(SR5) UPDATED: Full A99 specs! To be announced on September 12th.
Picture via Phottix (think it’s the A77)
My colleague from Photorumors and I received exactly the same A99 specs. UPDATE: Added some more specs. Here they are:
- 24.3 Mpx Full frame CMOS Exmor sensor
- SLT technology
- New Bionz imaging engine
- 14 bit RAW recording
- 10 fps
- ISO 100 up to 25.600
- 50 ISO extended (with lower dynamic range)
- 102 AF point AF (11 cross).
- AF range
- MF assist
- Dual Phase detection system (with AF phase pixels on sensor)
- 30 sec and 1/8000 maximum shutter speed
- Time Lag 0.05 sec.
- Shutter life guarantee of 200,000 cycles
- 2.360k OLED electornic viewfinder
- 3″921k LCD with same tilting system of the A77
- Full HD video recording at 1920×1080/60p AVCHD format
- HDMI output
- Built-in stereo mic
- Built-in flash with guide number of 12
- Auto HDR capability
- New multi-segment low pass filter
- Photodiode expansion technology
- Light concentration technology
- Selective noise reduction
- Ultrasonic anti dust system
- In body image stabilization
- Two memory slots: SD and SD+MS cards
- USB: 2.0
- Announced on September 12, 2012
- Available in stores in late October 2012
- New accessories to be released with the a99: battery grip, flash, remote control, microphone etc.
- Very light, weather sealed magnesium alloy body.With 730 g this is the lightest FF body on market!
Most of the specs we already had. What’s new is the shutter info, OLED viewfinder info, the HDMi output, built-in micro and some other info I have to check what it is (Photodiode expansion?).
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Thomas Lee
10 months ago |Am very concerned that if A99 have large enough internal memory buffer for the 10fps. Hopefully will not have the same problem as the A77 that the internal memory buffer is too smaller when doing 10fps, it can only last for 1.5 sec then becomes slow shutter speed as internal memory buffer is full and is not fast enough to load into CF/MS.
Sahaja
10 months ago |Yes there is not so much point in having 10fps if the buffer fills up almost immediately.
DalaaBachoPhotography
10 months ago |I totally Agree This camera needs NEEDS a large Buffer. It is the single most complaint point about my A77 that I have. after 12-14 frames I hit the wall and it takes a few seconds to clear. The A77 still has some improvements to make to be an ULTIMATE stand alone Camera so Let’s hope that Sony Continues that Forward progress with this A99. Also what about the rumored 240FPS frame rate for Movie mode I know it’s a pipe dream but it would be cool for SURE ( save me from buying the FS700 lol)
Sky_walker
10 months ago |A99 didn’t have 240 FPS mode rumoured. It was a new Sony E-mount camcoder (probably not VG900 either).
ep
10 months ago |You guys need a faster card, not bigger buffer, no point doing normal burst hi 8fps when it takes longer to clear buffer to memory.even given 10sec buffer, you gonna just fill it up again before it clears to card.
ShowMeYourPixels
10 months ago |So in theory, will my full frame Tamron lens work with the Sony A99? I know APS-C lenses don’t work but I once purchased a full frame Tamron lens just because I wanted to be prepared for the next Full Frame DSLT
Greg
10 months ago |Yes.
Mike
10 months ago |Tamron does’t have any problem with compatibility, and the lens is full frame…so,why wouldn’t it work?
ep
10 months ago |Sony alpha fullframe Can use dt(crop) lens without any issue. The fullframe sensor will activated to aps-crop mode, meaning u won’t be able fully use the fullframe angle of the sensor.
Admin, u forgot the part, evf auto enlarge crop frame when attach crop lens.
romi.foto
10 months ago |what about with manual lenses?
rojocinco
10 months ago |this “HDMI output” means Clean HDMI Output??
Douglas Grillo
10 months ago |I have hope on this, but now i don’t know. This camera is looking more of the same as the A77, i as many DLSR video users make us high expectations and in the end isn’t what we expect for.
Till now this “A99″ look like upgraded A77, i’ll be waiting for more investigations from admin on this matter.
ItDoesNotMatter
10 months ago |Thank you for the update.
GPS?
Tethering?
Kursad Sezgin
10 months ago |Photodiode Expansion is patented (not as a whole solution but still, the inventor is the same) by NEC. It can be described as:
“In a solid state image pick-up device having a vertical overflow drain structure, a voltage to be applied to a semiconductor substrate is lowered in stepwise manner during a period, in which a charge photoelectrically converted by a photodiode is accumulated in the photodiode. Expansion of a dynamic range relative to an incident light intensity can be realized without performing high speed transfer in a vertical CCD register. Then, lowering power consumption and lowering of noise of the solid state image pick-up device becomes possible.”
Here’s the source:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/5729287
J
10 months ago |Funny…that’s exactly what I was thinking.
RVN
10 months ago |Andrea how about high sync speeed on a99? do you know about that? thanks
Greg
10 months ago |What is there to know? It’s got a 1/250 shutter (corresponding to 1/8000 max speed) and HSS capability.
RVN
10 months ago |disappointed.. if a99 have minimal sync speed reach 1/500, that would be great
Jose
6 months ago |Aw what a beautiful post, it is quite uaenrl how fast they grow, I mean we sit and think will you hurry and sleep through the night – will you hurry and crawl – will you hurry and start walking and before we know it they are all gown up. My eldest is 12 and my youngest 1 – I have 6 altogether so think I got broody way too much ha
Iulian Ignat
10 months ago |Actually I’m not interrested in the release of A99. I’m happy with my A77. Sure, it makes sense to compete with Canon and Nikon. Sure, the SLT design is something different with positives and negatives. What I don’t understand is the need of something like the A99.
I think 99% of us have no need for a full frame camera (SLT or not).
What we really miss is the post purchase software support via firmware. We already have a big body offers from Sony (from A35 to A77, or older A200 to A580 very usefull bodies). And, the proconsumer bodies, such as A77, A65 only need firmware updates to really compete with the D7000 (Nikon) or 7D – 650D (Canon).
Tether – a must.
ISO improvement in RAW – a must
JPEG engine – a must
auto ISO in M mode – a must
everything to work in RAW+JPEG – a must (it should affect the JPEG only)
correct exposure with external flash – a must
The lenses… all we need is there. Only to have the money for them.
ageha
10 months ago |Who needs an A77?
Greg
10 months ago |Those sure are a lot of “musts” for someone who doesn’t need FF…and claims neither do the other 99% of us.
Hmmm…ISO improvement in RAW? FF will gain you one stop. Sounds like you may need it after all.
Rooru S.
10 months ago |The amount of comments here prove, there is a lot of people interested in FF. And if you go back and count how many people asked about FF rumors, about release dates and specs you will clearly see, that your 99% drops to 75% at least if no more. And now, more people can afford a FF camera, so maybe it drops even further. Don’t assume the majority in this kind of things.
(PD: but I can’t afford right now this FF, but I really want it)
WM
10 months ago |Why does everyone assume that the viewfinder is the same as the A77′s, just because it has the same number of dots? Is a 24mp APS-C sensor the same as a 24mp FF sensor? Assuming the A99 viewfinder to compare, size-wise, to the A77 as the A900 did to the A700 there may be no comparison of the quality of the two. And that’s before you even consider other improvements in the technology.
Greg
10 months ago |“Most of the facts we had already”…except if you can’t even get a simple one like on-board flash correct, I’m not sure how many of the others we should believe.
Oh well, so it goes with rumours, I suppose.
stan_pustylnik
10 months ago |Where is simultaneous still and video ability??? It is a key feature for me.
Tom Hesketh
10 months ago |With a RAW buffer lasting 2 or 3 seconds this would be useful, any less than this and quite frankly, thats most of the wildlife and sports photographers gone!
Mike
10 months ago |Normal hot shoe?
Bubba Satori
10 months ago |USB2? Hope that’s wrong.
Everything else looks great.
Ganak Shastri
10 months ago |I agree that saying USB2 must be something wrong here. Is there a full manual control for video? Please advice…
ArnikFFM
10 months ago |Again, just let’s wait and see what the final outcome will be.
And we should not forget: there’s supposed to be another FF body in the pipeline, all the rumors say.
Maybe that is going to be the flagship of the future.
Thus they leave some specs for that model to have a better differentiation.
Mats
10 months ago |Well, this is not a full spec sheet. Just a subset of specs mixed with some other info regarding delivery time and so on.
The interesting stuff is missing.
GPS=Yes or GPS=No? Now there is no info at all about this and the same goes for other things.
I suppose we have to wait some more before Sony releases some info or “allows” info to be “leaked”.
Interesting things would be the talked about superb video features and quality. The possibility to take HQ stills during video-recording. How fluent the viewfinder is while shooting at high framerates. If the HDMI-out is clean uncompressed. Thetered shooting? The hybrid flash hot-shoe? The reason for dual PDAF-systems? and so on…
So far this is a big dissapointment, I think. Had expected far more, but propably/hopefully there will be. We need to wait for more info and more correct info.
It is just simply wrong to call this information “full spec”.
Raph
10 months ago |Where is the 720p/120fps spec?
PhotoNut
10 months ago |I’m really disappointed in only 11 cross AF points. I really don’t get it. So much brouhaha over the AF system and how it had literally a 100 AF points and yet only 11 cross points when the much cheaper APS-C Canon 7D has 19. Given the larger area covered by full frame I would have expected a lot more cross AF points for when you’re shooting in portrait orientation (which I do a lot) and you just need to nail focus on the eyes or some other feature that is located outside the (A900/A700 layout) center af points.
Anyway, I’ve leave final judgement until I see more information about the camera and how the phase detection pixels are implemented.
Denis
10 months ago |It’s OK, don’t forget about hyrbid AF: PDAF only estimates approximate distance and direction, then CDAF adjusts focus to achieve maximal contrast.
Seeky
10 months ago |I agree. 11 cross type AF points sounds disappointing. When there are 102 AF points, I would expect that at least a quarter or a third of them would be a cross type one.
Well, I guess the Dual AF system can compensate for that under-specification.
And oh, USB 2.0, what were they thinking?
Spoon
10 months ago |I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s the same 19 point AF module as found in the A77, but with support from the main sensor this time.
smileblog
10 months ago |you better consider the dual phase detection which they mentioned.
we’re not sure what it is, but definitely different and better AF system than A77.
PhotoNut
10 months ago |I wonder what the shutter x-sync speed is. The shutter speed itself is still the same as my six year old A700 but hope that x-sync speed is more than the A700′s 1/250.
Greg
10 months ago |Don’t count on it. It’s likely an A850/900 shutter. Had they gone to 1/300 (a la Maxxum 9), they’d have gotten 1/12,000 max speed. And that was a decade ago.
REX
10 months ago |At crop mode to get the coverage you get from a77 we will have 12 mp picture.For this type of photography i prefer the a77,all others specs are wellcome.Bravo Sony
Davidevil
10 months ago |AVCHD 2.0?
Francisco G.
10 months ago |Of course.
Josh
10 months ago |With the specs of the 5R released today saying that it has 99 phase detect AF points on the sensor, does anybody else think that a lot of the 102 points on the a99 are probably on sensor as well? Especially with the low number of cross type. If that is the case, I hope the phase detect on sensor works better in low light than the nikon 1. All in all, I’m pretty underwhelmed by nearly everything about this camera.
Joe
10 months ago |I hope the PDAF is not the same as the A77 + On sensor PDAF for the rest of those AF points
WO
10 months ago |What about a kitlens for A99?
I would like to see a 24-105 f4 (G) lens coming.
smileblog
10 months ago |I also hope so.
but not gonna happen.
Stacy
10 months ago |SAR in May: “…I am still waiting to get the final confirmation from my top sources but I know that one FF prototype had 24 Megapixel, 101 cross AF points, same articulating screen as the Sony A77…” Now:”•102 AF point AF (11 cross)” Disappointing.
But the built in Flash is back…!
Mark
10 months ago |Looks like we are again short-changed on the AF side of the camera with “only” 11 cross sensors (assuming this rumor is correct). The overall number of AF sensors is generally meaningless, as single line sensors are ineffective in far too many situations. Having 11 cross-sensors will continue to leave Sony behind the competition. It seems another example of marketing hype (102 AF sensors) over what actually works (11 cross-sensors). Of course, if the rumor is wrong and this is not what the AF system uses, then hopefully there will be more than 11 cross sensors (unless Sony has somehow figured out how to make single line AF sensors more effective, which I highly doubt). Probably also another case of R&D resources put into video and other “features” rather than the core AF function.
Poke
10 months ago |Agree! Nowadays one assumes excellent images at low iso and we are hoping for Sony to break their barrier and provide excellent images at 6400 iso but unless you have fast/accurate and flexible focusing the camera will be 2nd rate. For example. I was shooting my kids dance competition. It was a group. One of my kid was far left. I wanted to ensure she was in focus but wanted to ensure the whole group was in the shot. I need the ability to place my focus point any where in the view finder. This should be basic at this point and with the advertised or rumored 102 focal points should be deliverable with the 99. Sony is smart. They will deliver the goods. Fingers crossed!
GregJ
10 months ago |I love how people are casting judgement on the shortcomings of the announced “only 11 cross type” AF sensors. So, when these are used in combination with the new cdaf/pdaf system to get more accuracy and speed than previously possible it’s a failure how? Until this new setup is actually reviewed and tested by end users, there is nothing to say. There are plenty of other things to complain about that are not subjective or opinion based.
Anyway, I want to see IF this setup actually manages to pull off the self tuning/correcting focus adjustments for all lenses that I’ve been dreaming about. Imagine a camera that could track the difference between PDAF, CDAF, and old cross sensor based measurements for every picture it has ever taken with any lens setup. It could build it’s own correction table that could be called upon to improve predictive focusing, tracking, or other high speed or action oriented photography. A camera that could potential get more accurate and faster focus results the more you use it… Okay, now I’m really dreaming.
Well, couple more weeks to go… After that time we should start seeing some hands on test results trickling in.. I’ll hold off any judgment until then, and even then I’ll hold off most until I get some “hands on” time with one.
bobby
10 months ago |Well I guess I am going to have to go with the new rumored Nikon or Canon cheaper full framed bodies if at the end, the a99 does not have any better features like for the video. I have been waiting way too long for a full frame body that I can upgrade to from my long forgotten NEX 5. . . . . . If only Sony would release a full frame NEX body then my dream would come true.
Chad
10 months ago |The A99 will be a tech showcase presenting a vision of the EVF future. For many pro disciplines it could be a landmark camera. So I have already pre-ordered mine but I will also be keeping the A900 until you pry it from my cold dead fingers. If the A99 is similar in form and build quality to the A77, then I’m afraid for the future of the Minolta “9″. The A77 is like a wimpy little piece of wet lettuce compared to the heft and bedrock build quality of the A900. Will I use the A99 to the limit of its capabilities? Hell yeah, but I doubt I will be enjoying the tactile experience as much as I do the last great 9 series camera.
Marcelobtp
10 months ago |Guys, first, stop discussing about 11 cross points, its a new tech, lets see how 5r does and then we can estimate something…
USB 2.0, this is unexpected, really!
I though that we would see a new viewfinder…And though a new high resolution display, as the RX100…disapointed somewhat.
I really hope that they don’t cap the buffer, because this will be a problem!
I though they would use the new XQD, this could be the solution for a low buffer camera…
I Guess, Sony has another Full Frame camera, to challenge the d800 with the top of the top of everything. A99 camera will be the “cheap full frame Sony camera”.
Well lets see!
David Lam
10 months ago |Would Sony consider producing an A800 with A900′s OVF and A99′s sensor?
Now it got PDAF on sensor, so both quick LiveView & Video AF are possible!
Put a loupe on the LCD screen and you’ll get a BIG EVF,right?!
Even if it captures only 3-5fps due to the flipping mirror, most landscape & portrait shooters would find it acceptable.
It can be priced against the D600 (USD2000), and I’d trade my A900 for it.
Matt
10 months ago |Ugh, why would Sony put the pop-up flash back on? That is nonsense! Knock $100 off and keep the pop-up in the trash bin where it belongs Sony! I’m waiting on confirmation of the standard hotshoe though, as that’d seriously tip me in the direction of upgrading.
WM
10 months ago |And you’d say what to those that find the built-in flash useful for a quick bit of fill, or find it useful for triggering off-camera flash? If you don’t like the built-in flash, tape it down and forget about it – simple. Sony will never win, given the mixed reaction to leaving built-in flash off the A900/A850, but better to have a feature that half the population find useful and can be ignored by the other half than not to have it all. I’d rather not have video in my stills cameras, but I have a very easy solution – I don’t touch the movie button.
Brian
10 months ago |Hope the SD Card part is wrong, that is a HUGE step backward. Unless as others have mentioned there is a very large buffer. The A77 is very slow and after a 12 fps burst, it takes forever for the buffer to empty with class 10 SD Cards. Would rather see two CF slots here Sony! Would like to see WiFi and USB 3.0 builtin.
Saber
10 months ago |Dang, if this bullet list is even close to what’s to come I think I’ll just finish up with buying my RRS Tripod gear. At least the only thing that is platform centric is the $160.00 L-bracket. Hopefully the next up version from the A99 will be more of a pro-grade offering. About the only thing that will keep me at the kool-aid stand, is if they actually produce the rumored Carl Zeiss ZA 70-200.
MAW
10 months ago |Read a lot of Tommy Rot.
So Nikon
The Prodigal Returns to a land where a photographer’s camera rules.
Or maybe I’ll just get a trolley for my old Sinar, and start scanning again.
Zak
10 months ago |Great prospect, only the rumored price is a very negative news: 2800 $ !
Same price as the Nikon D800 with a lot less choice of lenses and a smaller MP count…
Of course the D800 is full of issues (left focus, LCD issues, shameful customer support but Sony is not better ). But when the settings are right the image quality is by far the best of all FF cameras on the market.
So why trying to compete with a potentially better product when Sony could compete in the same category as the Nikon D600 which will be announced at the same date (mid September) ? the Nikon D600 has more or less the same features as the A99(apart from the useless gadgetry that photographers don’t need).
The price for a D600 is announced to be around 1500 $. the D600 will use the Sony sensor used on the D800 and probably on the A99.
At this price, even if I was the biggest Sony fan, I would just save myself 1000 $ to buy a very nice lens on top of the body.
If Sony really sells the A99 at 2800 $, not only it is going to be a big flop, but Nikon are probably already laughing their head off at the prospect of winning again against their rivals.
I’m not specially a fan of Nikon (when you read and hear how they abuse their customers with the D800 numerous problems, it makes you think twice before buying to them) , Canon or others, I just weigh the pros and cons and get the best I can find at the best value, and for the moment, it is not Canon, nor Sony.
I hope they will think over their price structure, not everybody wants a Nex 5 or 7, and appreciate competition in the high end market and FF cameras, but not at double price of what it should cost compare to the current market.
Elton
10 months ago |Just some maths
- A99 2800$ VS D800 (2400 Eur, body only airport price)
- A99 2800$ VS D600 (announced at 1500$ or 2000$)
- A99 2800$ VS 5 Mark2: 2100
- A99 VS D800: same sensor
- A99 VS D600: probably the same
- A99 2800$ VS 5 Mark2: their own
- A99: 24 MP VS D800: 36 MP
- A99: 24 MP VS D600: 24 MP
- A99 2800$ VS 5 Mark2: 21 MP (largely enough)
- A99 lenses: very few
- Nikon FF lenses: much more (24-85 last released)
- Canon FF lenses: A lot
- Sony cameras VS Nikon cameras: Image quality wise: Nikon has definitively the upper hand. For Canon, I am not sure…
Sony, Canon, Nikon customer support and repair: they all sucks as we know and some even lie on their warranty.
etc, etc, etc…
Then, at the end it comes to value for your money, so:
Why on earth would I be so stupid to buy a camera at 2800$ while I could get the same type with better image quality and more choice of lenses at 1500$ or 2000 ?
Marcelobtp
10 months ago |I don’t think so.
If a camera was just a sensor then i would agree with you.
There are new technologies like Double PDAF that you don’t know… and the way that it goes D600 will have the same autofocus problems as the D7000, D800, D4 and other cameras tha i just did not search about.
I have a D7000 and today i just made 10 images for a look book totaly out of focus, with F/8, in the lcd screen you can’t see well. i just use the central focus point and i was not in a dark enviroment and nothing, this is just sad for work. If a image is not on perfect focus it just a miss…
Thank god i saw the first 10, i did 60 images before.
DS
10 months ago |Friend got to play with A99 during olympic photo shoots and its a 36 megapixel SLT. (not 24)
Gordon
10 months ago |If the price of the Nikon d600 will be much less than the a99 we might be getting some rumors why. Nikon rumors has some specs on the d600. I don’t like that it will only have a 1/4000 max shutter speed for one thing.
tbentley
10 months ago |Why not just go to the PDN photo expo in October at Jacob Javits Center in NYC. You can handle the camera and ask questions. That should tell you if you like it or not.
Syed
10 months ago |Lets just hope sony will provide firmware support for a99. what they did to a900 and a850 made many jump ships.
Thomas Bosack
10 months ago |Can the a99 shoot 24 frames per second?
Thomas Bosack
10 months ago |Can the Sony a99 ‘s video match up with the 5D Mark 111′s
Joe Ciarcia
10 months ago |“With 730 g this is the lightest FF body on market!”
The Leica M9 weighs in at a featherweight 585 grams which makes the Sony almost 25% heavier than the Leica. Maybe you could say it’s the lightest *autofocus* FF camera?
branuloo
10 months ago |i think that i make a mistake when stay at sony and buy a77 last year, i would rather go to canon 7d ant then to canon 5d MK III