The Sony Alpha a9 II is a professional, full-frame mirrorless camera that offers extremely fast performance. It’s an update to the popular Sony Alpha a9.

24.2MP Full-Frame RS Stacked CMOS Sensor 

The a9 II utilizes an advanced 24.2MP sensor which was carried over from the original a9. It gives you quick readout speeds, and lets you record uncompressed 14-bit RAW files for greater color fidelity and post-production flexibility. Its back-illuminated design affords high sensitivity to an extended ISO 204800 with reduced noise for clean image quality in a wide range of lighting conditions.

Updated BIONZ X Image Processor

This BIONZ X processor works with the CMOS sensor to keep up with fast-paced shooting applications. You can shoot up to 20 fps for up to 361 consecutive JPEGs or 239 RAW frames, while the quick 1/32,000 sec. top electronic shutter speed lets you capture fast-moving subjects and work in bright light. The processor performs functions at 60 times per second to continuously evaluate the scene in order to lock onto and track moving subjects. Automatic anti-flicker shooting also recognizes and times the shutter action to minimize the flicker effect for more consistent results on still images. Additionally, the electronic shutter and viewfinder make blackout-free monitoring possible.

Fast Hybrid AF System

Covering 93% of the image area, a Fast Hybrid AF system includes 693 phase-detection points along with 425 contrast-detection areas to give you faster, more precise autofocusing than the a9. The density of focusing points from this hybrid AF system also enables High-density Tracking AF Technology, which is great at tracking moving subjects in a variety of lighting conditions. A9 II’s updated AF algorithms also help you maintain focus on fast, erratic, and unpredictable subjects. The Expand Flexible Spot feature employs neighboring focus points to stay focused on moving subjects even if the original point loses focus. Eye AF can be used to base focus on a familiar subject’s eyes, making this camera great for portraiture, while Focus Magnification emphasizes minute details. The a9 II retains its predecessor’s AF Point joystick and dedicated AF On button. Additionally, the use of phase-detection points enables the use of A-mount lenses via the optional LA-EA3 or LA-EA1 lens mount adapters with full continuous AF/AE tracking compatibility.

5-Axis Image Stabilization

The updated SteadyShot built-in 5-axis image stabilization system offers up to 5.5 stops of correction to any lens mounted. It compensates for five different types of camera shake encountered during handheld shooting of stills and video. This includes angular shake (pitch and yaw), shift shake (X and Y axes), and rotational shake (roll). All five stabilization axes are constantly engaged, even when you’re using third-party lenses, adapters, or lenses with their own built-in image stabilization.

UHD 4K Video Recording

The a9 II can record UHD 4K video in multiple frame rates up to 30 fps, which is oversampled 2.4-fold from 6K footage to ensure that there’s no pixel-binning or line skipping. Full-frame 4K recording has been dramatically improved for better quality when working at mid to high sensitivities. Full HD 1080p recording is also supported in frame rates up to 120 fps, and both resolutions utilize the 100 Mbps XAVC S format contained within an MP4 wrapper with 4:2:0 sampling. In addition to these high-resolution internal-recording options, the a9 II offers uncompressed 4:2:2 video output via an HDMI connection. You can also produce 8MP stills by taking a frame grab from a 4K recording.

High-Res EVF and Tilting Rear Touchscreen LCD

The built-in 3.69M-dot quad-VGA OLED Tru-Finder gives you a clear and bright live preview of what the sensor sees with 100% frame coverage. A dedicated High Quality setting enables a 120 fps refresh rate for especially smooth playback of moving subjects. Additionally, a fluorine coating has been applied to the outermost viewfinder element to benefit cleaning. In addition to the electronic viewfinder, you can also use the tilting 3.0" 1.44M-dot rear LCD which has a touch panel design for intuitive operation and focusing control. The screen tilts upward and downward to benefit working from high and low angles.

Improved Body Design

The a9 II’s magnesium-alloy body is similar to the a9’s and assures rigidity, durability, and stability while remaining lightweight. It features improved dust and moisture sealing for shooting in harsh weather conditions. This camera features a slightly deeper grip than the a9, which makes it easier to use with larger, heavier lenses. An updated multi-interface hot shoe enables use with more accessory types, including digital audio accessories. The body design also features dual UHS-II compatible SD card slots for flexible file-storage options. A USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port has also been added, in addition to a micro-USB port, for faster, more reliable tethering support. The USB Type-C connection allows the camera to be charged from the host power source while connected. The a9 II also features a 3.5mm microphone input jack for compatibility with external microphones.

Other Notable Features

The a9 II has various other features including an Ethernet port that’s been updated to 1000BASE-T speed, voice memos, and the ability to store up to ten sets of both FTP and camera settings via the Imaging Edge mobile app. There’s an NTSC/PAL-switchable Slow and Quick Motion mode, hot-shoe and PC-terminal external-flash connections. It also has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities for wireless image sharing and camera control. Above all this, is the NP-FZ100 Battery, which is rated for up to 500 shots per charge with the EVF or up to 690 shots per charge with the rear LCD. Also, save/load camera settings is possible in-camera as well as to an SD card for working with the same shooting settings with multiple camera bodies.

Movri Canada, providing the mail-delivery system, is set out to make the gear available at more affordable prices through online rentals.

Notes

• The a9 II is a full frame E mount camera but is fully compatible with crop frame E mount lenses when the camera is in APS-C crop mode.
• It has a built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities for wireless image sharing and camera control.
• Battery life is approximately 110-200 minutes during continuous movie capture or around 500-690 still frames.
• A Class 10/U1 or higher SDHC/SDXC card is required for XAVC S format movie recording. UHS Speed Class 3 or higher card is required for 100Mbps recording.
• This camera is compatible with the Sony VG-C4EM Battery Grip.
• Continuous video shooting is possible for approximately 30 minutes.
• This camera is compatible with A mount lenses when paired with the LA-EA4 Sony A Mount Lens to Full Frame (FE) E Mount Camera Adapter. Maximum shooting speed reduced to 10 FPS with AF/AE tracking.
• With its fast shooting speeds and responsive AF system, it is particularly ideal for weddings, events, sports, and wildlife.