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Sony A9 II Comparison Review

The Sony Alpha A9 II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was officially introduced in October 2019 and is equipped with a full frame sensor. It offers a resolution of 24 megapixel.

camera

Is the Sony A9 II a good camera? The A9 II has a Camera Elo of 2874. This rating puts the A9 II among the top 20 percent of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (full frame cameras), the A9 II ranks among the top 30 percent.

Headline Specifications
Sony A9 II
Mirrorless system camera
Sony E mount lenses
24 MP, Full Frame Sensor
4K/30p Video
ISO 100 - 51 200 (50 - 204 800)
Electronic viewfinder (3686k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1440k dots
Tilting touchscreen
20 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization
Weathersealed body
690 shots per battery charge
129 x 96 x 76 mm, 678 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

The physical dimensions of the Sony A9 II relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Sony A9 II vs credit card front
A9 II versus credit card top view
A9 II and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Sony A9 II alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
#   Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A9 II 129 mm 96 mm 76 mm 678 g 690 Y Oct 2019 4,499 amazon.com
2.
 
Sony A7R V 131 mm 97 mm 82 mm 723 g 530 Y Oct 2022 3,899 amazon.com
3.
 
Sony A7S III 127 mm 97 mm 81 mm 699 g 600 Y Jul 2020 3,499 amazon.com
4.
 
Sony A7C 124 mm 71 mm 60 mm 509 g 740 Y Sep 2020 1,799 amazon.com
5.
 
Sony A7R IV 129 mm 96 mm 78 mm 665 g 670 Y Jul 2019 3,499ebay.com
6.
 
Sony A7 III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 610 Y Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
7.
 
Sony A7R III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Oct 2017 3,199ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A9 127 mm 96 mm 63 mm 673 g 650 Y Apr 2017 4,499ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A7S II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 627 g 370 Y Sep 2015 2,999ebay.com
10.
 
Sony A7 II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 599 g 350 Y Nov 2014 1,999ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A99 147 mm 111 mm 78 mm 812 g 500 Y Sep 2012 2,799ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Sony A9 II was launched in the US market at a price of $4,499. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

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Check A9 II price at
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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

The Sony A9 II features a full frame sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Sony A9 II among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality.

Sony A9 II sensor measures

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
#   Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony A9 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.0343493
2.
 
Sony A7R V Full Frame 60.2 9504 63368k/24p26.514.83187100
3.
 
Sony A7S III Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/120p23.713.9252086
4.
 
Sony A7C Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7340795
5.
 
Sony A7R IV Full Frame 60.2 9504 63364K/30p26.014.8334499
6.
 
Sony A7 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7373096
7.
 
Sony A7R III Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
8.
 
Sony A9 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.913.3351792
9.
 
Sony A7S II Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/30p23.613.3299385
10.
 
Sony A7 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.913.6244990
11.
 
Sony A99 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p25.014.0155589
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The A9 II indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the A9 II can use is 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A9 II has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 3686k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.78x. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Sony A9 II and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
#   Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Sony A9 II3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
2.
 
Sony A7R V9440 n3.2 / 2100 full-flex Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
3.
 
Sony A7S III9440 n3.0 / 1440 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
4.
 
Sony A7C2360 n3.0 / 922 swivel Y 1/4000s 10.0/s n Y
5.
 
Sony A7R IV5760 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
6.
 
Sony A7 III2359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
7.
 
Sony A7R III3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
8.
 
Sony A93686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
9.
 
Sony A7S II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
10.
 
Sony A7 II2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
11.
 
Sony A992359 Y3.0 / 1229 full-flex n 1/8000s 6.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The LCD screen on the Sony Alpha A9 II is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD can be tilted vertically to facilitate odd-angle shots in landscape orientation. This tilting design is often preferred, for example, by street photographers to a fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment, as it is more unobtrusive during shooting than a screen that flips out to the side.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the A9 II

One feature that differentiates the A9 II from many older cameras is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The A9 II reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while cameras without IBIS have to rely on optical image stabilization in OIS-equipped lenses to achieve the same effect.

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Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Alpha A9 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
#   Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony A9 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
2.
 
Sony A7R VYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
3.
 
Sony A7S IIIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
4.
 
Sony A7CYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
5.
 
Sony A7R IVYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
6.
 
Sony A7 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
7.
 
Sony A7R IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
8.
 
Sony A9Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YYY
9.
 
Sony A7S IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
10.
 
Sony A7 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
11.
 
Sony A99Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0---
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It is notable that the A9 II has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Further information on the features and operation of the A9 II can be found in the free online Sony A9 II Manual or on the Sony support site.

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Expert reviews

While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the A9 II. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is why expert reviews are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
#    Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A9 II....5/590/1005/55/5 Oct 2019 4,499 amazon.com
2.
 
Sony A7R V5/5+ +4.5/592/100.... Oct 2022 3,899 amazon.com
3.
 
Sony A7S III4.5/5+ +5/591/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2020 3,499 amazon.com
4.
 
Sony A7C3.5/5..3.5/586/1004/54/5 Sep 2020 1,799 amazon.com
5.
 
Sony A7R IV5/5+4.5/591/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2019 3,499ebay.com
6.
 
Sony A7 III..+ +4.5/589/1005/55/5 Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
7.
 
Sony A7R III..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2017 3,199ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A95/5+ +4.8/589/1005/55/5 Apr 2017 4,499ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A7S II5/5+....4.5/55/5 Sep 2015 2,999ebay.com
10.
 
Sony A7 II5/5+4/582/1004.5/55/5 Nov 2014 1,999ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A995/5....84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 2,799ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Check A9 II price at
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Sony A9 II FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the A9 II.

What type of imaging sensor is used in the Sony A9 II?

The camera has a Stacked BSI-CMOS (Stacked Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.

Which image processing chip is used in the Sony A9 II to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Sony equipped the A9 II with the BIONZ X image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Sony A9 II?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 50-204800.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Sony Alpha A9 II?

Sony mentions a shutter rating of 500 000 actuations for the A9 II. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the A9 II over, say, three years, one would have to take about 500 pictures each and every day.

How do I find the shutter count on my Sony A9 II?

Sony embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your A9 II has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.

Is completely silent shooting possible with the Sony A9 II?

The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Sony A9 II?

No, the Sony Alpha A9 II has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Sony A9 II?

The A9 II offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

Does the Sony A9 II feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Sony A9 II for flash photography?

The A9 II's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.

Does the Sony A9 II support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-II cards, which provide for data transfer speed of up to 312 MB/s, in both of its card slots.

Which battery does the Sony A9 II use?

The camera gets its power from the NP-FZ100 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Is there a vertical grip available for the Sony A9 II?

Yes, Sony offers the VG-C4EM as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.

Where can I find the best deals for the Sony A9 II?

Grey imports from Asia, as found on ebay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Sony.

Camera to camera comparisons

If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Sony A9 II
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date October 2019
    Launch Price USD 4 499
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology Stacked BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 35.6 x 23.8 mm
    Sensor Area 847 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 42.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6 000 x 4 000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.94 μm
    Pixel Density 2.83 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 51 200 ISO
    ISO Boost 50 - 204 800 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 93
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 25.0
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 14.0
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 3434
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x
    Viewfinder Resolution 3686k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 1440k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen
    V-logging Friendliness No front-flip
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 20 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy500 000 actuations
    Silent ShootingElectronic Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots
    UHS card support Dual UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 3.1
    HDMI Port micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed body
    Battery Type NP-FZ100 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)690 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 129 x 96 x 76 mm
    (5.1 x 3.8 x 3.0 in)
    Camera Weight 678 g (23.9 oz)

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