Sony Alpha 99

Sony α99

Type	Digital single-lens translucent camera
Sensor	35.8 mm × 23.8 mm Exmor CMOS sensor
Maximum resolution	24.3 megapixels
Lens	Sony mount; compatible with Minolta A-type bayonet mount.
Shutter	Electronically controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type
Shutter speed range	Still images: 1/8000 to 30 sec, Bulb
Exposure metering	1200-zone evaluative metering
Exposure modes	Mode: Auto, Program AE (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter priority (S), Manual (M), Scene Selection, Sweep Panorama, Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE, Movie
Metering modes	Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
Focus areas	Wide (auto,19 points)/Zone/Spot/Local selectable
Focus modes	Predictive control(AF-A, AF-C), Focus Lock, Eye-start AF
Continuous shooting	10fps
Viewfinder	1.3 cm electronic viewfinder with 2,359k dots, 100% field of view, 0.71 x magnification
Rear LCD monitor	3.0", 1,228,800 dots dots
Storage	Memory Stick PRO Duo™/Pro-HG Duo™ media; SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card
Battery	NP-FM500H Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (1650 mAh)
Weight	733 g (25.9 oz), body only

The Sony Alpha 99 was announced by Sony on 12 September 2012. It is the new flagship for Sony's Alpha SLT camera line.^[1]

It features the 24.3MP 35mm full-frame Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, with the normal sensor range of ISO 100-32000.^[2] The selectable sensitivity is up to ISO 25600, which makes this camera able to capture still images in low-light environments.^[3] This camera can also combine six images together, to generate a single image with two additional steps of ISO sensitivity.

Like Sony's APS-c flagship, α77, the α99 has the ability to record Full HD 1080 video with up to 60p frame rate. In markets outside China, this camera also has built-in GPS that allows recording of position information into the photo. The α99 also uses a three-way tiltable LCD, as used on α77, this feature allows the photographer to view the LCD from any angle.

For flexibility Sony α99 allows users to use Sony's crop APS-C DT lenses and consequently automatically cropping the image to the smaller frame.^[4]

Model variants

Model variants of the Alpha 99 camera body:

• SLT-A99V with GPS.
• SLT-A99 without GPS (depending on country).

Features

Image & Autofocus

• 24.3MP 35mm full-frame Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor.
• Updated BIONZ image processor.
• A 19-point autofocus sensor (11 cross type).
• 1200-zone evaluative exposure metering.
• TTL phase-detection auto focusing.

ISO

• ISO sensitivity 100-25600.

Ergonomy

• TruFinder XGA OLED Electronic viewfinder with 100% frame coverage.

Performance

In the DxOMark Overall Sensor Score test, which is based on all characteristics of a camera sensor, the Sony Alpha 99 scores 89 points, which equals the score of the Nikon D4 and the Phase One P65 Plus medium format camera, with the Nikon 800E, 800 and 600 being the only digital SLRs that get a higher score. Which means that the Sony Alpha 99 scores higher than all DSLRs from Canon and all DSLRs except those listed here from Nikon. Including their professional models.^[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sony SLT-A99.