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Sony A99 II vs Nikon D810

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Sony A99 II

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

Sony A99 II
$3198.00

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Nikon D810

36 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D810
$1999.00

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Sony A99 II vs Nikon D810 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing A99 II and D810, two Semi-Pro DSLR cameras from Sony and Nikon. Sony A99 II was introduced to market in September 2016 and Nikon D810 was launched in June 2014. As you can see, D810 is 2 years older than A99 II. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Sony A99 II has a 42.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Nikon D810 has a 36.0MP Full frame sensor. We can expect this to be a close match up because both models are ranked amongst the best in Semi-Pro DSLR cameras. Out of 91 cameras in this class, Sony A99 II is ranked #2 with an overall score of 90 and Nikon D810 is ranked #8 with an overall score of 83.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Sony A99 II and Nikon D810 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

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 Fully articulated Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 12.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 849g. 143 x 104 x 76 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Sony SLT-A99 Compare

Nikon D810 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-06-26
  • 36MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 64 - 12800 ( expands to 32-51200)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.2" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 980g. 146 x 123 x 82 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D800 Compare

Nikon D810 was replaced by Nikon D850. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D850 vs Nikon D810
Nikon D850 vs Sony Alpha A99 II

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony A99 II and Nikon D810 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A99 II over Nikon D810
Wireless Connection Built-In vs Optional Better connectivity
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift vs None All the lenses are stabilized
Articulating Screen Yes vs No Flexible shooting positions
Max Sensor Resolution 42 MP vs 36 MP 16% more pixels
Max ISO 25.600 vs 12.800 100% higher Max ISO
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 5.0fps 7 fps faster
Weight 849 g vs 980 g 131 g lighter
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Selfie Friendly LCD Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
NFC Connection Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Shutter Life Expectancy 300000 cycles vs 200000 cycles Longer use without changing the shutter mechanism
Bluetooth Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Smartphone_remote control Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Min Focus Sensitivity EV -4 vs EV -2 Autofocus in lower light
Reasons to choose Nikon D810 over Sony Alpha A99 II
Built-in Flash Yes vs No Useful in low-light
LCD Screen Size 3.2" vs 3 0.2 inches larger display
Battery Life 1200 shots vs 490 shots 710 more frames with a single charge
Color Depth 25.7 vs 25.4 higher color depth
Dynamic Range 14.8 vs 13.4 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO 2853 vs 2317 better High ISO performance
Autofocus at f/8 aperture 11 points vs none Autofocus with teleconverters
Support for UHS Memory Cards UHS-I vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Common Strengths of Sony Alpha A99 II and Nikon D810
External Flash Shoe Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution 42 MP vs 36 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size 3 vs 3.2" Large display
LCD Screen Resolution 1.229k dots vs 1.229k dots Higher resolution screens
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
Flash Sync Port Yes vs Yes Connect off-camera flash
AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune) Yes vs Yes Adjust each lens for accurate focusing
Shutter Life Expectancy 300000 cycles vs 200000 cycles High Shutter Rating
Dual-axis Electronic Level Yes vs Yes Level the camera easily in two axis
Storage Slot 2 vs 2 Extra Storage Slot
Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha A99 II and Nikon D810
Sony A99 II vs Nikon D810: 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 Sony A99 II and Nikon D810 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony A99 II and Nikon D810. Sony A99 II is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 3mm narrower, 19mm shorter and 6mm thinner than Nikon D810.

Sony A99 II vs Nikon D810 Camera Size Comparison - Front View


Here is the back view size comparison of Sony A99 II and Nikon D810.


Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony A99 II and Nikon D810.
Sony A99 II vs Nikon D810 Camera Size Comparison - Top View

Sony A99 II vs Nikon D810 Detailed Size Comparison

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony A99 II is 131g lighter than the Nikon D810 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 Sony A99 II and Nikon D810 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

A99 II
D810
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

A99 II
D810
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both A99 II and D810 have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon D810's 3.2" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony A99 II's 3 screen.

Sony A99 II vs Nikon D810: Sensor Comparison

Sony A99 II has a 42.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. On the other hand, Nikon D810 has a 36.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features EXPEED 4 processor.

Sony A99 II's sensor provides 6MP more than Nikon D810'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.

Another similarity between these two cameras is that both Nikon D810 and Sony A99 II sensors lack anti-alias (Low-Pass) filters. 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 A99 II and D810 sensor size comparison.

Sony A99 II vs Nikon D810 Sensor Size Comparison


Sony A99 II and Nikon D810 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Sony A99 II and Nikon D810 sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that D810 has a better overall score of 97, 5 points higher compared to A99 II's score of 92.

What types of Photography are Sony A99 II and Nikon D810 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony A99 II and Nikon D810 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.

Sony A99 II for Portrait Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D810 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
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
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 36.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Sony A99 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D810 for Street Photography

GOOD
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
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Sony A99 II for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D810 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT
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
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
15 Cross Type Focus sensors
51 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 1200 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Sony A99 II for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon D810 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
849g
Body Thickness 76mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
980g
Body Thickness 82mm
Read the details

Sony A99 II for Landscape Photography

GOOD

Nikon D810 for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 36.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details


Nikon D810 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 D810 has an advantage over Sony A99 II There are 304 lenses for Nikon D810'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. On the other hand, Nikon D810 doesn't have this feature so you have to buy a lens with optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 101 lenses for Nikon F mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type # of Sony A99 II Lenses # of Nikon D810 Lenses
Standard Zoom 20 33 (17 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 9 20 (17 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 11 33 (17 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 18 47 (45 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 26 53 (43 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 12 43 (42 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 19 30 (6 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 4 8 (3 Full Frame)
Macro Prime 12 25 (22 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime 10 11 (11 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime 2 1 (0 Full Frame)
TOTAL 143 304 (223 Full Frame)
Sony A99 II vs Nikon D810: 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 Sony A99 II and Nikon D810, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 Sony A99 II and Nikon D810 scores compare:

Sony A99 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #3 out of 94 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #13 out of 1190 in all Cameras
Nikon D810
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #7 out of 94 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #24 out of 1190 in all Cameras

Sony A99 II is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon D810 in all criteria. It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Sony A99 II
Sony A99 II
$3198.00

Nikon D810
Nikon D810
$1999.00

Nikon D810 vs Sony A99 II Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Alpha A99 II Nikon D810
Brand Sony Nikon
Announced 2016-09-19 2014-06-26
Body Type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.9 x 24 mm 35.9 x 24 mm
Area 861.60mm2 861.60mm2
Megapixels 42 megapixels 36 megapixels
Max Resolution 7952 x 5304 7360 x 4912
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 12,800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 102400 ISO 51200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 64 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 50 ISO 32 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 399 51
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Nikon F
Number of Available Lenses 143 304
Screen
Type Fully articulated Fixed type
Size 3 3.2"
Resolution 1,229k dots 1,229k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Resolution 2,359k dots no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.78 0.7
Photography Features
Max Shutter Speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync 1/250s 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 12.0 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Optional
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 849g 980g
Dimensions 143 x 104 x 76mm 146 x 123 x 82mm
Battery Life 490 shots 1200 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 92 97
DxO Color Depth 25.4 25.7
DxO Dynamic Range 13.4 14.8
DxO Low Light ISO 2317 2853
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