With the announcement of the new Sony Alpha 1, many photographers were taken aback by a set of features that really make the case for it being the perfect all-rounder. But it’s easy to forget that the ground-breaking Sony A9 was released just four years and remains a very viable camera.
And with the launch of the Sony A1, it seems a good bet that the A9 price tag is set to come down. In this guide we’ll explain why we think you should consider the A9 for your next camera purchase and round up the best Sony A9 deals you can find today.
Why buy the Sony A9?
- Date announced: 19th April 2017
- Price at launch: £4,5000/$4,500 (body only)
- Sensor size: Full-frame (35.8 x 23.9mm)
- Effective pixel count: 24.2 million
- Processor: Bionz X supported by memory integrated into the sensor
- Lens Mount: Sony E (FE)
- Viewfinder: 0.5-inch type OLED with 3,686,400 dots:
- Sensitivity range: ISO 100 – 51200 (expandable to ISO 50 – 204,800 with the mechanical shutter or ISO 100 -25,600 (ISO 50) with the electronic shutter
- AF system: 693-point wide area phase detection AF
- Monitor: Tilting 3-inch LCD with 1,440,000 dots
- Max shooting rate: 20fps with AF & AE tracking for up to 241 raw or 362 jpeg images
- Max video resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160) at 30p, 100M
- Storage: Dual card slots, Slot 1: SD(UHS-I/II compliant), Slot 2: Memory Stick Duo/SD (UHS-I)
- Dimensions: 126.9 x 95.6 x 63.0mm / 5 x 3 7/8 x 2 1/2 inches
- Weight: 673g / 1 lb 7.7 oz with battery and card
Sony A9
Specification
- Sensor: 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor
- AF system: 693-point wide area phase detection AF
- Burst Mode in C-AF: 20fps
- Raw Files at 20fps: 241
Professional cameras tend to specialise and concentrate on fairly limited area of photography. As a professional-level camera the Sony Alpha 9 has an extensive feature set and there’s a huge range of customisation options. The optimum set-up is likely to vary from photographer to photographer and it’s only through shooting the same subject on a frequent basis that you’ll find the find the arrangement that works best for you.
However one thing is for sure, the Sony A9 is a fantastic camera. Its fast, clever autofocus system makes photographing tricky subjects like birds in flight a cinch while its electronic viewfinder allows you to be confident that you’ve got the result you want as you shoot.
Thanks to the sensor’s faster readout the Sony A9’s AF system is able to calculate focus and exposure up to 60 times per second. At 20 frames per second means 3 times per shot and it contributes to delivering fast, accurate focusing.
With a good quality lens like the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS mounted, the level of detail in images is superb and thanks to the full-frame sensor, f/4 is wide enough to isolate your subject from its background. Noise is also controlled well and raw files have plenty of latitude for adjustment.
The Sony A9 may be a few years old now, but it’s a camera that shook up the market just as the Alpha 1 has done. It really was a game changer.
Sony A9 deals
Below are some of the best Sony A9 deal available today from a wide range of retailers. We’ll update this lis as and when new deals arrive.
£3399
$2998For
- Fast, clever AF system
- Superb EVF
Against
- Needs more fast, long lenses