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Nikon D780 vs Sony A99 II Comparison

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Camera to replace
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Nikon D780

25 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Nikon D780
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Sony A99 II

42 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony A99 II
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Nikon D780 vs Sony A99 II Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing D780 and A99 II, two Advanced DSLR cameras from Nikon and Sony. Nikon D780 was introduced to market in January 2020 and Sony A99 II was launched in September 2016. As you can see, A99 II is 4 years older than D780. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

We can expect this to be a close match up because both models are ranked amongst the best in Advanced DSLR cameras. Out of 93 cameras in this class, Nikon D780 is ranked #3 with an overall score of 85 and Sony A99 II is ranked #2 with an overall score of 87.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D780 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2020-01-07
  • 25MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 51200 ( expands to 50 - 204800)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.20" Tilting Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 7.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 840g. 144 x 116 x 76 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D750 Compare

Sony A99 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-09-19
  • 42MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 25600 ( expands to 50 - 102400)
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fully articulated Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 12.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 849g. 143 x 104 x 76 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Sony SLT-A99 Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Nikon D780 over Sony Alpha A99 II
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Max ISO
51.200 vs 25.600 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3.2" vs 3 0.2 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
2.359k dots vs 1.229k dots 91% higher resolution screen
Battery Life
2260 shots vs 490 shots 1770 more frames with a single charge
Weight
840 g vs 849 g 9 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area
35.25µm2 vs 20.43µm2 72% larger pixel area
Focus Bracketing
Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Focus Stacking
Yes vs No Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Autofocus at f/8 aperture
11 points vs none Autofocus with teleconverters
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
CHECK D780 PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A99 II over Nikon D780
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Viewfinder Magnification
0.78x vs 0.7x Larger Viewfinder
Max Sensor Resolution
42 MP vs 25 MP 68% more pixels
Number of Focus Points
399 vs 51 348 more focus points
Number of Cross Type Focus Points
79 vs 15 64 more cross type focus points
Continuous Shooting
12.0fps vs 7.0fps 5 fps faster
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Shutter Life Expectancy
300000 cycles vs 150000 cycles Longer use without changing the shutter mechanism
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam
Eye Tracking Focus
Yes vs No Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject
CHECK A99 II PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon D780 and Sony Alpha A99 II
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Bluetooth Connection
Yes vs Yes Connect to other devices via Bluetooth
Adjustable LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fully articulated Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
25 MP vs 42 MP Bigger prints and more details
Microphone Port
Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs Yes better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Top LCD Display
Yes vs Yes Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune)
Yes vs Yes Adjust each lens for accurate focusing
Shutter Life Expectancy
150000 cycles vs 300000 cycles High Shutter Rating
Storage Slot
2 vs 2 Extra Storage Slot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Min Focus Sensitivity
EV -4 vs EV -4 Autofocus in very low light
Anti_flicker
Yes vs Yes Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Common Weaknesses of Nikon D780 and Sony Alpha A99 II
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
Nikon D780 vs Sony A99 II: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon D780 has external dimensions of 144 x 116 x 76 mm (5.67 x 4.57 x 2.99″) and weighs 840 g (1.85 lb / 29.63 oz) (including batteries). Sony A99 II has external dimensions of 143 x 104 x 76 mm (5.63 x 4.09 x 2.99″) and weighs 849 g (1.87 lb / 29.95 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II. Sony A99 II is 1mm narrower and 12mm shorter than Nikon D780 but they have the same thickness of 76mm.

Nikon D780 vs Sony A99 II Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II.
Nikon D780 vs Sony A99 II Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon D780 is 9g lighter than the Sony A99 II but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II have the same Full frame sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D780
A99 II
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D780
A99 II
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both D780 and A99 II have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon D780's 3.20" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony A99 II's 3 screen.

Nikon D780 vs Sony A99 II: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D780 has a 25.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed 6 processor. On the other hand, Sony A99 II has a 42.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor.

Sony A99 II's sensor provides 17MP more than Nikon D780's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

One other difference between these two cameras that is worth mentioning is that Sony A99 II's sensor doesn't have an anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the D780 and A99 II sensor size comparison.

Nikon D780 vs Sony A99 II Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II Cameras


Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Nikon D780 vs Sony A99 II Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that Nikon D780 has an advantage over Sony A99 II. There are 316 lenses for Nikon D780's Nikon F mount, on the other hand there are only 143 lenses for Sony A99 II's Sony/Minolta Alpha lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Sony A99 II has a big advantage in this regard because it has a sensor based image stabilization which means that all the lenses mounted to this body will be stabilized. A99 II's built-in Image stabilization system is effective to compensate vibration up to 4.5-stops according to CIPA standards.
On the other hand, Nikon D780 doesn't have this feature so you have to buy a lens with optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 107 lenses for Nikon F mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type # of Nikon D780 Lenses # of Sony A99 II Lenses
Standard Zoom 33 (17 Full Frame) 20 (9 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 22 (19 Full Frame) 9 (7 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 33 (17 Full Frame) 11 (4 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 50 (48 Full Frame) 18 (16 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 54 (44 Full Frame) 26 (22 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 46 (45 Full Frame) 13 (13 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 30 (6 Full Frame) 19 (4 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 8 (3 Full Frame) 4 (2 Full Frame)
Macro Prime 26 (23 Full Frame) 12 (9 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime 11 (11 Full Frame) 9 (9 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 (0 Full Frame) 2 (1 Full Frame)
TOTAL 316 (233 Full Frame) 143 (96 Full Frame)


Now let's compare some sample lenses from each mount with typical Focal ranges for Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II to see how these lenses compares:

Fast Standard Zoom Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR Lens Nikon 24-70mm F2.8E ED VR
24 - 70mm 1070gr 1910gr 155mm Amazon B&H Photo
Sony 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II Lens Sony 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II
24 - 70mm 974gr 1823gr 111mm Amazon B&H Photo
Fast Tele Zoom Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR Lens Nikon AF-S 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR
70 - 200mm 1430gr 2270gr 203mm Amazon B&H Photo
Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II Lens Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II
70 - 200mm 1500gr 2349gr 197mm Amazon B&H Photo
Fast Normal Prime Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Nikon 50mm f1.4G Lens Nikon 50mm f1.4G
50mm 290gr 1130gr 54mm Amazon B&H Photo
Sony CZ  T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM Lens Sony CZ T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM
50mm 518gr 1367gr 72mm Amazon B&H Photo
Fast Wideangle Zoom Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF Lens Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF
17 - 35mm 745gr 1585gr 106mm Amazon B&H Photo
Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II Lens Sony 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II
16 - 35mm 872gr 1721gr 114mm Amazon B&H Photo
24-105mm f4 Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR Lens Nikon 24-120mm f4G ED VR
24 - 120mm 710gr 1550gr 104mm Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM Lens Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM
24 - 105mm 885gr 1734gr 109mm Amazon B&H Photo
Super-Tele Zoom Equivalent Lenses
Model FF Equiv. Weight Weight w/ Cam Length Street Price
Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM C Lens Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM C
150 - 600mm 1930gr 2770gr 290mm Amazon B&H Photo
Tamron 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 Lens Tamron 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
150 - 600mm 2010gr 2859gr 258mm Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon D780 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Sony A99 II for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 25.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon D780 for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony A99 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully articulated LCD Screen
Large Body
Read the details

Nikon D780 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A99 II for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
15 Cross Type Focus sensors
51 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 2260 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 12.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
79 Cross Type Focus sensors
399 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Anti Flicker feature
Read the details

Nikon D780 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Sony A99 II for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
840g
Body Thickness 76mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Anti Flicker feature
Large Body
849g
Body Thickness 76mm
Read the details

Nikon D780 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Sony A99 II for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 25.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Nikon D780 vs Sony A99 II: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon D780 and Sony A99 II scores compare:

Nikon D780
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #3 out of 95 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #35 out of 1244 in all Cameras
Sony A99 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #2 out of 95 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #29 out of 1244 in all Cameras

Sony A99 II has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon D780 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon D780
Nikon D780
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Sony A99 II
Sony A99 II
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Sony A99 II vs Nikon D780 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon D780 Sony Alpha A99 II
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2020-01-07 2016-09-19
Body Type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.9 x 23.9 mm 35.9 x 24 mm
Area 858.01mm2 861.60mm2
Megapixels 25 megapixels 42 megapixels
Max Resolution 6048 x 4024 7952 x 5304
Max Native Light sensitivity 51,200 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 204800 ISO 102400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 50 ISO 50 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 51 399
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of Available Lenses 316 143
Screen
Type Tilting Fully articulated
Size 3.20" 3.00"
Resolution 2,359k dots 1,229k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 2,359k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.7x 0.78x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps 12.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 840g 849g
Dimensions 144 x 116 x 76mm 143 x 104 x 76mm
Battery Life 2260 shots 490 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 92
DxO Color Depth not tested 25.4
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 13.4
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 2317
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