It’s been two years since Sony launched its flagship A9 full-frame mirrorless camera, which was already like a performer. Now, the company has quietly launched a follow-up to that model, surprisingly called the A9 II. The new version doesn’t add much bigger than its predecessor, but it does have some significant improvements in ergonomics, stability, and fast wired and wireless connectivity. All of this is aimed at improving and accelerating the workflow of professional photographers. The new camera will be available in November for 4,500 (approximately Rs. 3,19,600).
The Sony A9 II uses the same 24.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS image sensor but the Bionz X image processor has been upgraded to provide a faster sensor readout and improved face, AE / AF tracking. The weather ceiling has also been upgraded for better tolerance against the elements. Sony says the 5-axis in-body image stabilization has been tweaked to compensate for shutters up to 5.5 stops. The body has been redesigned a bit, which now looks like the A7R IV, and the rear joystick, AF-on buttons are larger, and the rear control dial is now placed on top of the camera. Sony claims that the shutter mechanism has also been redesigned, avoiding motion blur and tested for more than 500,000 cycles.
Storage and wireless connectivity are also major upgrades to the Sony A9 II. The USB Type-C port supports USB 3.2 Gen1 data transfer speeds, and both SD card slots now support faster UHS-II speeds. To facilitate professional workflow, the A9 II includes a Gigabit Ethernet terminal, 5GHz Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and for additional security file transfers via SSL or TLS encryption (FTPS). There is also a new voice memo function, where photographers can attach spoken information to a specific photo. This seems to be a very useful addition as it allows photographers to relay additional context editors about the photo, how it should be edited or where it should be used.
Most of the other features of Sony A9 II are the same as the older model. The camera can shoot up to 20fps using an electronic shutter without any blackouts; 693 on-sensor phase detection autofocus point; 4K video recording up to 30fps; 3-inch touchscreen display and a 3.76M-dot resolution electronic viewfinder.