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Sony A99 II vs YI M1

The Sony Alpha ALT-A99 II and the YI M1 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public in September 2016. The A99 II is a DSLR, while the M1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a full frame (A99 II) and a Four Thirds (M1) sensor. The Sony has a resolution of 42.2 megapixels, whereas the YI provides 20.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Sony A99 II
versus
YI M1
Sony A99 II   YI M1
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Sony A mount lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
42.2 MP – Full Frame sensor 20.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor
4K/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-25,600 ISO 100-25,600
Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots) No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 1229k dots 3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Fully flexible screen (no touchscreen) Fixed touchscreen
12 shutter flaps per second 5 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationLens stabilization only
Weathersealed bodynot weather sealed
490 shots per battery charge450 shots per battery charge
143 x 104 x 76 mm, 849 g 114 x 64 x 34 mm, 281 g
logo
Check A99 II offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check M1 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha ALT-A99 II and the YI M1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Sony A99 II and the YI M1 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The M1 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the A99 II is only available in black.

Size Sony A99 II vs YI M1
Compare A99 II versus M1 top
Comparison A99 II or M1 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the YI M1 is considerably smaller (51 percent) than the Sony A99 II. Moreover, the M1 is substantially lighter (67 percent) than the A99 II. It is worth mentioning in this context that the A99 II is splash and dust resistant, while the M1 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the A99 II gets 490 shots out of its Sony NP-FM500H battery, while the M1 can take 450 images on a single charge of its YI BXM-10 power pack. The power pack in the M1 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A99 II 143 mm 104 mm 76 mm 849 g 490 i Sep 2016 US$ 3 199ebay.com
2.
 
YI M1 114 mm 64 mm 34 mm 281 g 450 i Sep 2016 US$ 349ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 5DS R 152 mm 116 mm 76 mm 930 g 700 i Feb 2015 US$ 3 699ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SX730 110 mm 64 mm 40 mm 300 g 250 i Apr 2017 US$ 399ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A3 117 mm 67 mm 40 mm 339 g 410 i Aug 2016 US$ 399ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon 1 J5 98 mm 60 mm 32 mm 231 g 250 i Apr 2015 US$ 399ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D850 146 mm 124 mm 79 mm 1005 g 1840 i Jul 2017 US$ 3 299 amazon.com
8.
 
Panasonic GF7 107 mm 65 mm 33 mm 266 g 230 i Jan 2015 US$ 499ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GX850 107 mm 65 mm 33 mm 269 g 210 i Jan 2017 US$ 549ebay.com
10.
 
Pentax K-1 137 mm 110 mm 86 mm 1010 g 760 i Feb 2016 US$ 1 799ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A7R II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 625 g 290 i Jun 2015 US$ 3 199ebay.com
12.
 
Sony A7R III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 i Oct 2017 US$ 3 199ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A7R IIIA 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 i Apr 2021 US$ 3 199 amazon.com
14.
 
Sony A7S II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 627 g 370 i Sep 2015 US$ 2 999ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A99 147 mm 111 mm 78 mm 812 g 500 i Sep 2012 US$ 2 799ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A850 156 mm 117 mm 82 mm 895 g 880 i Aug 2009 US$ 1 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A900 156 mm 117 mm 82 mm 895 g 880 i Sep 2008 US$ 2 999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty Camera
Model

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The M1 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 89 percent) than the A99 II, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant 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. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Sony A99 II features a full frame sensor and the YI M1 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the M1 is 74 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 2.0. The sensor in the A99 II has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the M1 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Sony A99 II and YI M1 sensor measures

With 42.2MP, the A99 II offers a higher resolution than the M1 (20.2MP), but the A99 II nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.52μm versus 3.34μm for the M1) due to its larger sensor. It is noteworthy in this context that the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the A99 II has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A99 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A99 II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 39.8 x 26.5 inches or 101 x 67.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 31.8 x 21.2 inches or 80.8 x 53.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 26.5 x 17.7 inches or 67.3 x 44.9 cm. The corresponding values for the YI M1 are 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm for good quality, 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm for very good quality, and 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The A99 II has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Sony Alpha ALT-A99 II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 50-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the YI M1 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the A99 II is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the M1 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

A99 II versus M1 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). 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
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony A99 II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p25.413.4231792
2.
 
YI M1 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.012.6103073
3.
 
Canon 5DS R Full Frame 50.3 8688 57921080/30p24.612.4230886
4.
 
Canon SX730 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.511.992450
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A3 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.813.1166381
6.
 
Nikon 1 J5 1-inch 20.7 5568 37124K/15p21.112.047965
7.
 
Nikon D850 Full Frame 45.4 8256 55044K/30p26.414.82660100
8.
 
Panasonic GF7 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p22.712.387470
9.
 
Panasonic GX850 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34484K/30p23.213.358673
10.
 
Pentax K-1 Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60i25.414.6328096
11.
 
Sony A7R II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.013.9343498
12.
 
Sony A7R III Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
13.
 
Sony A7R IIIA Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
14.
 
Sony A7S II Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/30p23.613.3299385
15.
 
Sony A99 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p25.014.0155589
16.
 
Sony A850 Full Frame 24.4 6048 4032i23.812.2141579
17.
 
Sony A900 Full Frame 24.4 6048 4032i23.712.3143179
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
  empty Camera
Model

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A99 II has an electronic viewfinder (2400k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the M1 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Sony A99 II and YI M1 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty 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 A99 II2400 i3.0 / 1229 full-flex i 1/8000s 12.0/s i i
2.
 
YI M1i i3.0 / 1040 fixed i 1/4000s 5.0/s i i
3.
 
Canon 5DS Roptical i3.2 / 1040 fixed i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
4.
 
Canon SX730i i3.0 / 922 tilting i 1/3200s 5.9/s i i
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A3i i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/4000s 6.0/s i i
6.
 
Nikon 1 J5i i3.0 / 1037 tilting i 1/4000s 60.0/s i i
7.
 
Nikon D850optical i3.2 / 2359 tilting i 1/8000s 9.0/s i i
8.
 
Panasonic GF7i i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/500s 5.8/s i i
9.
 
Panasonic GX850i i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/500s 10.0/s i i
10.
 
Pentax K-1optical i3.2 / 1037 full-flex i 1/8000s 4.4/s i i
11.
 
Sony A7R II2400 i3.0 / 1229 tilting i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
12.
 
Sony A7R III3686 i3.0 / 1440 tilting i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
13.
 
Sony A7R IIIA3686 i3.0 / 2340 tilting i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
14.
 
Sony A7S II2400 i3.0 / 1229 tilting i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
15.
 
Sony A992359 i3.0 / 1229 full-flex i 1/8000s 6.0/s i i
16.
 
Sony A850optical i3.0 / 922 fixed i 1/8000s 3.0/s i i
17.
 
Sony A900optical i3.0 / 922 fixed i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
  empty 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
  empty Camera
Model

One feature that is present on the A99 II, but is missing on the M1 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The A99 II has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the M1 does not have a selfie-screen.

The YI M1 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The A99 II writes its imaging data to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, while the M1 uses SDXC cards. The A99 II features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the M1 only has one slot. The A99 II supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the M1 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity 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 ALT-A99 II and YI M1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony A99 IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
2.
 
YI M1istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
3.
 
Canon 5DS Rimono / monoiimini3.0iii
4.
 
Canon SX730istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A3istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
6.
 
Nikon 1 J5istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
7.
 
Nikon D850istereo / monoiimini3.0iii
8.
 
Panasonic GF7istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
9.
 
Panasonic GX850istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
10.
 
Pentax K-1istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
11.
 
Sony A7R IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
12.
 
Sony A7R IIIistereo / monoiimicro3.1iii
13.
 
Sony A7R IIIAistereo / monoiimicro3.2iii
14.
 
Sony A7S IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
15.
 
Sony A99istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
16.
 
Sony A850ii / iiimini2.0iii
17.
 
Sony A900ii / iiimini2.0iii
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
  empty Camera
Model

It is notable that the A99 II has a microphone port, which is missing on the M1. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Sony A99 II (unlike the M1) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the A99 II and the M1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. Neither of the two has a direct successor, so they represent the end of the respective camera lines from Sony and YI. Further information on the features and operation of the A99 II and M1 can be found, respectively, in the Sony A99 II Manual (free pdf) or the online YI M1 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Sony A99 II better than the YI M1 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

ilogo

Advantages of the Sony Alpha ALT-A99 II:

  • More detail: Offers more megapixels (42.2 vs 20.2MP) with a 48% higher linear resolution.
  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
  • Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1229k vs 1040k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a full-flex screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
  • Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.

ilogo

Reasons to prefer the YI M1:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (114x64mm vs 143x104mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 568g or 67 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (89 percent cheaper at launch).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A99 II is the clear winner of the match-up (22 : 8 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

A99 II 22:08 M1

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony A99 II and the YI M1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the A99 II or the M1. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A99 II....4.5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2016 US$ 3 199ebay.com
2.
 
YI M1......69/100.... Sep 2016 US$ 349ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 5DS R5/5+..83/1005/54.5/5 Feb 2015 US$ 3 699ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SX730..+....4/54/5 Apr 2017 US$ 399ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X-A3......74/1004.5/54/5 Aug 2016 US$ 399ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon 1 J5........4.5/54.5/5 Apr 2015 US$ 399ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D8504.5/5+ +5/589/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2017 US$ 3 299 amazon.com
8.
 
Panasonic GF74/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2015 US$ 499ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GX850..+..76/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 US$ 549ebay.com
10.
 
Pentax K-15/5....84/1005/55/5 Feb 2016 US$ 1 799ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A7R II5/5+ +5/590/1005/55/5 Jun 2015 US$ 3 199ebay.com
12.
 
Sony A7R III..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2017 US$ 3 199ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A7R IIIA..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2021 US$ 3 199 amazon.com
14.
 
Sony A7S II5/5+....4.5/55/5 Sep 2015 US$ 2 999ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A995/5....84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 2 799ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A8503/5....75/100..4.5/5 Aug 2009 US$ 1 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A900..+ +..+ +4.5/55/5 Sep 2008 US$ 2 999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty  Camera 
 Model 

The review scores listed above should be treated 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 comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Check A99 II offers at
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Check M1 offers at
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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As 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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  • Fujifilm X-A1
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  • Hasselblad X1D
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  • Kodak AZ901
  • Kodak S-1
  • Leica C-LUX
  • Leica CL
  • Leica D-LUX Typ 109
  • Leica D-LUX 5
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  • Leica Digilux 3
  • Leica M Typ 240
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  • Leica M8
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  • Leica V-LUX Typ 114
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  • Leitz Ur-Leica
  • Nikon 1 J4
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  • Nikon 1 V1
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  • Nikon Coolpix A
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  • Pentax 645D
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  • Pentax K-1
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  • Ricoh GR
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  • Samsung NX1
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  • Sigma fp
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  • Sony A1
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  • Sony ZV-E10 II
  • YI M1
  • Zeiss ZX1
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Specifications: Sony A99 II vs YI M1

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

Camera Specifications
Camera Model Sony A99 II YI M1
Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Camera Lens Sony A mount lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
Launch Date September 2016 September 2016
Launch Price USD 3,199 USD 349
Sensor Specs Sony A99 II YI M1
Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
Sensor Size 35.9 x 24.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
Sensor Area 861.6 mm2 224.9 mm2
Sensor Diagonal 43.2 mm 21.6 mm
Crop Factor 1.0x 2.0x
Sensor Resolution 42.2 Megapixels 20.2 Megapixels
Image Resolution 7952 x 5304 pixels 5184 x 3888 pixels
Pixel Pitch 4.52 μm 3.34 μm
Pixel Density 4.90 MP/cm2 8.96 MP/cm2
Moiré control no AA filter Anti-Alias filter
Movie Capability 4K/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO Setting 100 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
ISO Boost 50 - 25,600 ISO no Enhancement
DXO Sensor Quality (score) 92 ..
DXO Color Depth (bits) 25.4 ..
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.4 ..
DXO Low Light (ISO) 2317 ..
Screen Specs Sony A99 II YI M1
Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder no viewfinder
Viewfinder Field of View 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x
Viewfinder Resolution 2400k dots
Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
LCD Framing Live View Live View
Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
LCD Resolution 1229k dots 1040k dots
LCD Attachment Fully flexible screen Fixed screen
Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
Shooting Specs Sony A99 II YI M1
Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous Shooting 12 shutter flaps/s 5 shutter flaps/s
Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationLens stabilization only
Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards SDXC cards
Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Single card slot
UHS card support UHS-I no
Connectivity Specs Sony A99 II YI M1
External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
Microphone Port External MIC port no MIC socket
Headphone Socket Headphone port no Headphone port
Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
Near-Field Communication NFC built-in no NFC
Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in Bluetooth built-in
Body Specs Sony A99 II YI M1
Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodynot weather sealed
Battery Type Sony NP-FM500H YI BXM-10
Battery Life (CIPA)490 shots per charge450 shots per charge
In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
Body Dimensions 143 x 104 x 76 mm
(5.6 x 4.1 x 3.0 in)
114 x 64 x 34 mm
(4.5 x 2.5 x 1.3 in)
Camera Weight 849 g (29.9 oz) 281 g (9.9 oz)
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