Sony announces full-frame Alpha-mount A99II

Sony has added a new addition to its Alpha family of semi-transparent mirror slr cameras, the α99 II. The camera has a full-frame Exmor R-CMOS sensor with 42.4 megapixels. All this is processed by a BIONZ X image processor.

The α99 II does not have a low-pass filter and has an autofocus system that uses hybrid phase detection. This system combines 79 af-points, 15 of which are cross-sensitive with 399 af-points integrated on the image sensor. The previous version Sony released and showed at the 2012 Photokina of the α99 had a total of 121 af-points, 11 of which were cross-sensitive. The advantage of the hybrid phase detection system is that the distance information can be transmitted intermittently, ie all the time. This makes it possible to keep moving subjects in constant focus even at high speed, Sony says. In addition to the upgraded AF system, the camera also has a new five-axis image stabilization system.

With AF/AE tracking on, you can shoot at a maximum of 12 frames per second. In live view mode, up to 8 frames per second can be captured. The sensor has an ISO range between 100 and 25600 ISO, which can be stretched from 50 to 102,400, although the latter only applies to photos. For photos with an aspect ratio of 3:2 the entire sensor is used and for images at 16:9 information from 35 megapixels is used.

The camera can record 4k videos in xavc s format and can process up to 100Mbit/s of data. The frame rate can be set in 8 steps from 1 frame per second to 120fps. S-gamut and s-log recording can also be used during filming.

The model is slightly smaller than its predecessor and has a newly designed grip. The LCD screen on the camera is a 3″ TFT. The new Alpha will go on sale from November and will have a suggested retail price of 3600 euros.