Introduction
Many people have been waiting for a Sony Alpha a900 replacement ever since it was first announced all the way back in 2008.
That was the last Sony DSLR camera to use a full-frame sensor. Earlier this year, the company confirmed that the next iteration of the full-frame device would use its translucent mirror technology (TMT). So here it is, in the Sony Alpha a99 DSLT.
TMT was first introduced a couple of years ago with the Sony Alpha a33 and Sony Alpha a55 DSLTs, and features a fixed, translucent mirror that doesn't flip out of the way as the picture is taken. This has a couple of advantages, including faster continuous autofocus.
However, it also comes with what many would consider a drawback - the necessity for an electronic viewfinder and the Sony Alpha a99 is the world's first full-frame camera to be equipped with an EVF. With many professionals having their doubts about such devices, Sony knew that it had to get this particularly aspect very, very right.
It has produced an XGA OLED Tru-Finder with a high resolution of 2369k dots and offering 100 per cent coverage. It also has other options such as a focus magnifier to assist with shooting subjects at macro distances.
More about that sensor. It's a 24.3 million pixel full-frame (35mm) device, which enables a new dual AF system. There's a 19 point AF system with 11 cross sensors, combined with a multi-point focal plane phase detection AF sensor that has 102 AF points to assist with focusing.
Additionally, the Sony Alpha a99 has an advanced AF-D continuous autofocus mode that's used for photographing moving subjects. At the moment, only a select number of lenses can support this mode, but firmware updates are planned to extend lens compatibility.
The Sony Alpha a99 is constructed from magnesium alloy, which Sony says makes it the lightest full-frame camera currently on the market. Dust and moisture protection is also included, but it's not quite the all-weather sealing that you might find on cameras such as the Nikon D4.
On the back of the camera is a 3-inch, 1.228k dot fully articulating LCD screen. This again is a first for a full-frame camera.
Dual memory cards slots can also be found onboard, with space for either two SD cards, or one SD card and one Sony memory stick.
With an anticipated retail price of around £2,600 (about $4,180), the Sony Alpha a99 will go head to head with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Nikon D800 once it reaches the market at the beginning of November.
Build quality and handling
As you might expect from a camera of this type, build and price range, the Sony Alpha a99 feels like a decently rugged camera.
Its light magnesium alloy body certainly makes this easier on the back than the equivalent rivals from Nikon and Canon, which will be a welcome relief to many.
That's not to say by any means that this is a small camera. It certainly fits well in the hand, and the grip on the front makes for very comfortable purchase, even when holding the camera in one hand.
There's lots of quick access dials and buttons on the camera, as you would expect. A mode dial on the top left of the camera enables you to switch between manual and semi-automatic modes, as well as other functions including fully automatic, sweep panorama and movie mode.
A lock button on top of the dial prevents you from accidentally switching between modes when in a bag.
Quick access to key functions is provided via a Fn button on the camera. From here you can set parameters such as ISO, raw shooting, auto white balance and other commonly used functions.
The screen, which is a fully articulating device, can be used for composing images when shooting from awkward angles, and can even be positioned to face forward when looking at the camera, which is ideal for self portraits, or group shots.
On the LCD screen you can choose to use Live View, or display a more common DSLR-like interface, showing the settings. Handily, however, Sony has also included a digital level gauge and a histogram, which are all on the same screen.
Setting the AF range is one of the key new functions of the Sony Alpha a99, which enables you to set the parameters of autofocus to prevent the camera accidentally locking on to subjects in the foreground or background of the shot.
To set this, a dedicated button at the bottom of the back of the camera can be used. Hit the AF range button, and then control the near side parameters with a dial on the front of the camera, and the far side parameters using the dial on the back of the camera.
There's no built-in flash on the Sony Alpha a99, but Sony uses a new Multi Interface Shoe, which makes it compatible with a wide range of generic accessories already available on the market, such as flashguns.
This is a welcome addition, since Sony has previously used proprietary hotshoes, which are only compatible with Sony accessories - and those especially made for Sony cameras.
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