicate almost identical textures found in the real world.

Driving force for full-electronic revolution:

Thanks to the innovative full-frame stacking CMOS sensor with inbuilt memory, you are freed from the restrictions of traditional SLRs that depend on mechanical mechanisms.

The 24-2 megapixel full-frame picture sensor is the first to adopt a high-speed stacking design, which temporarily stores enormous volumes of data in the integrated memory for a 20 times quicker readout speed overall.

True digital freedom is provided by the union of the CMOS sensor and the improved BIONZ X image-processing engine.

No destructive noise and unwanted vibration:

Silent Photography is possible without the noise of a mechanical mirror or shutter, thanks to Sony a9’s anti-distortion electronic shutter.

It considerably increases camera versatility and is perfect for activities like sports and subjects that call for silent operation.

This camera’s mirror and shutter’s shock during SLR photography generates light vibration.

Possesses an electronic shutter that is vibration-free and can maintain camera stability for pin-sharp shots.

Lens Mount and Lenses:

There are 182 native lenses that you can use with the Sony A9’s Sony E lens mount.

The variety of Sony E and FE mount lenses keeps expanding, and there are also many excellent options from third-party lens manufacturers.

The options for adapting lenses from other mounts are endless because of its extremely short flange focal distance.

Sony also offers an adapter (Sony LA-EA4) that enables the use of A-mount lenses with E-mount cameras, including AF.

The whole line of Canon EF lenses with Auto Focus is usable with adapters from Metabones and Fotodiox when used with E-mount cameras.

Here are some of the top lenses mentioned for the sony Sony a9:

Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 – best lens for sony a9:

Full-frame lenses with superb resolution and strong contrast are Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8.

The tiny shape of the lens is quite comfortable in the hands.

Due to its metal construction, which is weatherproof and allows one to keep out dust and water, you may use this lens in challenging circumstances.

The advanced OLED display that showed the focus distance and depth of the field was one of the first things I saw.

It is a tremendous improvement for dimly lit areas.

Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 – best lens for Sony a9:

Two aspherical elements with exceptional surface precision and a minimum focusing distance of 0.28 m are featured in the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 wide-angle zoom lens.

The maximum magnification is 0.19x, and the 11 aperture blades provide smooth, defocused backgrounds with a field of vision of 107° to 63°.

The telescopic reverse-zoom also requires some getting used to.

On the other hand, this lens features excellent image quality and a precise, accurate, and rapid autofocus system.

Sony 24-70mm f/4 – best lens for Sony a9:

Full-frame zoom lens Sony 24-70mm f/4 has an angle of view of 84°-34°, a focusing distance of 0.4 m, and a maximum magnification of 0.20x.

This lens features an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare and has seven aperture blades.

The size and portability of this lens are remarkable, considering its long focal length.

In terms of build quality and design, it functions excellently.

The lens has an elegant design, and beautiful finishing lines make it comfortable to hold.

Sensor and Photography features:

One of the top sensors, the Sony a9’s 24.2Mp full-frame CMOS sensor, achieves excellent overall performance with a DxOMark sensor score of 92 points.

The Sony A7S takes first place in low-light performance thanks to the a9’s outstanding Sports (low-light ISO) score of 3517 ISO.

The a9’s Landscape (dynamic range) and Portrait (color depth) ratings at base ISO 50 are highly respectable, if not spectacular, at 13.3EV and 24.9 bits, respectively.

Thanks to its design, the camera can shoot at a rate of 20 frames per second, and it does so with an electronic shutter that is quick enough to reduce the rolling shutter effect.

The quick readout’s 60 AF/AE computations per the second capability promise better subject tracking and prediction.

LCD and Viewfinder:

The 3.0-inch rear LCD screen of the Sony Alpha A9 has a 1,440,000-dot resolution.

The diagonal of the screen is used to determine the LCD’s size.

For live view framing, image inspection, and setting management, having an extensive and detailed display on the back is practical.

The LCD size is logically related to the camera size, as a larger camera body will provide more space on the back for mounting a sizable rear screen.

Because the A9 includes an integrated electronic viewfinder, shooting in bright sunshine and other conditions when it would be challenging to see, the LCD monitor is made simpler.

The viewfinder offers a 3,686k-dot resolution and 100% coverage.

One hundred percent coverage guarantees that what you see in the viewfinder when taking the picture corresponds to what you will see later in your image, reducing the need for post-processing cropping and helping you frame your photos more precisely.

The magnification factor of the viewfinder is 0.78x (35mm equivalent).

Connectivity and Battery:

The Sony A9 has built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n + NFC + Bluetooth) connectivity, allowing you to transfer your images wirelessly and without a physical connection to compatible devices.

The Sony NP-FZ100, a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery pack, powers the Sony a9.

Lithium-Ion batteries are now used in many portable electronic gadgets because they have a high energy density and a low self-discharge rate.

The NP-FZ100 has a capacity of 2280mAh and runs at 7.2V.

You can charge the Sony BC-QZ1 charger from a regular electrical outlet.

The battery pack has the following dimensions: 52 mm in depth and 23 mm in height.

It is 85g in weight.

It’s important to note that the Sony A9 supports internal USB charging of its battery pack.

This feature can be beneficial when traveling because it eliminates the need to bring a separate battery charger.

You can recharge this camera battery by inserting a USB connection into a laptop.

Videos and Photos:

Sony A9 Video Specs the A9 provides 4K (UHD) video for videographers across the entire width of the full-frame sensor and up to 30p frames per second.

In reality, it gathers 6K of pixel data, which is downsampled to 4K without pixel binning.

The Sony A9’s video performance is excellent overall.

The Sony a9 has excellent image quality overall, and its native ISO 100–51200 sensitivity range performs well in low light (expandable to ISO 50-204800).

Additionally, the camera has 5-axis image stabilization, which keeps pictures clear and crisp even when they are handheld.

Suitable for “Portrait Photography”:

Sony A9 is a GOOD option for this style of photography, with a score of 76 for Portrait Photography.

The Sony A9 can handle the majority of your requirements.

Suitable for “Wedding Photography”:

It brings us to the Sony A9 and the revolutionary changes it brings to photography, which is, you guessed it, face/eye identification and autofocus accuracy, particularly in low-light conditions.

Said, when you bring the A9 to your first wedding, you’ll be amazed at how well it performs on the dance floor.

It doesn’t matter how dark it is; it always manages to concentrate.

An f/1.4 GM prime offers even better low-light accuracy when the lighting becomes too dim for an f/2.8 GM zoom.

Suitable for “Astrophotography”:

The “Interval Shooting” feature of the Sony A9 is revolutionary.

It allows beginning astrophotographers to experiment with several long-exposure deep-sky photos without using an intervalometer.

It shines when you use the Sony A9 to find and focus on deep-sky objects. the excellent “Live View significantly shortened the setup time.”

Stars appear clearly on the screen, and you will be impressed by the camera’s focus.

Why is Sony a9 preferred?

The a9 Mirrorless Camera incorporates impressive multimedia capabilities and boosts the processing capabilities for rapid continuous shooting, giving Sony mirrorless shooters the speed they’ve been waiting for.

The Sony A9 significantly improves sports, news, concert, motion-picture stills, and corporate shooting.

All this is accomplished while tracking autofocus and setting a broad dynamic range at 20 frames per second.

Additionally, its images look great in every light and are always sharp and well exposed under challenging and active conditions.

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