Description

Overview

A New Dimension of Photographic Speed

Sony introduces a game-changing image sensor that makes conventional camera mechanisms redundant. This innovation achieves speed and performance far beyond the capabilities of traditional mechanical devices. Moreover, it removes mechanical noise and vibration, unlocking a vast new world of imaging opportunities.

The Driving Force Behind the Full-Electronic Revolution

The innovative full-frame stacked CMOS sensor, complete with integral memory, represents a significant leap forward.

The α9 frees you from the limitations of conventional SLRs that depend on mechanical systems. As the first to employ a high-speed stacked design, the 24.2-megapixel full-frame image sensor temporarily stores large-volume data in its integral memory, resulting in a 20x faster readout speed. This combination of the CMOS sensor and the enhanced BIONZ X image-processing engine offers you true digital freedom.

High-Speed Continuous Shooting at Up to 20fps

The groundbreaking full-frame Exmor RS CMOS sensor works seamlessly with the BIONZ X processor, enabling continuous shooting at 20fps with AF/AE tracking. This high-speed performance, paired with a generous buffer, ensures that you can capture the decisive moment with ease.

Blackout-Free Shooting

Thanks to the non-mechanical electronic shutter, the typical SLR mirror action and its blackout are eliminated. Now, you can enjoy an uninterrupted view of the subject during shutter release. This feature also enables 60fps live-view capability with minimal display lag during continuous shooting.

Track the Action with an Uninterrupted View

The light now directly reaches the image sensor without any mechanical interruptions. The clever fusion of mirrorless construction and new speed-enhancing technologies provides AF/AE at the full-frame focal plane.

Electronic Shutter Speeds Up to 1/32000 sec

With electronic shutter speeds reaching up to 1/32000 sec, you can surpass the limitations of mechanical shutters, allowing for new forms of imaging expression. Additionally, you can maintain a shallow depth of field without needing an ND filter, even under bright conditions (e.g., A mode 1/20000 sec. F8.0 ISO 1000).

Silence Expands Photographic Potential

The anti-distortion electronic shutter enables silent shooting, free from mechanical mirror and shutter noise. This makes it ideal for sports and subjects that require quiet operation, greatly enhancing the versatility of your camera.

No Unwanted Vibration

While traditional SLRs suffer from mirror shock and shutter release shock, which cause subtle vibrations, the α9 eliminates these issues. Its vibration-free electronic shutter keeps the camera stable, resulting in razor-sharp images.

Swift, Accurate, and Reliable AF

The newly developed AF features, introduced in a software update, enhance the autofocus system, ensuring precise focus and reliable tracking.

• 4D FOCUS: Stunningly Wide Coverage The α9 boasts 693 phase-detection AF points, covering approximately 93% of the image area. It is further augmented by 425 contrast-detection AF points, which ensure highly accurate subject detection, especially in low-light conditions.

• 4D FOCUS: Fast AF Speed The Fast Hybrid AF system enables rapid autofocus for full-frame photos, making it perfect for capturing fast-moving subjects. The combination of Fast Hybrid AF and the enhanced BIONZ X engine ensures both speed and accuracy.

• 4D FOCUS: Steadfast Tracking The uninterrupted AF system, combined with an optimized AF algorithm, dramatically enhances tracking accuracy. Even during shutter release, the continuously activated AF ensures you maintain focus on your subject’s movement.

Speed Meets Artificial Intelligence

With AI-based subject recognition, the autofocus system evolves for faster, more precise, and intelligent tracking.

• AI-Based Real-Time Tracking Once you specify the subject, the α9 maintains precise focus while the shutter button is half-pressed. As the subject moves, the camera accurately tracks its position, offering framing flexibility and allowing you to focus on getting the best shot.

• Underlying Technology The new AI-based subject-recognition algorithm processes a wide range of visual data from the image sensor. It analyzes factors such as color, pattern, subject distance, and face/eye information to achieve precise subject recognition.

• Enhanced Real-Time Eye AF The α9 can now detect and track a subject’s eyes as soon as the shutter is half-pressed or the AF-ON button is pressed. You can even select the left or right eye for more refined tracking.

More AF Features for Assured Shooting

• Reliable AF in Low Light With high AF precision down to light levels as low as EV-312 at ISO 100, the α9’s high-sensitivity image sensor ensures accurate focus even in dim conditions.

• A-Mount Lens AF Support The α9’s focal-plane phase-detection AF system with 693 AF points works reliably even when using A-mount lenses with a mount adapter (LA-EA3), supporting up to 10fps continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking.

• Advanced Fast Hybrid AF for Movies The Fast Hybrid AF system has been optimized to achieve even more stable AF during movie recording, ensuring that autofocus remains smooth and uninterrupted, even when objects cross in front of the main subject.

Outstanding Image Quality

The full-frame 24.2-megapixel sensor offers exceptional image quality, with sensitivity reaching ISO 204800 and a wide dynamic range.

• New CMOS Sensor for Imaging Excellence Sony’s innovations, including a high-sensitivity back-illuminated configuration and gapless on-chip lens architecture, ensure stunning images across a wide range of lighting conditions. The standard ISO range spans ISO 100-51200, expandable to ISO 50-204800, all while minimizing noise.

• BIONZ X Enhanced-Speed Image Processor The upgraded image-processing algorithms now offer even more natural tonal gradations and more stable AWB for continuous shooting.

Beautiful 4K Imaging

The α9 delivers high-resolution 4K movie quality. Full-pixel readout with no pixel binning condenses approximately 2.4 times the amount of data required for 4K (equivalent to 6K) into 3840 x 2160 4K output. This oversampling process, combined with full-frame pixel readout, results in the highest possible 4K movie image quality.

Efficient Workflow and Professional Reliability

In addition to its tough magnesium alloy body, the α9 offers numerous professional-grade features that enhance operability for severe usage in professional settings.

• Quad-VGA OLED Tru-Finder™ The high-resolution 3686k-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) delivers crystal-clear images with fine detail. The ZEISS® T* Coating reduces reflections, while the 120fps frame rate ensures smooth EVF images, even when tracking fast-moving subjects.

• 5-Axis Image Stabilization The new body-integrated 5-axis image stabilizer offers a 5.0-stop shutter speed advantage, allowing for easy composition even when shooting fast-moving subjects.

• Battery Stamina for Professional Use The NP-FZ100 battery, with approximately twice the life of the previous NP-FW50, allows you to capture up to 480 still frames on a single charge. Adding an optional vertical grip (sold separately) increases battery capacity, further extending shooting time.

• Dual Media Slots with UHS-II Support The α9’s dual media slots, including one UHS-II-compatible slot, enable simultaneous or relay recording of RAW/JPEG data, separate stills and movies, or copying files between cards.

• FTP Background Transfer To meet the demands of professional photographers, the α9 now supports FTP background transfer while shooting continues or after shooting finishes. The transfer and filtering methods have been improved to simplify file selection.

Improved Operability and My Menu

You can register menu items with My Menu, access camera functions through custom button assignments, and quickly access drive and focus mode settings using the stacked dials. The AF-ON button lets you initiate autofocus, and the multi-selector shifts AF points.

Imaging Edge™ Remote, Viewer, and Edit

Elevate your photography with Imaging Edge desktop applications. Use “Remote” to control shooting remotely, “Viewer” to preview, rate, and select photos from large image libraries, and “Edit” to develop RAW data into high-quality photos ready for delivery. Manage your Sony RAW files and streamline your production process more efficiently.