Sony Alpha a99 II (no lens included)

Hands-on research

Features and Specs

General
LCD Screen Size	3"
Adjustable-angle LCD	Yes
Wi-Fi	Built-in
GPS-enabled	With smartphone
Lens 35mm Equivalent	N/A
Optical Zoom	N/A
Digital Zoom	N/A
Filter Diameter	N/A
Manual Focusing	Yes
Manual Exposure	Yes
Built-in Flash	No
HDMI Output	Micro
Memory
Internal Memory	None
Memory Media	Memory Stick PRO Duo + PRO-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC
Image
Sensor Size	Full-frame
Megapixels	42.4
Image Stabilization	Sensor Shift
Highest Resolution	7952 x 5304
4K Video	Yes
Video Resolution	3840 x 2160
Dimensions
Width (inches)	5-7/8
Height (inches)	4-3/16
Depth (inches)	3-3/8
Weight With Battery (ounces)	29.9
Warranty
Parts Warranty	1 Year
Labor Warranty	1 Year

Product Research

Recording Features
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Play And Print Functions
Battery Information
Connections
Software

Recording Features

Overview: The Sony α99 II (ILCA-99M2) Alpha series camera features the world's first full-frame stacked CMOS image sensor for outstanding image quality. The α99 II is compatible with Sony A-mount lenses. The camera comes with an advanced, high capacity InfoLithium battery to give you longer shooting sessions, along with a battery charger. No lenses are included in this "body only" kit.

Construction: The camera features a durable magnesium allow chassis with a reinforced grip area. The lens mount is secured with six screws instead of four to give it more rigidity and durability, even with heavy telephoto lenses. The camera body features a dust- and moisture-resistant design for increase reliability.

3" Tiltable LCD Screen: The α99 II uses a 3" LCD screen with 1,228,800 dots and WhiteMagic technology for high contrast and high resolution framing and shooting. The LCD panel features 3-way tilting and 180° clockwise/90° counterclockwise swiveling. This lets you tilt the monitor up (134°) or down (180°) for high and low-angle shots, or swivel for framing from multiple angles, even in vertical mode. You can even aim the screen forward for self-portraits. The monitor folds flush with the screen facing the camera to protect it during travel.

0.5" OLED Electronic Viewfinder: The 0.5" Tru-Finder OLED electronic color viewfinder has approximately 2.36-million dots, and provides approximately 100% frame coverage. A special Zeiss T* coating keeps reflections to a minimum, plus a fluorine coating on the outside viewfinder lens to prevent smudges from fingerprints, dust, water, oil, and dirt. You can adjust the brightness in 5 steps. The built-in diopter lets you adjust the viewfinder image to your individual eyesight. You can set the camera to switch between the LCD screen and viewfinder automatically when you look into the EVF, or choose one or the other in the camera's menu.

Display Options: You can choose how much information appears in the viewfinder and LCD monitor. There are four options each for the LCD screen and Viewfinder: Display All Info, No Display Info, Level, and Histogram. There's also a "For Viewfinder" display option which shows multiple camera settings at once on the LCD screen that you can use when shooting with the viewfinder.

Live View: The α99 II's Live View lets you use the LCD screen and Electronic Viewfinder to frame your photos as you shoot. When the Live View display is set to "Setting Effect On", the LCD or viewfinder will provide an accurate preview of your photo, including the white balance, exposure compensation, creative style or picture effect. With the "Setting Effect Off", you can check the image composition without the effects of the exposure settings.

Image Sensor: The α99 II features a full-frame 35mm Exmor R CMOS image sensor (35.9 x 24.0mm) with approximately 43.6-million total pixels and 42.4-million effective pixels. Its back-illuminated structure allows for fast readout of a large volume of data, while the copper wiring layer allows for faster transmission speed. The sensor offers 16-bit processing of compressed and RAW files, and a wide ISO range of 100 to 25,600, expandable to ISO 50 - 102,400.

Still Image Recording Formats: The α99 II can shoot full-frame images, but it can also shoot APS-C size equivalent pictures when using an APS-C size dedicated lens. Still images are recorded in JPEG file format in Standard, Fine, and Extra Fine compression rates. You can choose to shoot in 3:2 or 16:9 aspect ratio, and in large, medium, and small image sizes. You can select the following image sizes:

RAW Format: You can record still images using the 14-bit RAW format, which uses all of the photographic data from the image sensor. You can select to record compressed or uncompressed RAW images. If desired, you can select RAW+JPEG to record a RAW image and a JPEG image simultaneously. Because no processing is performed in the camera, RAW images must be transferred to a computer for processing, editing, and printing using the downloadable Image Data Converter or Capture One Express software. RAW images are available in the following sizes and aspect ratios:

Movie Recording Formats: The α99 II can record moving images in XAVC S (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with 2-channel LPCM audio), AVCHD Ver. 2.0 format (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with Dolby Digital 2ch audio) or MP4 (MPEG-4/H.264 with 2-channel AAC audio). You can choose from the following file formats and bit rates:

• XAVC S 4K:
  • 3840 x 2160, 30p/25p/24p at approx 100 Mbps
  • 3840 x 2160, 30p/25p/24p at approx 60 Mbps
• XAVC S HD:
  • 1920 x 1080, 120p/100p at approx 100 Mbps
  • 1920 x 1080, 120p/100p at approx 60 Mbps
  • 1920 x 1080, 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p at approx 50 Mbps
• AVCHD:
  • PS: 1920 x 1080, 60p/50p at 28 Mbps (max)
  • FX: 1920 x 1080, 60i/50i/25p/24p at 24 Mbps (max)
  • FH: 1920 x 1080, 60i/50i/25p/24p at 17 Mbps (avg)
• AVC MP4:
  • 1920 x 1080, 60p/50p at 28 Mbps
  • 1920 x 1080, 30p/25p at 16 Mbps
  • 1280 x 720, 30p/25p at 6 Mbps

Dual Slots/Dual Media Options: The α99 II camera has two slots for inserting memory cards. Slot 1 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards compatible with UHS-I and Memory Stick PRO Duo media), while Slot 2 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-I) only. When recording movies, memory cards with SD Speed Class 4 or higher should be used for MP4 or AVCHD movies, and Class 10/UHS-I Speed Class U1 or U3 for XAVC S movies. The Recording Mode menu lets you choose which memory card to use when recording. You can record still images or movies to both cards simultaneously, or sort still images to one card and movies to the other card. You can even sort JPEG images to one card and RAW images to the other card.

Clear Image Zoom: Clear Image Zoom, powered by Sony's By Pixel Super Resolution Technology, increases the effective focal length of the lens by up to 2x by digitally magnifying the center of the image. Combined with the camera's Digital Zoom and Smart Zoom, you can increase magnification up to 8x over the lens' maximum focal length.

Hybrid Phase Detection AF: The camera features the world's first 79 hybrid AF cross-point array for unmatched AF tracking. It has both a high-speed, high-density phase detection AF sensor with 79 AF points (15 cross points) with both vertical and horizontal detection and a 399-point focal plane AF sensor with vertical detection over a wide area of the frame. The 79 superimposed points operate as fully selectable hybrid cross points for fast and precise focusing with any type of subject.

Focus Mode: The α99 II lets you choose the focus method from the following modes:

• AF-S (Single-shot Auto focus): The camera focuses and the focus is locked when you press the shutter button halfway down. Recommended for use with motionless subjects.
• AF-A (Automatic AF): Single Shot AF and Continuous AF are switched according to the movement of the subject. When the shutter button is pressed halfway down, the product locks the focus when it determines the subject is motionless, or continues to focus when the subject is in motion.
• AF-C (Continuous Auto focus): The camera continues to focus when you press and hold the shutter button halfway down. Recommended for use when the subject is in motion.
• DMF: After focusing automatically, you can make fine focusing adjustments manually (Direct Manual Focusing). This is most convenient during macro shooting.
• Manual Focus: When it is difficult to get the proper focus in auto focus mode, you can adjust the focus manually. This mode allows you to set the distance of a subject by rotating the focusing ring to achieve a sharp focus.

Eye AF: When shooting portraits, Eye AF will automatically detect and focus on the subject's eye to provide accurate focusing on the overall subject. The detected eye will will be framed in green in the viewfinder to indicate Eye AF is in use. Eye AF can be assigned to a custom button for quick access.

Drive Modes: The camera offers the following shooting modes:

• Single Shooting: Default setting for standard picture taking.
• Continuous Shooting: In this mode, you can shoot images continuously as long as you hold down the shutter release button. There are four continuous shooting speeds: Hi+ (12 fps), Hi (8 fps), Mid (6 fps), and Lo (4 fps).
• Self-Timer: You can set the camera to the following self-timers:
  • Single: The camera will record a single photo a number of seconds after the shutter button is pressed. You can choose between a 10-second, 5-second, or 2-second delay.
  • Continuous: The camera records 3 or 5 images continuously after a 10, 5, or 2 second delay, offering you multiple shots to choose from.
• Bracket Shooting: The camera is capable of shooting multiple images, each with a different setting. You can choose from the following Bracket options:
  • Continuous Bracket: Shoot 3 or 5 images, each with different degrees of brightness (0.3EV, 0.5EV, 0.7EV, 1.0EV, 2.0EV or 3.0EV) or 9 images (0.3EV, 0.5EV, 0.7EV, or 1.0EV). The images are taken as you press and hold the shutter button.
  • Single Bracket: Same as Continuous Bracket above, except that the shutter button is pressed for each image.
  • WB Bracket: The camera records three images, each with different color tones, according to the selected settings of white balance, color temperature, and color filter. You can select Low (small changes in white balance) or High (large changes in white balance).
  • DRO Bracket: The camera records three images, each with different degree of D-Range Optimizer. You can select Low (small changes in DRO) or High (large changes in DRO).

Shooting Modes: The top-mounted Mode Dial lets you select from the following shooting modes:

• iAuto (Intelligent Auto): This mode allows easy shooting with settings adjusted automatically based on Scene Recognition, such as Portrait, Infant, Night Portrait, Night Scene, Backlight Portrait, Backlight, Landscape, Macro, Spotlight, Low Light, or Night Scene (using a tripod).
• Program Auto: For shooting with the exposure adjusted automatically (both the shutter speed and the aperture value), while allowing you to adjust other settings manually. Program Shift allows you to change the shutter speed/aperture combination without changing the approximate exposure.
• Aperture Priority: This mode allows you to shoot after adjusting the aperture value manually, letting the camera set the appropriate shutter speed. This mode gives you greater control over the depth of field.
• Shutter Speed Priority: This mode allows you to shoot after adjusting the shutter speed manually, letting the camera set the appropriate aperture. With a high shutter speed, the moving subject appears as if it is frozen on the image. With a slow shutter speed, the moving subject appears as if it were flowing.
• Manual Exposure: This mode allows you to shoot after adjusting the exposure (shutter speed and aperture) manually.
• Memory Recall (1, 2, 3): You can register often-used camera settings (including Shooting Mode, Aperture, Shutter speed) in one of three memory positions on the Mode Dial for easy recall.
• Movies/S&Q Motion: You can record movies in 4K, Full HD, or HD in 16:9. When selected on the Mode Dial, you can select the desired movie settings, including Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Exposure. This mode also lets you shoot in slow-motion or quick-motion. In the menu, you can set the S&Q frame rate to 120, 60, 30, 15, 8, 4, 2, or 1 fps. No sound is recorded in slow-motion or quick-motion mode.
• Sweep Panorama: This mode lets you create a single panoramic image from multiple images shot while panning the camera. Horizontal panorama images are 8192 x 1856 (standard) or 12416 x 1856 (wide). Vertical panoramic images are 3872 x 2160 (standard) or 5536 x 2160 (wide).

Image Stabilization: The camera features SteadyShot Inside, a newly developed 5-axis optical image stabilization system equipped with high precision gyro sensors. Camera shake is effectively compensated along 5 axes: pitch, yaw, X, Y, and roll. You can see the effects of image stabilization in the live-view image. The 5-axis image stabilization provide a 4.5-step shutter speed advantage for full frame images.

Picture Effect: In Intelligent Auto mode, you can select Picture Effect to get one the following effect filters to achieve more impressive and artistic expression: Toy Camera (Normal, Cool, Warm, Green, Magenta), Pop Color, Posterization (color, B/W), Retro Photo, Soft High-key, Partial Color (Red, Green, Blue, or Yellow), High Contrast Mono, and Rich-tone Monochrome.

Creative Style: The Creative Style function lets you select the desired image processing. You can adjust exposure (shutter speed and aperture) as you like with Creative Style. You can choose from: Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Autumn Leaves, Black & White, or Sepia. You can also adjust Contrast, Saturation, and Sharpness.

Exposure Compensation: Exposure compensation is used to alter the camera's standard exposure setting. You can make the image look lighter (increased exposure) or darker (decreased exposure) The exposure compensation amount can be set up to +/-5.0 EV in 1/3-step or 1/2-step increments. When shooting movies, the exposure can be adjusted in a range of +/-2.0 EV.

Metering Mode: A 1200-zone evaluative sensing system provides multi-pattern measuring for superior exposure control accuracy in a wide range of lighting conditions. You can select the method for measuring the brightness of a subject from the following methods:

• Multi-segment: This method uses the whole screen divided into 1200 zones to measure light.
• Center-weighted: While emphasizing the central area of the screen, this method measure the average brightness of the entire screen.
• Spot: This method measure light only in the spot metering circle in the center of the frame.
• Entire Screen Avg: Measures the average brightness of the entire screen.
• Highlight: Measures the brightness while emphasizing the highlighted area on the screen.

White Balance: You can adjust the color tones according to the lighting conditions. You can choose from the following WB options: Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm White), Fluorescent (Cool White), Fluorescent (Day White), Fluorescent (Daylight), Flash, Underwater, Color Temperature (2500K to 9900K), Color Filter, and Custom (1/2/3).

Color Temperature/Color Filter: You can adjust the white balance further by selecting Color Temperature or Color Filter in the Custom White Balance option. With Color Temperature, the higher the number, the more reddish the image, and the lower the number, the more bluish the image. Color Filter achieves the effect of Color Compensation filters for photography. Based on the set color temperature as the standard, the color can be compensated to Green (G) or Magenta (M).

ISO Settings: ISO is a unit of measurement of sensitivity to light. The larger the number, the higher the sensitivity. The camera's ISO can be set manually or automatically, depending upon the exposure mode. ISO ranges differ with the selection of the shutter types. The ISO Sensitivity settings are as follows:

• Still Images: ISO 100-25,600 (Expandable from ISO 50 to ISO 102,400)
• Still Auto: ISO 100-6,400 (with selectable lower and upper limits)
• Movies: ISO 100-25,600 equivalent
• Movies Auto: ISO 100-6,400 with selectable lower and upper limits)

Multi-Interface Shoe: The α99 II does not have a built-in flash, but is equipped with the Multi-Interface Shoe, allowing you to use an external flash, such as the HVL-F20M, HVL-F43M, HVL-F45R or the HVL-RL1 Ring Light. The ECM-XYST1M stereo microphone is also compatible.

Flash Features: When an optional external flash is attached, the camera offers several Flash Modes: Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Hi-speed Sync, and Wireless. Red-eye reduction can be applied to any flash mode, as needed. You can adjust the amount of flash light in a range of -3.0 EV to +3.0 EV with the Flash Compensation feature. Flash Bracketing lets you take numerous shots automatically at different flash settings.

Wi-Fi / Bluetooth

Wireless Overview: The Sony α99 II lets you connect wirelessly with your mobile phone, tablet, or computer via Bluetooth (ver. 4.1) or Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n, 2.4GHz) through the PlayMemories Mobile app.

PlayMemories Mobile: To interface with the Sony α99 II, your smartphone/tablet must have the PlayMemories Mobile application. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, and requires iOS 9.3 or later. It is also compatible with Android smartphones and tablets with the Android 4.1 and up operating environment.

Bluetooth: When connected via Bluetooth, the camera can acquire location data from the mobile device and record that data onto the still images and movies. Using the PlayMemories Home application on your personal computer, you can organize and view your images on a map.

NFC/QR Codes: You can easily connect the camera with NFC (Near-Field Communications) to your smartphone or tablets with built-in Wi-Fi and Sony's PlayMemories Mobile app. By touching an NFC-enabled Android smartphone or tablet to the "N" mark on the right side of the camera, the smartphone will be connected automatically. The two devices must touch for approximately 1-2 seconds to make the connection. For non-NFC devices, such as certain iOS devices, you can connect using QR codes. When connected, you can control your camera, transfer files, and share images without having a computer.

Wi-Fi Functions: The following wireless functions can be performed with the α99 II and PlayMemories Mobile:

• Controlling the Camera: You can use a smartphone as a remote controller for the camera. Your device can be used as a shutter release and a viewfinder. You can connect via NFC (Android only), SSID, or QR Codes.
• Send to Smartphone: You can transfer still images to a smartphone for viewing. Images can be transferred in its original image size, or resized to 2M or VGA. RAW images are converted to JPEG format before being transferred.
• Send to Computer: You can transfer images stored on the camera's memory card to a computer connected to a wireless access point or wireless broadband router in order to easily make backup copies.
• View on TV: Images can be viewed on a network-enabled TV. While connected, you can playback images in a slideshow. You can choose from a short or long interval between slides, and select HD or 4K playback. Some BRAVIA TVs have special effects which can be selected for a slideshow.

Play And Print Functions

Playback Screen: You can view your photos back as a single image on the LCD monitor, as an Image Index or as a Slide Show. During Image Index View mode, you can view 9 (3 x 3) or 25 (5 x 5) images at once.

Auto Review: After an image is recorded, you can have the camera automatically display it on the LCD monitor for two, five or 10 seconds. You can also turn off auto review.

Image Rotation: Vertical shots can be rotated automatically so that they are displayed upright during playback. This can be done manually or automatically.

Slide Show: You can automatically play back still images continuously in a slide show. You can set the interval to 1, 3, 5, 10, or 30 seconds.

View Mode: There are six View Modes to choose from for playing back images and movies: Date View, Folder View (Still), Folder View (MP4), AVCHD View, XAVC S HD View, and XAVC S 4K View.

4K Playback: The α99 II can output movies and still images in 4K resolution to an HDMI-connected TV that supports 4K. HDMI Resolution options include Auto, 2160p/1080p, 1080p, and 1080i.

BRAVIA Sync: When connecting the camera to a Sony TV with BRAVIA Sync via HDMI, you can control the camera with the TV's remote control.

Printing Options: The camera offers the following printing options:

• DPOF Compatible: Using the camera, you can specify the images and the number of images to print before you print images at a photo-shop or with your printer.
• Memory Card: You can print images with a Memory Stick or SD card compliant printer.
• Computer: You can copy images to a computer using the available downloadable software and print the images.

Battery Information

InfoLithium Battery: The α99 II is powered by the NP-FM500H InfoLithium battery (7.2V, 1600mAh, 11.5Wh). The battery communicates data to the camera, so that the percentage of battery power remaining can be displayed. The battery life specs are as follows:

• Shooting Still Images:
  • LCD: Approx. 490 shots
  • Viewfinder: Approx. 390 shots
• Recording Movies (Typical):
  • LCD: Approx. 85 min
  • Viewfinder: Approx. 85 min
• Recording Movies (Continuous):
  • LCD: Approx. 135 min
  • Viewfinder: Approx. 135 min

Charging: The NP-FM500H InfoLithium battery requires approximately 175 minutes (2 hours 55 minutes) to reach a full charge in the supplied BC-VM10 battery charger.

Power Save: You can set different time intervals for the camera to switch to Power Save mode. You can set the interval to 10 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, or 30 minutes. Once the camera goes into Power Save mode, you can return to the shooting mode by pressing the shutter button halfway.

Optional AC Adapter: You can power the camera with household AC power with the optional AC-PW10AM.

Vertical Grip: The optional VG-C77AM Vertical Grip holds two NP-FM500H batteries to double the battery capacity. The vertical grip fastens to the bottom of the α99 II, and offers several controls for use when the camera is in the vertical (portrait orientation) position.

Connections

Flash Sync Terminal: You can connect external flash units to the camera via a sync cable. (Some Sony flash units connect via the Multi Interface Shoe.)

Microphone Jack: The 3.5mm microphone jack lets you connect an external microphone. If the external microphone has plug-in power, the power for the microphone is supplied by the camera through this jack. When an external mic is connected, the built-in microphone is turned off.

Headphone Jack: You can connect headphones to the camera through this stereo 3.5mm headphone jack. This allows you to listen to audio as it's being recorded, or as the movie file is being played back.

HDMI: The camera has a Micro HDMI (Type D) jack for connecting the camera to an HDMI-equipped TV or video recorder.

Multi/Micro USB: The Micro USB terminal allows you to connect the camera to your computer or compatible storage device for downloading your recorded still images and movies. This USB port supports Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0).

Remote: The 3-pin Remote terminal supports the optional Sony RM-L1AM and RM-VPR1 Remote Commanders, as well as the VCT-VPR10 Remote Control tripod. 

Multi Interface Shoe: The top-mounted Multi Interface Shoe is a single-point connection for multiple Sony accessories, such as flash units, video lights, and microphones.

Software

Downloadable Software: The α99 II does not include software in the box. Instead, Sony offers software for Windows- and Mac-compatible computers for importing still images and movies recorded with the camera to your computer. The software is compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 7 (SP1), and Mac OS X v10.11, and macOS 10.12-10.13 operating systems. You can download the software to your computer using the appropriate URL provided in the supplied Instruction Manual. The following downloadable software is compatible with the camera:

• PlayMemories Home: With PlayMemories Home, you can view your images, and use various convenient features to enhance the images you have shot. PlayMemories Home is required for importing XAVC S and AVCHD movies to your computer.
• Image Data Converter: Image Data Converter software is needed for playing back and editing images recorded in RAW format with various corrections, such as tone curve and sharpness. With Image Data Converter, RAW images can be adjusted with white balance, exposure, Creative Style, and converted into JPEG or TIFF formats.
• Remote Camera Control: Remote Camera Control can be used to control the camera from your computer. You can also change the camera's settings, perform interval timer shooting, and record images directly to the computer.

Capture One Express: You can also use Capture One Express for Sony from Phase One to convert your RAW images to JPEG. This software comes with a 30-day free trial of Capture One Pro, which is available for purchase after the trial. Capture One Express is compatible with Windows 7, 8, and 10, as well as Mac OS X 10.11.6, macOS 10.12.6, and macOS 10.13.

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