The SLT-A99 Digital Camera from Sony is a 35mm full frame digital camera body equipped with Sony's translucent mirror technology. This enables it to shoot without the delay of a reflex mirror, and its Dual Autofocus System to continuously monitor and alter its focus in real time. Recording on a 24.3MP resolution Exmor CMOS sensor, the A99 has great image quality and low-light sensitivity, while using the speed of the translucent mirror and BIONZ Image Processor to record images at 6fps in continuous shooting mode.
Shooting with a 24.3MP full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor means you'll capture high quality images with the benefits of additional low-light sensitivity. This sensor provides an ISO range of 100 to 25600 while area-specific noise reduction allows you to shoot at the higher end of that sensitivity range. The combination of this camera's speed, sensitivity and reduced noise make it great for capturing action both indoors or in low light.
Utilizing Sony's Translucent Mirror technology, the autofocus system continuously monitors the image and can alter the autofocus in real time. Two phase contrast sensors, a 19-point sensor above the translucent mirror and a 102-point focal plane phase detection sensor work in tandem to greatly improve subject tracking performance and increase autofocus precision.
For increased clarity and resistance to reflections, the rear 3.0" LCD features Sony's TruBlack technology. It has a 1,228,000-dot resolution for sharp, vivid imagery when reviewing images, or when framing them using Live View. The monitor also features Shot Result Preview, for previewing the effects of your camera's settings before the exposure is even captured. It is also able to tilt up to 180° vertically and can rotate up to 270° horizontally.
The large 14-bit data generated by the full-frame sensor is easily handled by the enhanced BIONZ image processor, to deliver fast speeds and performance. This provides significantly reduced write times, while the increased power afforded by the processor allows for increased noise reduction throughout the entire dynamic range of the sensor.
Using sensor-shift image stabilization, Sony's SteadyShot technology takes place inside the camera rather than in the lenses you attach. This means that every image you capture, no matter the lens that was used, has image stabilization applied. By reducing camera shake within the camera you can achieve shake reduction of up to 2.5 to 4.5 stops, so your shutter speed will not need to be set as low as it would without the stabilization.
Depending on the Sony lenses you attach, the camera will also detect and compensate for its particular aberrations and degradations in image quality. Shading or vignetting caused by the lens will be corrected, and aberrations like lens distortion or chromatic aberration will be compensated for. Each unique lens attached provides ideal compatibility from one to the next.
The SLT-A99's Tru-Finder Electronic Viewfinder features a 1,440K-dot resolution, 100% field of view, and a wide 31.9° viewing angle. This allows it to deliver a bright, clear image in almost any lighting condition, including bright sunlight. It displays information regarding exposure settings and modes, and Shot Result Preview allows you to preview the effects of exposure control before capturing the photograph.
After you've viewed your settings in the EVF and captured your images, the rear 3.0" LCD features Sony's TruBlack technology for increased clarity and resistance to reflections. It has a 1,228,000-dot resolution for sharp, vivid imagery when reviewing images or while using Live View. The monitor also features Shot Result Preview, the same as the EVF.
The innovative noise reduction system used by the A99 applies optimized settings to specific parts of your images based on patterns including edges, textures and gradients. It processes these areas using the best and most appropriate settings to optimize image quality, and reduce noise. This is all in addition to the conventional noise reduction techniques employed by the camera, and helps to produce images with low noise throughout its wide ISO range.
The unique Multi Control Dial on the front of the camera allows you to adjust photo, video or audio settings without producing audible clicks or vibrations that may be heard while recording. Full HD 1080p video is supported with this camera and makes use of the high-speed Translucent Mirror technology for continuous autofocus, even while using Live View to monitor your shooting. The 24p frame rate allows you to create movies with a more cinematic feel, and for even greater control ISO sensitivity, P/A/S/M manual shooting modes, and Picture Effects are available.
Lens Compatibility | Sony A-mount lenses, operation with Minolta/Konica Minolta lenses confirmed |
Camera Type | Sony A-mount interchangeable-lens digital camera |
Sensor | Imaging Sensor: "Exmor" CMOS sensor (35.8 x 23.9mm) Anti Dust: Charge protection coating on low-pass filter and image sensor shift mechanism Pixel Gross: Approx. 24.7 megapixels Effective Picture Resolution: Approx. 24.3 megapixels Focal Length Conversion Factor: 1.5x Color Filter System: RGB primary color filters |
Media Type | Memory Stick PRO Duo /Pro-HG Duo media; SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card |
Color Space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
Still Image Mode | JPEG (Standard, Fine, Extra Fine), RAW, RAW+JPEG |
Still Image Size 16:9 | 35mm full frame L: 6000 x 3376 (20M) M: 3936 x 2216 (8.7M) S: 2640 x 1488 (3.9M) APS-C L: 3936 x 2216 (8.7M) M: 2640 x 1488 (3.9M) S: 1728 x 976 (1.7M) |
Still Image Size 3:2 | 35mm full frame L: 6000 x 4000 (24M) M: 3936 x 2624 (10M) S: 2640 x 1760 (4.6M) APS-C L: 3936 x 2624 (10M) M: 2640 x 1760 (4.6M) S: 1728 x 1152 (2.0M) |
Panorama Still Image Size | Wide: Horizontal 12,416 x 1,856 (23M) Vertical 5,536 x 2,160 (12M) Standard: Horizontal 8,192 x 1,856 (15M) Vertical 3,872 x 2,160 (8.4M) |
Video Format | AVCHD Ver. 2.0 (Progressive), AVCHD, MP4 |
Video Mode | AVCHD: PS - 1920 x 1080/60p@28Mbps FX - 1920 x 1080/60i@24Mbps FH - 1920 x 1080/60i@17Mbps FX - 1920 x 1080/24p@24Mbps FH - 1920 x 1080/24p@17Mbps MP4: HD - 1440 x 1080/ 30p@12Mbps VGA - 640 x 480/ 30p@3Mbps |
Dual Record | Simult. Rec (Still,Movie), Simult. Rec (Still/Movie), Sort (JPEG/RAW), Sort (Still/Movie), Copy |
Audio Format | Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, 2ch |
Microphone/Speaker | Built-in stereo microphone or ECM-ALST1 (with supplied shoe adaptor) / ECM-CG50 / XLR-K1M (sold separately). Built-in, monaural, Volume settings in 8 steps between 0 and 7 |
Still Image File Format | JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver. 2.3, MPF baseline compliant), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format), RAW & JPEG |
Digital Zoom | Still images: 4x Movie: 4x |
Smart Zoom Technology | M: approx. 1.5x, S: approx. 2.3x |
Viewfinder | Type: 1.3 cm (0.5 type) electronic viewfinder (color) (2,359k dots) Diopter Adjustment: -4.0 to +3.0m-1 Magnification: Approx. 0.71 x (with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m-1) |
LCD | LCD Type: 7.5 cm (3.0 type) TFT drive (1,228,800 dots) Brightness Control: Auto, Manual (5 steps between -2 to +2), Sunny Weather Real-time image adjustment display: Yes(On/Off) Peaking: Yes (Level setting: High/Mid/Low/Off, Color: White/Red/Yellow) Customization Graphic Display, Display All Info., No Disp. Info., Digital Level Gauge, Histogram, Shooting Info Angle Adjustment: Tilt angle: 140° up and 180° down / Rotation angle: 180° clockwise and 90° counterclockwise |
Focus | Focus System: TTL Phase-detection AF (CCD line sensors and Focal Plane Phase Detection sensors) Focus Points: Detector 1: 19 points (11 points cross type), Detector 2: 102 assist points AF Modes Single-shot AF (AF-S), Automatic AF (AF-A), Contin. AF(AF-C), Depth Map Assist Contin. AF (AF-D) selectable Focus Area: Wide (auto, 19 points)/Zone/Spot/Local selectable Focus Sensitivity: EV -1 to 18 EV (at ISO100 equiv, with F2.8 lens attached) |
Focus Features | Predictive control (AF-A, AF-C), Focus Lock, Eye-start AF |
Focus AF Illuminator | Built-in, LED type (range approx. 3.3 to 23 ft (1-7m)) |
Metering | 1200-zone evaluative metering |
Metering Modes | Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot |
Metering Sensitivity | -2 to 17 EV (at ISO 100 equivalent with f/1.4 lens) |
Exposure Compensation | +/-5.0 EV (1/3EV, 1/2EV steps selectable) |
Exposure Settings | AUTO (iAUTO, Superior Auto), Programmed AE (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutterspeed priority (S), Manual (M), Scene Selection, Sweep Panorama, Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE, Movie (Programmed AE (P), Aperture priority (A) / Shutter-speed priority (S) / Manual (M) selectable in manual focus mode) |
Scene Mode(s) | Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports action, Sunset, Night portrait, Night View, Handheld Twilight |
Auto Exposure Lock | Yes with AE lock button (AE also locked when focus is locked in a multi-segment metering mode). |
Color Temperature | Manual (5 steps) |
Creative Style | Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Autumn leaves, Black & White, Sepia (Contrast (-3 to +3 steps), Saturation (-3 to +3 steps), Sharpness (-3 to +3 steps)) |
Exposure Bracketing | Bracket: Cont./Bracket: Single, 3/5 frames (2.0 EV, 3.0 EV : only 3 frames) selectable |
ISO | Still images: Auto (ISO 100-6400, selectable lower limit and upper limit), ISO 100- 25600 Movies: ISO 100-6400 equivalent; Auto (ISO 100-3200 equivalent) |
Noise Reduction | Long Exposure NR: (On/Off, available at shutter speeds longer than 1 second) High ISO NR: (High/Normal/Low/Off) |
White Balance Mode | Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm White, Cool White, Day White, Daylight), Flash, Color Temperature (2500 to 9900K) & color filter (G7 to M7, A7 to B7) / Custom (3) |
Continuous Shooting Speed | Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE: approx. 10/8 fps selectable; Continuous (Hi:35mm full frame: approx. 6 fps APS-C: approx. 7 fps; Lo: 35mm full frame: approx. 2.5 fps APS-C: approx. 2.5 fps) |
Drive Mode | Single-shot, Continuous shooting (Hi/Lo selectable), Self-timer (10/2 sec delay selectable), Bracket (Continuous/Single/WB/DRO), Remote commander (RMTDSLR2) |
Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 sec. |
Self-timer | 2-sec. or 10-sec. delay |
Shutter Speeds | Still images: 1/8000 to 30 sec, Bulb Movies: 1/8000 to 1/4 (1/3 step), up to 1/60 in AUTO mode (up to 1/30 in Auto Slow Shutter mode) |
Shutter Type | Electronically controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type |
Flash | Flash Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV (switchable between 1/3 and 1/2 EV steps) Flash Bracketing: 0.3/0.5/0.7/2.0/3.0 EV steps, 3/5 frames (2.0/3.0 EV : only 3 frames) selectable Flash Modes: Auto, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Hi-speed sync., Red-eye reduction (on/off |
Still Image Playback Options | Single, 4/9-frame index view, Enlarged display mode, Auto Review (10/5/2 sec, off), Image orientation (On/Off selectable), Slideshow, Panorama scrolling, Folder selection, Delete, Protect |
Video Playback Options | Forward/Rewind (Movie) |
Easy Handycam/Help Function | Yes |
Embedded GPS | Yes |
Face Detection | On/On (Regist. Faces)/Off (face registration, face selection). Max. 8 faces detectable |
Features | Smile Shutter technology: Yes Tracking Focus: Yes Audio Level Display: Yes |
Audio I/O | Headphone Jack: Yes (3.5 mm Stereo minijack) Microphone Input: Yes (3.5 mm Stereo minijack) |
Accessory Shoe | Yes (with supplied shoe adaptor) |
DC In | Yes |
HD Output | HDMI mini connector (Type-C) BRAVIA Sync (link menu) PhotoTV HD |
Battery | Battery Type: InfoLITHIUM NP-FM500H (7.2V) Number of Still Images: Approx. 410 shots with viewfinder, 500 shots with LCD monitor (CIPA measurement) Power Consumption (in View Finder Operation): approx. 4.2W (still images, with SAL2470Z lens) |
Dimensions WxHxD | 5.8 x 4.4 x 3.1" (147 x 111.2 x 78.4mm) |
Weight | 1.6 lb (733 g) body only 1 lb 12.7 oz (812 g) with battery and memory stick |
Reviews Sony SLT-A99 Digital Camera (Body Only) (Free 16GB + Extra Sony NP-FM500 Battery) (Sony Malaysia)