Sony A99 II Review

Name: Sony Alpha A99 II
Brand: Sony

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Main Features

42MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor

No Optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter

ISO 100 - 25600( expands to 50 - 102400)

5-axis Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3.00" Fully articulated Screen

2359k dot Electronic viewfinder

12.0fps continuous shooting

4K at 30fps and FHD at 120fps Video Recording

Built-in Wireless

849g. 143 x 104 x 76 mm

Weather Sealed Body

Replaced Sony A99

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Sony A99 II Overview

First introduced in September 2016 , Sony Alpha A99 II is a 42.0MP Advanced DSLR camera with a Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization, weather sealed body, Fully articulated screen and Sony/Minolta Alpha lens mount. Sony replaced the older A99 with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:
Compare Sony Alpha A99 II vs Sony A99

Sony A99 II Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Lens Mount and Lenses
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Sony A99 II is the latest member of Sony's Advanced DSLR class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

Sony Advanced DSLR Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Sony A99 II	2016	42.0MP - Full frame	12.0 fps	143 x 104 x 76mm	849g
Sony A77 II Compare	2014	24.0MP - APS-C	12.0 fps	143 x 104 x 81mm	647g
Sony A99 Compare	2012	24.0MP - Full frame	10.0 fps	147 x 111 x 78mm	812g
Sony A77 Compare	2011	24.0MP - APS-C	12.0 fps	143 x 104 x 81mm	732g
Sony A850 Compare	2010	25.0MP - Full frame	3.0 fps	156 x 117 x 82mm	895g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
Sony A99 II vs A77 II vs A99 vs A77 vs A850

Alternative Model names found for Sony Alpha A99 II: Alpha A99 Mark II, A99 Mark 2, A99 M2, A99 MII, A99 MkII, A99 Mk2, Alpha 99 II, Alpha A99 II and Alpha A 99 II.

**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.

Sony A99 II PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Sony A99 II review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)

Bluetooth Connectivity

NFC Connectivity

5-axis Image Stabilization

Articulating Screen

4K at 30fps and FHD at 120fps Video Recording

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder

Face Detection Focusing

42.0MP - High Resolution Sensor

25.600 Max ISO

399 Focus Points

1.229k dots LCD Resolution

1/8000s High Shutter Speed

12.0fps Shooting

External Microphone Port

External Headphone Port

Environmental Sealing

Timelapse Recording

2359kdot Viewfinder Resolution

0.78x magnification - Large Viewfinder

Good Low Light ISO - 2317

79 Cross Type Focus Points

2 Storage Slots

Panorama Shooting

Top LCD Display

Wide AE Bracketing Range: ±5 EV

Flash Sync Port

AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune)

High Shutter Life Expectancy - 300000 cycles

Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD Screen

Dual-axis Electronic Level

Remote control with a smartphone

EV -4 Focus Sensitivity

Magnesium alloy body elements

Webcam Functionality

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CONs

No Touch Screen

Low Battery Life: 490 shots

Heavy Body: 849g

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Sony A99 II Physical Specs

Sony A99 II weighs 849 g (1.87 lb / 29.95 oz) and has external dimensions of 143 x 104 x 76 mm (5.63 x 4.09 x 2.99″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR type cameras is 773g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 76mm, it also has an average thickness.

Weight Comparison

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Sony A99 II

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Thickness Comparison

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Sony A99 II

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Here is the front and top view image of Sony A99 II with the dimensions:

Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Sony A99 II Camera Body

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Sony A99 II, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Sony A99 II Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Now let's compare Sony A99 II size with the camera that it replaced: Sony A99. Sony A99 II is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 4mm narrower, 7mm shorter and 2mm thinner than Sony A99.

Comparison image of Sony A99 II and Sony A99 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Sony A99 II with its main competitors:

Sony A99 II Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs A99 II	Thickness	vs A99 II
Sony A99 Compare	812g	37g lighter	78mm	2mm thicker
Sony A77 II Compare	647g	202g lighter	81mm	5mm thicker
Sony A7 III Compare	650g	199g lighter	74mm	2mm thinner
Sony A7R III Compare	657g	192g lighter	74mm	2mm thinner
Sony A7R IV Compare	665g	184g lighter	78mm	2mm thicker
Nikon D850 Compare	1015g	166g heavier	79mm	3mm thicker
Sony A7R II Compare	625g	224g lighter	60mm	16mm thinner
Sony A9 Compare	673g	176g lighter	63mm	13mm thinner

Weather Sealing

Sony A99 II has environmental sealings on its body which makes it a weather resistant camera, providing resistance against the water and dust getting in to the camera. If you like outdoors photography and want to be able to use your camera in extreme conditions, Sony A99 II will serve you well. If you attach one of these Sony A99 II weather Sealed lenses to your camera, you will have a great all weather kit.

Sony A99 II Lens Mount and Lenses

Sony A99 II has a Sony/Minolta Alpha lens mount and currently there are 143 native lenses available for this mount. Sony took over all the Minolta AF lens legacy and extended it with lot of new lenses, some popular ones designed by Zeiss engineers. User can also choose from a wide selection of third party lens manufacturers portfolio.

A99 II also has a Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization system which means that all of these lenses will be stabilized when used on A99 II. Sony claims that the image stabilization of A99 II is effective up to 4.5 stops. Sensor based image stabilization is one of the most useful features that you can have in an ILC.

Weather Sealed Lenses for Sony A99 II

There are 13 lenses with weather sealing for Sony A99 II that you can couple with its weather sealed body.

Here are some of the most popular Sony A99 II Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount Lenses for Sony A99 II

Model	Focal Length equiv.	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM C	150-600mm	35mm FF	1930gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II	70-300mm	35mm FF	750gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sony 28-75mm F2.8 SAM	28-75mm	35mm FF	565gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sony 75-300mm F4.5-5.6	75-300mm	35mm FF	460gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD	150-600mm	35mm FF	1951gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sony 500mm F8 Reflex	500mm	35mm FF	665gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Tamron SP 24-70mm F2.8 Di VC USD	24-70mm	35mm FF	825gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sony 35mm F1.4 G	35mm	35mm FF	510gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

Check our Sony A99 II Lenses page for more detailed lens search.

Sony A99 II Sensor and Photography Features

Sony A99 II has a 42.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 7952 x 5304 pixels with aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. A99 II has a native ISO range of 100 - 25600 which can be boosted to 50 - 102400 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Sony A99 II is not the highest resolution Full frame camera. Sigma fp L with its 61.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Sony A99 II vs Sigma fp L or take a look at Highest resolution DSLR cameras list.

Sony A99 II DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Sony A99 II sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 92 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Sony A99 II here.

Anti-Aliasing Filter

Another important feature about Sony A99 II's sensor is the lack of anti-alias (Low-pass) filter. Removing anti-aliasing filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but on the other side it also increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Let's look at how the size of the Sony A99 II's Full frame sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Sony A99 II Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Sony A99 II LCD and Viewfinder

Sony A99 II has a Fully articulated 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 1,229k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

For those of you who loves shooting selfies, self or group photos, Sony A99 II will make your life easier with its Selfie friendly screen. Another group of users who will take advantage of A99 II's LCD screen are Vloggers and any video creators who are working in a single-person setup.

A99 II has a built-in Electronic viewfinder, making it easier to shoot in direct sunlight and in other situations where it might be difficult to view the LCD monitor. The viewfinder has a resolution of 2,359kdots and coverage of 100%. 100% coverage ensures that what you see in the viewfinder while shooting matches exactly what you will get later in your image, helping accurate framing your shots and minimizes the need for cropping images later. The magnification ratio of the viewfinder is 0.78x (35mm equivalent).

Sony A99 II Connectivity, Storage and Battery

Sony A99 II features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11/b/g/n with NFC) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. With its NFC feature, A99 II can communicate with devices such as smartphones which are also equipped with this technology by simply touching each other.Sony A99 II's Bluetooth connectivity feature comes handy for connecting other devices that supports it. One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our A99 II. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.

You can connect A99 II to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Sony A99 II Battery

Sony A99 II is powered by NP-FM500H battery which provides a battery life of 490 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of DSLR type cameras is 948 shots, Sony A99 II has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend A99 II owners to invest in some extra batteries.

Battery Life Comparison in Advanced DSLR Cameras

Sony A99 II

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Nikon D780 with its 2260shots is the model with longest battery life among Advanced DSLR cameras. Check the comparison of Sony A99 II vs Nikon D780 or take a look at Longest Battery Life DSLR cameras list.

Sony A99 II Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Sony A99 Compare	1920 x 1080	500shots	No	No	No
Sony A77 II Compare	1920 x 1080	480shots	Yes	No	Yes
Sony A7 III Compare	3840 x 2160	610shots	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sony A7R III Compare	3840 x 2160	650shots	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sony A7R IV Compare	3840 x 2160	670shots	Yes	Yes	Yes
Nikon D850 Compare	3840 x 2160	1840shots	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sony A7R II Compare	3840 x 2160	290shots	Yes	No	Yes
Sony A9 Compare	3840 x 2160	650shots	Yes	Yes	Yes

Sony A99 II Video Features

With Sony A99 II, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 30p,25p,24p fps and save in MPEG-4, AVCHD and XAVC S formats. Sony A99 II's 4K is the common standard resolution in consumer video world.
It is also a big step up from its predecessor Sony A99 which has a max video resolution of 1920 x 1080 only. If you are thinking of upgrading your A99 and shoot a lot of video, this is a big factor to consider in favor of A99 II.

A99 II has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker. Sony A99 II also has a port for an external microphone and a headphone port for connecting external headphones which make Sony A99 II a very suitable camera high quality videography.

Sony A99 II Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Sony A99 II can shoot continuously at max speed of 12.0 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/8000 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately A99 II doesn't have a built-in flash but it has a flash shoe for mounting external flashes.

Focusing

Sony A99 II features both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems which ensures speed and accuracy of focusing in most situations. The AF system has 399 focus points and 79 of these sensors are of Cross-type. Cross-type sensors locks focus faster and more accurate compared to single type sensors.

Sony A99 II also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically. In addition to the face detect AF, A99 II has a more sophisticated feature called Eye Tracking AF which detects and locks focus to the selected eye of the person in the frame accurately and tracks as the subject moves. Eye tracking AF of Sony A99 II is a perfect feature for shooting portraits and is especially useful when fast lenses are used and the depth of field is very narrow.

What type of Photography is Sony A99 II Good for?

In this section, we review and score Sony A99 II in 5 different photography areas.

Sony A99 II for Portrait Photography

Sony A99 II has a score of 80 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

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 of how we scored Sony A99 II for Portrait Photography

Sony A99 II for Street Photography

Sony A99 II has a score of 93 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully articulated LCD Screen

Image Stabilization
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Large Body

Read the details of how we scored Sony A99 II for Street Photography

Sony A99 II for Sports Photography

Sony A99 II has a score of 91 for Sports Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

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
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Image Stabilization
Anti Flicker feature

Read the details of how we scored Sony A99 II for Sports Photography

Sony A99 II for Daily Photography

Sony A99 II has a score of 82 for Daily Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Environmental Sealings
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Large Body

849g
Body Thickness 76mm

Read the details of how we scored Sony A99 II for Daily Photography

Sony A99 II for Landscape Photography

Sony A99 II has a score of 61 for Landscape Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Landscape Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Live-view
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor

Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Sony A99 II for Landscape Photography

Sony A99 II Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Sony A99 II compares with other DSLR cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Sony A99 II alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Sony A99 II

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Sony A99 II amongst Camera Decision readers.

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Sony A99 II Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Sony A99 II with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Sony A99 II's price range.

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Sony A99 II Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Sony A99 II has an Overall Score of 87/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Sony Alpha A99 II is ranked #1 out of 208 in DSLR cameras (Top 20 DSLR), and ranked #29 out of 1244 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#29 out of 1244 in Top Ranking Cameras
#1 out of 208 in Top Ranking DSLR Cameras
#2 out of 93 in Top Ranking Advanced DSLR Cameras
#24 out of 92 in Top Ranking Full frame Sensor Cameras
#9 out of 183 in Top Ranking Cameras with Selfie friendly Screen
#1 out of 32 in Top Ranking Sony Alpha Lens Mount Cameras
#27 out of 366 in Largest Viewfinder Magnification Cameras (0.78x)
#7 out of 40 in Lightest DSLR Cameras with Full frame sensor(849g)
#10 out of 137 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fully articulated Screen

Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Frequently Asked Questions about Sony A99 II

Does the Sony A99 II have Image Stabilization?
Does the Sony A99 II have RAW support?
Does the Sony A99 II have Weather Sealing?
Does the Sony A99 II have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Sony A99 II?
What is the Sensor Size of Sony A99 II?
is the Sony A99 II a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Sony A99 II have Touch Screen?
Does the Sony A99 II have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Sony A99 II?
What is the Weight of Sony A99 II?
What are the Dimensions of Sony A99 II?

Sony Alpha A99 II Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Sony
Model	Sony Alpha A99 II
Announced	2016-09-19
Body Type	Mid-size SLR
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of Lenses	143
Focal Length Multiplier	1x
Macro Focus Range	n/a
Screen
Screen Type	Fully articulated
Screen Size	3.00"
Screen Resolution	1,229k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	2,359k dots
Viewfinder Coverage	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.78x
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	30s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/8000s
Continuous Shooting	12.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync	1/250s
Flash Modes	Off, auto, fill, slow sync, redeye reduction, rear sync, high-speed sync, wireless
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	92
DxO Color Depth	25.4
DxO Dynamic Range	13.4
DxO Low Light ISO	2317
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	BSI-CMOS
Sensor Size	Full frame
Sensor Dimensions	35.9 x 24 mm
Sensor Area	861.60mm²
Sensor Resolution	42 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	7952 x 5304
Max Native ISO	25,600
Max Boosted ISO	102400
Min Native ISO	100
Min Boosted ISO	50
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
Number of Cross Focus Points	79
Video Features
Video Resolutions	3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 50i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 16 Mbps, AVCHD, MP4, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital192
Max Video Resolution	3840 x 2160
Video Formats	MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	849g
Physical Dimensions	143 x 104 x 76mm
Battery Life	490 shots
Battery Type	NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery Model	NP-FM500H
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS Duo slots
Storage Slots	2