Sony α99 II Full-Frame A-Mount Camera for Sports & Wildlife Photographers: 35mm Full-Frame 42.4-MP Back-Illuminated CMOS Sensor; Ultra-Fast 4D FOCUS with 79 Hybrid Cross AF Points; 12 fps Continuous Shooting with AF/AE Tracking; 5-Axis In-Body IS, Internal 4K Video Recording; Performs in Low-Light Levels as Dark as EV-4; Dust & Moisture Resistance¹³

The following video presents α99 II – Product Feature | α | Sony
“A new flagship A-mount model, the α99 II. A successor to the highly acclaimed ɑ99, the new α99 II combines the best of Sony’s latest digital imaging innovations with exclusive Sony A-mount features such as Translucent Mirror Technology (TMT). The result is a supremely specified, professional level camera.“

Sony recently announced their new flagship A-mount camera, the α99 II with digital imaging innovations including:

• Full-frame 4D Focus: Innovative Hybrid Phase Detection AF system with accurate 79 hybrid cross AF points¹ enabled by 79-point dedicated and 399-point focal-plane AF sensors and continuous shooting at up to 12fps² with AF/AE tracking⁶

• AF system also performs in low-light conditions, as it will function properly in brightness levels as low as EV-4⁵
• High resolution 42.4 effective MP 35mm Full-frame Exmor R™ CMOS sensor
• Newly developed optical 5-axis in-body image stabilisation system
• Internal 4K movie recording in XAVC S format¹⁶ with host of pro-orientated movie features
• No optical low-pass filter
• Both compressed and uncompressed RAW files are readily available based on user preferences
• Dust and moisture resistance¹³
• New ‘Slow and Quick’ mode¹⁸ (S&Q) that supports both slow motion and quick motion.  In this mode, frame rates from 1 fps to 120 fps can be selected in 8 steps for up to 60x  quick motion and 5x slow motion recording¹⁹.

The following video presents Slow & Quick motion | Sony:
“Slow and quick motion offer an almost endless variety of creative ways to express the passage of time.
Frame rates from 1 fps to 120fps (100fps) can be selected in eight steps for up to 60x quick motion and 5x slow motion*2 while recording at up to 50 Mbps with full-HD quality.
*1 No sound recording. Class 10 or higher SDHC/SDXC memory card required.
*2 NTSC standard. Up to 4x slow motion and up to 50x quick motion available with PAL.“

PRESS RELEASE

Sony Announces New Full-Frame α99 II A-mount Camera

by Communications 09/19/2016

Flagship A-mount camera Features Ultra-Fast 4D FOCUS with 79 hybrid cross AF points¹ plus 12 fps continuous shooting², High Resolution 42.4 MP Exmor R^® CMOS sensor, 5-axis in-body image stabilization and more

COLOGNE, Germany, Sept. 19, 2016 – Sony Electronics, a worldwide leader in digital imaging and the world’s largest image sensor manufacturer, has today introduced their new flagship A-mount camera, the α99 II.

Reaffirming Sony’s commitment to produce industry leading A-mount cameras, the impressive new camera combines the best of many of their latest digital imaging innovations including a new Hybrid Phase Detection AF system with exclusive Sony A-mount features such as Translucent Mirror Technology™. The result is a supremely specified, professional level camera that will be appealing to a variety of professional and enthusiast photographers.

“We are continuing to innovate with each new camera body, lens and accessory that we bring to market, offering compelling choices to both existing and prospective users of the Sony α system” said Neal Manowitz, Vice President of Digital Imaging at Sony Electronics.  “With the, we’re delivering an industry-leading level of performance to A-mount owners and enthusiasts.  Its powerful combination of speed and resolution is simply unmatched in today’s market.”

Redefining Autofocus and Speed

The new α99 II camera is Sony’s first full-frame camera to feature the acclaimed 4D Focus system, bringing a supreme level of AF performance to Sony’s A-mount line-up. The Hybrid Phase Detection AF system is enabled by combining a precision 79-point³ dedicated phase detection AF sensor with 399 focal plane phase detection AF points⁴– to produce a 79 hybrid cross AF point¹ array.   This enables incredibly precise autofocus performance and advanced subject tracking of any high-speed moving objects across the frame. In addition Translucent Mirror Technology, with no moving mirror, ensures steady, continuous AF operation and live image preview during both still image and video shooting.  The precision AF system also performs exceptionally in low-light conditions, as it will function properly in brightness levels as low as EV-4⁵ and in dark locations where most other cameras struggle.

In addition to its advanced autofocusing, the α99 II has been designed to allow for high resolution, continuous shooting at high frame rates. The camera features a new front-end LSI that works with the image sensor, BIONZ X^® image processing engine and a newly designed shutter unit to enable continuous shooting at impressive speeds of up to 12fps² with AF/AE tracking⁶.  Thanks to a large buffer, these shots can be viewed immediately after shooting, even when in high-speed continuous shooting mode.  Additionally, if these high-speed shots are being taken indoors under artificial lighting, the camera can automatically detect flicker and time the shutter accordingly to minimize its effect on the resulting images⁷.

The new α99 II also has the ability to deliver continuous live shooting at up to 8 fps ⁸ with AF/AE tracking and minimal display lag thanks to overall improvements in the EVF algorithm.  This offers photographers a shooting experience that closely mimics that of an optical viewfinder, while still offering all of the benefits of an electronic viewfinder including a live preview of exposure, white balance and several other camera settings.  This continuous live view shooting can be set in 3 stages to match a variety of subjects: 8 fps, 6 fps and 4 fps.

Pixel Power

The back-illuminated full-frame 42.4MP⁹ Exmor R CMOS sensor in the new α99 II model features a gapless-on-chip design that allows for fast readout of large volumes of data and maximizes light gathering ability.  The net result is very high sensitivity with low noise, wide dynamic range and 42.4MP resolution across an ISO range of 100-25600, expandable to ISO 50 – 102,400¹⁰.

The new camera has also been designed without an optical low-pass filter, ensuring that all of the finest natural details and textures can be captured with unprecedented depth and realism.  Both compressed and uncompressed RAW files are readily available based on user preferences.

5-axis SteadyShot™ INSIDE Image Stabilization

Sony has designed a new in-body 5 axis image stabilization system for A-mount cameras that debuts for the first time in the α99 II model.  Having proven to be incredibly popular in the ɑ7 II series of cameras, this five axis system effectively detects and compensates for movement in all axes including X and Y, pitch and yaw and camera roll, and ensures that all captured content is crisp and blur-free.  The new stabilization system provides a shutter speed advantage of 4.5 steps¹¹, ensuring the full potential of the 42.4MP sensor can be realized.  Also, with a simple half press of the shutter button, the effect of this the image stabilization can be monitored in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen, allowing framing and focus to be accurately checked and continually monitored.

Improved design and operability

Based upon feedback from professional users, the design of new α99 II has noticeably evolved compared to its predecessor.  The new model is 8% smaller than the original ɑ99 and features a newly designed grip, magnesium alloy body, dual SD card slots¹² and dust and moisture resistance¹³.

The α99 II also features a new shutter unit that has an estimated life of more than 300,000 operations¹⁴, as well as an XGA OLED Tru-finder with a ZEISS® T* Coating that offers a powerful 0.78x magnification and delivers outstanding clarify from corner to corner. The viewfinder also has a fluorine coating on the outer lens to prevent fingerprints, dust, water, oil and dirt from sticking, ensuring a clear view.

The silent Multi Controller introduced in the original ɑ99 has been improved as well, as it now offers a click-stop ON/OFF switch in addition to allowing control of aperture, shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, AF area, AF mode and other settings.  The α99 II also offers location data acquisition via a Bluetooth¹⁵ connection to a compatible mobile device and an updated menu structure to deliver a smoother navigational experience.

Movie Magic

For the first time in a Sony A-mount camera, the α99 II has the ability to record 4K video internally¹⁶ with full pixel readout and no pixel binning¹⁷ through usage of the professional friendly XAVC S format.  The camera is capable of recording high quality footage at 100Mbps for 4K recording, and utilizing the full width of the large, full-frame image sensor in doing so. It also offers a new ‘Slow and Quick’ mode¹⁸ (S&Q) that supports both slow motion and quick motion.  In this mode, frame rates from 1 fps to 120 fps can be selected in 8 steps for up to 60x  quick motion and 5x slow motion recording¹⁹.

A host of other features for professional movie production workflow are also included in the α99 II such as picture profiles, time code and clean HDMI output as well as gamma assist for real time S-Log monitoring and a zebra mode for easier exposure adjustment. S-Log3 and S-Log2 gamma are both included as well.

Pricing and Availability

The Sony α99 II full-frame interchangeable lens camera will ship this November to authorized Sony retailers throughout North America and will be sold for about $3,200 US and $4,000 CA.

For a more detailed outline of the new α99 II interchangeable lens camera including product specifications, please visit its dedicated product page on Sony.com at the following link – Sony α99 II homepage.  There is also a variety of content on the Sony Camera Channel on YouTube and the Sony Photo Gallery.

A variety of exclusive stories and exciting new content shot with Sony α products can be found at www.alphauniverse.com, Sony’s community site built to educate, inspire and showcase all fans and customers of the Sony α brand.

1. Hybrid Phase Detection AF active. The dedicated phase detection AF sensor or focal-plane phase detection AF sensor may be used independently in certain photographic situations.

2. Continuous shooting mode set to ‘Hi+’

3. The number of usable AF points may depend on the lens and shooting mode

4. The number of usable AF points may depend on the lens and shooting mode. Up to 323 focus points are selectable. Not available for movie recording

5. Central focus point

6. The supported focus area will depend on the shooting mode and lens used. Furthermore, when “Continuous Shooting: Hi+” is selected, focus will be fixed at the first frame shot when Hybrid Phase Detection AF is active at aperture settings of F9 or higher, or when Hybrid Phase Detection AF is not active at aperture settings of F4 or higher

7. When Anti-flicker Shoot.is ON. Flicker detection at 100 Hz or 120 Hz only. Continuous shooting speed may decrease. Does not function during bulb exposure or movie recording.

8. Continuous shooting mode set to ‘Hi’

9. effective megapixels

10. Expanded ISO. Still images only.

11. CIPA standards. Pitch/yaw shake only. SAL135F18Z lens. Long exposure NR off.

12. One slot can hold an SD card or a Memory Stick.

13. Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof

14. Electronic first curtain shutter activated

15. Requires pairing with compatible mobile devices running the PlayMemories Mobile app. Supported devices are Android smartphones running Android 5.0 or later and compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 or later. iPhone/iPad: iPhone 4S or later/iPad 3rd generation or later

16. Class 10 or higher SDHC/SDXC memory card required for XAVC S format movie recording. UHS-I (U3) SDHC/SDXC card required for 100Mbps recording.

17. In Super 35mm recording mode

18. Sound cannot be recorded. SDHC/SDXC memory card of Class 10 or higher is required

19. In NTSC system

The following video presents α99 II -High quality 4K movie | α | Sony:
“Full pixel readout with no pixel binning in Super 35mm format generates approximately 1.8 times the data required for 3840 x 2160 4K movies. That oversampled data is then processed to produce beautiful 4K imagery with spectacular resolution and minimal moiré effect.

The α99 II is also capable of recording full-frame 4K, with all the expressive nuance and subtlety that the full-frame format provides.
Choose Super 35mm or full-frame 4K to best suit the type of imagery your artistic vision requires.

* Class 10 or higher SDHC/SDXC memory card required for XAVC S format movie recording. UHS-I (U3) SDHC/SDXC card required for 100Mbps recording.

This footage was filmed in Germany and Spain.“

Please support this site. You can pre-order / buy the Sony a99 II from our Trusted Sponsor B&H Photo-Video, the Professional’s Source, satisfying millions of customers for over 35 years (prices are in USD):

• Sony Alpha a99 II DSLR Camera (Body Only)