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Sony a99

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  1. User ratingsUser ratingsratings of product added by Productz users
  2. Expert ratingsExpert ratingsexperts ratings from editorial reviews
  3. Consumer ratingsConsumer ratingsratings from the biggest online stores worldwide
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  3. Poor
  4. Average
4.0
based on all reviews
User ratings:
34
4.0 out of 5
34 user ratings
5 stars
29 %
4 stars
41 %
3 stars
29 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Editorial reviews:
35
  1. See more
3.9 out of 5
13 user ratings
5 stars
38 %
4 stars
53 %
3 stars
0 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews

Pros

  • solid and well-built
  • excellent
  • very honest

Cons

  • SLT cameras can see a live image preview
  • magnified live view is not available in video mode
  • really no way around it

Key specs

  • CMOS
  • Full frame
  • 35.8x23.8 mm
  • 24 Mpx
  • 6000, 4000 px
  • Sony A
  • 2.8
  • Continuous Auto Focus, Single Auto Focus
  • 3.0 in
  • no

Compare technical data of the product to its category

Sony

Sony a99 - Pros & Cons

Sony a99

Pros

  • solid and well-built
  • excellent
  • very honest
  • make it easy to shoot compelling lifestyle images
  • Colour
  • detail
  • and dynamic range
  • it feels very well made and very strong
  • The camera is an impressive piece of technology which shines in good conditions
  • decent light and small waves
  • The dynamic range is really fantastic

Cons

  • SLT cameras can see a live image preview
  • magnified live view is not available in video mode
  • really no way around it
  • there is no black screen at 8fps
  • heavy and bulky
  • the default hue is red
  • Rechargeable lithium ion battery
  • DC input
  • Not your average snapshot camera
  • only full frame DSLR with a vari-angle screen
  • noise increases again and detail drops slightly

Sony a99 - Technical Overview

PoorAverageGoodExcellent
IconScreen size
3 in
Best:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710
Screen size: 6.7 in
IconISO maximum
25600
Best:
Pentax KP
ISO maximum: 819200
IconEffective pixels
24 Mpx
Best:
Hasselblad H6D-100c
Effective pixels: 100 Mpx
IconMax resolution
6000 x 4000 px
Best:
Leica M11
Max resolution: 9528 x 6328 px

Sony - Video Reviews (6)

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Sony a99 - Full Specifications

Icon
Sensor
Sensor typeCMOS
Image sensor formatFull frame
Sensor size1.41 in
Sensor photo detectors25.0 Mpx
Effective pixels24.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h
  • 3:2
  • 16:9
Max resolution6000 x 4000 px
Other resolutions
  • 6000x3376
  • 3936x2624
  • 3936x2216
  • 2640x1760
  • 2640x1488
ProcessorBIONZ
Icon
Optics and focus
Lens mountSony A
Digital zoom4.0 x
Maximum aperture2.8
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Manual focusyes
Number of focus points19
Filter diameter3.23 in
Icon
Photography features
Camera shutter typeElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s
Shutter priorityyes
Aperture priorityyes
Manual exposure modeyes
Exposure compensation plus5
Exposure compensation minus-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
  • 1
  • 2
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 10
AE frames
  • 3
  • 5
WB BracketingYes
Subject / scene modesno
Built-in flashno
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Pre-flash
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flashyes
Continuous drive6.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Portrait
  • Sunset
  • Landscape
Self-timeryes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 10
Icon
Audio features
Microphone typeStereo
Speaker typeMono
Icon
Dimensions
Weight25.86 oz
Width5.79 in
Height4.38 in
Depth3.09 in
Icon
Power
Power source typeBattery
Battery life (CIPA)500
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Icon
Other features
Timelapse recordingno
GPSyes
Orientation sensoryes
Energy Star certifiedno
On Screen Display (OSD) languages
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
  • TUR
Icon
Image
ISO
  • 100
  • 25600
ISO minimum100
ISO maximum25600
Boosted ISO minimum50
Boosted ISO maximum25600
Maximum image resolution6000 x 4000 px
White balance presets8
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Custom modes
  • Daylight
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Shade
Custom white balanceyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Neutral
  • Sepia
  • Vivid
Image stabilizeryes
Image stabilization typeSensor-shift
Uncompressed formatRAW
Icon
Screen and viewfinder
Screen size3.0 in
Articulated LCDyes
Screen technologyLCD TFT
Screen dots1229000
Touch screenno
Field of view100.0 %
Live viewyes
ViewfinderElectronic
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %
Viewfinder resolution2359000.0 px
Viewfinder magnification0.71 x
Icon
Videography features
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyes
Recording resolutions
  • 640 x 480
  • 1440 x 1080
  • 1920 x 1080
HD typeFull HD
Supported video file formats
  • H.264
  • MPEG-4
Icon
Design
Body typeSLR
Colour of productBlack
Environmentally sealedyes
Icon
Storage
Compatible memory cards
  • MS Pro Duo
  • MS Pro-HG
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Storage types
  • Memory Stick Pro Duo
  • Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Icon
Connectivity
HDMIyes
USB connector typeMini-USB B
USB version2.0
Microphone portyes
Remote controlyes

Sony a99 - Q&A

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Sony a99 Sony - Editorial Reviews (35)

3.9
Based on 35 reviews
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
Sony a99 Sony SLT-A99
Photo Review logo
Photo Review
Published: 13.12.2012
Sony SLT-A99
4.5

Sony's new flagship brings Translucent Mirror Technology to a 'full frame' camera, along with a new 24.3 MP sensor, hybrid autofocusing and Full HD movie recording.

Sony a99 Sony Alpha A99 hands-on
Trusted Reviews logo
Trusted Reviews
Published: 24.09.2012
Sony Alpha A99 hands-on

Sony Alpha A99 Hands-on - We take a closer look at Sony's full-frame, 24-megapixel DSLR.

Sony a99 Sony SLT-A99 review
Expert Reviews logo
Expert Reviews
Published: 24.04.2013
Sony SLT-A99 review
4.0

A pleasure to use and packed with innovative features, but there are a few shortcomings too

Sony a99 Sony Alpha a99 review
TechRadar logo
TechRadar
Published: 22.11.2012
Sony Alpha a99 review
3.5

Sony gets back in the full-frame game

Sony a99 Sony Alpha 99 review
Amateur Photographer logo
Amateur Photographer
Sony Alpha 99 review
5.0

While Sony’s 24.3-million-pixel, full-frame Alpha 99 has a glittering specification on paper, the true test is how the camera handles a number of demanding situations in the field. Read the Sony Alpha 99 review...

Sony a99 Sony a99 camera sheds more secrets in new picture leak - Tech Digest
Tech Digest logo
Tech Digest
Published: 10.09.2012
Sony a99 camera sheds more secrets in new picture leak - Tech Digest

Photokina kicks off in just over a week, and a swathe of new camera leaks are hitting the web. Sony's a99 is the latest to fall foul of the rumour mill, with their forthcoming full-frame DSLR having what appear to...

Sony a99 Sony Alpha A99 Mark II preview | Cameralabs
Cameralabs logo
Cameralabs
Published: 20.09.2016
Sony Alpha A99 Mark II preview | Cameralabs
0.0
Sony a99 Sony SLT Alpha 99 II sensor review: New super-resolution contender
DXOMARK logo
DXOMARK
Published: 01.12.2016
Sony SLT Alpha 99 II sensor review: New super-resolution contender

The Sony SLT A99 II is the Japanese electronic giant’s latest full-frame, DSLR-style, interchangeable-lens camera. Packing a 42Mp backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, the A99 II offers a significant jump in resolution over its predecessor and achieves an impressive overall DxOMark score of 92 points. Benefiting from a pixel arrangement that increases the volume and quality of light captured by its imaging elements, a BSI sensor improves low-light image quality.

Sony a99 Hands-On Sony a99 II Review - Digital Photo Pro
Digital Photo Pro logo
Digital Photo Pro
Hands-On Sony a99 II Review - Digital Photo Pro

In our hands-on Sony a99 II review, we take a look at Sony's newest Alpha series camera, where we found a full-frame camera in an APS-C body.

Sony a99 Sony Alpha SLT-A99 REVIEW
Digital Photography School logo
Digital Photography School
Published: 16.01.2013
Sony Alpha SLT-A99 REVIEW
4.0

After a run of compact digicams it sure was a change of scenery to grasp this major one for review. However, I was surprised at how easily I fell into its working modes. Am I getting more camera-wise or is the Alpha SLT-A99 more user-friendly? I suspect the latter because, when you run your eyes […]

Sony a99 Sony Alpha A99
Pocket-lint logo
Pocket-lint
Published: 21.01.2013
Sony Alpha A99
3.5

The first full-frame SLT has plenty of strengths such as a fast burst mode, great movie mode and quality pictures, but comes up a little short

Sony a99 Best cameras for sports and action
DPReview logo
DPReview
Published: 09.10.2020
Best cameras for sports and action

What's the best camera for shooting sports and action? Fast continuous shooting, reliable autofocus and great battery life are just three of the most important factors. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting sports and action, and recommended the best.

Sony a99 Sony Alpha SLT-A99 In-Depth Review
DPReview logo
DPReview
Published: 12.12.2012
Sony Alpha SLT-A99 In-Depth Review
4.2

The Sony SLT-A99 is the Japanese camera maker's flagship model, aimed squarely at DSLR enthusiasts who will settle for nothing less than a full frame sensor in a rugged body with a plethora of external and customizable controls. It arrives almost four years after its predecessor, the A900, the company's first full frame DSLR. You'd certainly expect significant new features given such a long gap between products and Sony has lost no opportunity to equip the A99 with every bit of electronic expertise they've incorporated into their NEX and SLT models in the interim. Whereas the A900 was a defiantly conventional SLR that would have been immediately familiar to Konica Minolta film-camera users, the A99 is something of a technological tour-de-force.

Sony a99 FIRST LOOK: Sony SLT-A99
Photo Review logo
Photo Review
Published: 12.09.2012
FIRST LOOK: Sony SLT-A99

Sony adds a 'full frame' model to its popular SLT Alpha camera line-up.

Sony a99 Sony Alpha a99 DSLR Sample Photos
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ePHOTOzine
Sony Alpha a99 DSLR Sample Photos

We post sample photos from the brand new Sony Alpha a99 DSLT with 24.3 megapixel sensor.

Often compared with Sony a99