This year I just got back into photography after a long hiatus and decided to do go big time with it. I already purchased a Sony A7R III camera that I love for doing high resolution photography, but I wanted a camera that would be good for birds in flight. When I saw Sony knocked off a $1000 the price of the Sony A9 the temptation was too much, so I pulled the trigger and bought the Sony A9 as well. I haven't used it all that much and I am just getting accustomed to menus in order to setup the camera the way I want it.
Here are the the pros and cons of the camera that I have found so far.
Pros
1. I love the silent electronic shutter especially when you get close to 20 fps.
2. Love the auto focusing of the camera and I like it better than the Sony A7R III. Though the A7R III is more for landscape and/or things that don't move very fast.
3. I like the size and weight of the camera body, but that can be negated by putting a big old honking lens on it.
4. I like the EVF and the knowing before you snap the picture that it's going to turn out right. Though this doesn't replace knowing the fundamentals of photography, so I suggest anyone starting off in photography to learn the basics of photography. I also know a lot of old timers in the DSLR camp belittle mirrorless cameras, but I'm a tech geek and I think full frame mirrorless cameras are here to stay.
Cons.
1. Nothing perfect with any cameras and mirrorless cameras are no exception. The number one grip on any Sony camera included the Sony A9 is lack of full support of the touchscreen. It would be nice and easier in my opinion to navigate the menus on the A9 if you could use the touchscreen to navigate. I know you can use the touchscreen to focus, but I personally find using the joystick easier to navigate to location in the scene and pressing the back-focus button that I had setup.
2. While the size and weight is nice, I can see where the size factor would matter for people with large hands. Fortunately I have small hands and I do have the Sony VGC3EM Vertical Grip for α9 (You can also use it on the A7R III camera) that extends the camera body. Sony's vertical grip is expensive, but I personally would not trust a 3rd party's vertical to go on the camera body. In my opinion it isn't worth trying to save a few bucks by by a cheap grip that might ruin an expensive camera body, plus it's just one more thing Sony could argue with you at the time of a warranty repair, if you didn't use the Sony's vertical grip.
3. Banding and Overheating issue on the Sony A9. I really shouldn't have put this a con, for the limited time that I have had this camera I haven't notice it. I just wanted to mention it, so that I don't get a reply "Hey, you never said anything about banding and/or overheating!".
As with any camera it's not the camera, but the person behind the camera that determines if the photograph will be any good or not.
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This Item  Sony a9 Full Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable-Lens Camera (Body Only) (ILCE9/B),Black |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $1,499.95 | -8% $2,298.00 List: $2,499.99 | $6,498.00 | -6% $2,998.00 List: $3,199.99 | $2,644.95 | -7% $2,498.00 List: $2,699.99 |
| Delivery | Get it May 20 - 22 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 21 | Get it as soon as Tomorrow, May 15 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 21 | Get it as soon as Tomorrow, May 15 | Get it as soon as Monday, May 20 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Auto focus | ||||||
| Picture quality | ||||||
| Image stabilization | ||||||
| Ergonomic | ||||||
| Sold By | Unique Photo, Inc. | Focus Camera LLC | AVC Photo Store & Studio | Amazon.com | 6ave | Amazon.com |
| display type | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD |
| display size | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches |
| lens type | Fisheye | Wide Angle | Prime | Wide Angle | — | Wide Angle |
| shooting modes | P, A, S, M and more | Auto, Programmed, Aperture, Shutter speed, Manual, Movie | AUTO, Programmed AE, Aperture priorty, Shutter-speed priority, Manual, Movie, Slow and Quick Motion | AUTO (iAuto), Programmed AE (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter-speed priority (S), Manual (M), Movie modes | Portrait, Macro, Manual, Underwater, Easy, Automatic, Movie, Custom, Shutter Priority, Landscape, Sports, Panorama | Auto, Programmed, Aperture, Shutter speed, Manual, Movie |
| connectivity tech | NFC, HDMI, Bluetooth, USB | HDMI, USB | HDMI, Micro USB, NFC, Bluetooth | NFC, Bluetooth, HDMI, Wi-Fi, USB | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, Micro HDMI | HDMI, USB |
| video resolution | 4K UHD 2160p | 4320p | 4320p | 4320p | 2160p | 4320p |
| optical zoom | 1 multiplier x | 8 multiplier x | — | 1 multiplier x | — | 8 multiplier x |
From the manufacturer
Highest Grade Durability
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One-Piece Molded ConstructionIntroducing our unique monolithic structure, a sealed casing that leaves no empty space for dust or water to enter and compromise your data. |
DustproofSony Tough SD Cards are dust tight, and allow for no ingress of dust. Based on Sony internal testing [1]. |
WaterproofSony Tough SD Cards can withstands 72 hours in 15 feet of water. Based on Sony internal testing [1]. |
Sony ToughThe Tough Memory card is designed to withstand 180 of newtons force. |
Tough Enough For The Pros
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Go RiblessRibs can crack, break and cause damage to the data on the card. Our unique ribless design reduces damage to the casing, reducing risk of lost data. |
Ditch the SwitchThe write protection switch can become lose or fall off and can compromise the recorded data. By removing this switch on these cards, we are enhancing the reliability of the data stored on the card. |
SD Scan UtiitySony's SD Scan Utility regularly and automatically scans your SD memory cards and lets you know before they reach their limits. |
Supports High-Speed Shooting & 4k VideoSupports V90 video speed class. |
Foot Notes:
1. We cannot avail damage to recorded data or card based on every situation or condition.
Copyright 2018 Sony Electronics Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Features and specifications are subject to change without written notice. Sony and the Sony logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners
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Reviews with images
Totally impressed with Sony FF Mirrorless Cameras!
This year I just got back into photography after a long hiatus and decided to do go big time with it. I already purchased a Sony A7R III camera that I love for doing high resolution photography, but I wanted a camera that would be good for birds in flight. When I saw Sony knocked off a $1000 the price of the Sony A9 the temptation was too much, so I pulled the trigger and bought the Sony A9 as well. I haven't used it all that much and I am just getting accustomed to menus in order to setup the camera the way I want it.Here are the the pros and cons of the camera that I have found so far.Pros1. I love the silent electronic shutter especially when you get close to 20 fps.2. Love the auto focusing of the camera and I like it better than the Sony A7R III. Though the A7R III is more for landscape and/or things that don't move very fast.3. I like the size and weight of the camera body, but that can be negated by putting a big old honking lens on it.4. I like the EVF and the knowing before you snap the picture that it's going to turn out right. Though this doesn't replace knowing the fundamentals of photography, so I suggest anyone starting off in photography to learn the basics of photography. I also know a lot of old timers in the DSLR camp belittle mirrorless cameras, but I'm a tech geek and I think full frame mirrorless cameras are here to stay.Cons.1. Nothing perfect with any cameras and mirrorless cameras are no exception. The number one grip on any Sony camera included the Sony A9 is lack of full support of the touchscreen. It would be nice and easier in my opinion to navigate the menus on the A9 if you could use the touchscreen to navigate. I know you can use the touchscreen to focus, but I personally find using the joystick easier to navigate to location in the scene and pressing the back-focus button that I had setup.2. While the size and weight is nice, I can see where the size factor would matter for people with large hands. Fortunately I have small hands and I do have the Sony VGC3EM Vertical Grip for α9 (You can also use it on the A7R III camera) that extends the camera body. Sony's vertical grip is expensive, but I personally would not trust a 3rd party's vertical to go on the camera body. In my opinion it isn't worth trying to save a few bucks by by a cheap grip that might ruin an expensive camera body, plus it's just one more thing Sony could argue with you at the time of a warranty repair, if you didn't use the Sony's vertical grip.3. Banding and Overheating issue on the Sony A9. I really shouldn't have put this a con, for the limited time that I have had this camera I haven't notice it. I just wanted to mention it, so that I don't get a reply "Hey, you never said anything about banding and/or overheating!".As with any camera it's not the camera, but the person behind the camera that determines if the photograph will be any good or not.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2018
Here are the the pros and cons of the camera that I have found so far.
Pros
1. I love the silent electronic shutter especially when you get close to 20 fps.
2. Love the auto focusing of the camera and I like it better than the Sony A7R III. Though the A7R III is more for landscape and/or things that don't move very fast.
3. I like the size and weight of the camera body, but that can be negated by putting a big old honking lens on it.
4. I like the EVF and the knowing before you snap the picture that it's going to turn out right. Though this doesn't replace knowing the fundamentals of photography, so I suggest anyone starting off in photography to learn the basics of photography. I also know a lot of old timers in the DSLR camp belittle mirrorless cameras, but I'm a tech geek and I think full frame mirrorless cameras are here to stay.
Cons.
1. Nothing perfect with any cameras and mirrorless cameras are no exception. The number one grip on any Sony camera included the Sony A9 is lack of full support of the touchscreen. It would be nice and easier in my opinion to navigate the menus on the A9 if you could use the touchscreen to navigate. I know you can use the touchscreen to focus, but I personally find using the joystick easier to navigate to location in the scene and pressing the back-focus button that I had setup.
2. While the size and weight is nice, I can see where the size factor would matter for people with large hands. Fortunately I have small hands and I do have the Sony VGC3EM Vertical Grip for α9 (You can also use it on the A7R III camera) that extends the camera body. Sony's vertical grip is expensive, but I personally would not trust a 3rd party's vertical to go on the camera body. In my opinion it isn't worth trying to save a few bucks by by a cheap grip that might ruin an expensive camera body, plus it's just one more thing Sony could argue with you at the time of a warranty repair, if you didn't use the Sony's vertical grip.
3. Banding and Overheating issue on the Sony A9. I really shouldn't have put this a con, for the limited time that I have had this camera I haven't notice it. I just wanted to mention it, so that I don't get a reply "Hey, you never said anything about banding and/or overheating!".
As with any camera it's not the camera, but the person behind the camera that determines if the photograph will be any good or not.
Style: BaseSet: BaseVerified Purchase
Totally impressed with Sony FF Mirrorless Cameras!
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2018
This year I just got back into photography after a long hiatus and decided to do go big time with it. I already purchased a Sony A7R III camera that I love for doing high resolution photography, but I wanted a camera that would be good for birds in flight. When I saw Sony knocked off a $1000 the price of the Sony A9 the temptation was too much, so I pulled the trigger and bought the Sony A9 as well. I haven't used it all that much and I am just getting accustomed to menus in order to setup the camera the way I want it.Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2018
Here are the the pros and cons of the camera that I have found so far.
Pros
1. I love the silent electronic shutter especially when you get close to 20 fps.
2. Love the auto focusing of the camera and I like it better than the Sony A7R III. Though the A7R III is more for landscape and/or things that don't move very fast.
3. I like the size and weight of the camera body, but that can be negated by putting a big old honking lens on it.
4. I like the EVF and the knowing before you snap the picture that it's going to turn out right. Though this doesn't replace knowing the fundamentals of photography, so I suggest anyone starting off in photography to learn the basics of photography. I also know a lot of old timers in the DSLR camp belittle mirrorless cameras, but I'm a tech geek and I think full frame mirrorless cameras are here to stay.
Cons.
1. Nothing perfect with any cameras and mirrorless cameras are no exception. The number one grip on any Sony camera included the Sony A9 is lack of full support of the touchscreen. It would be nice and easier in my opinion to navigate the menus on the A9 if you could use the touchscreen to navigate. I know you can use the touchscreen to focus, but I personally find using the joystick easier to navigate to location in the scene and pressing the back-focus button that I had setup.
2. While the size and weight is nice, I can see where the size factor would matter for people with large hands. Fortunately I have small hands and I do have the Sony VGC3EM Vertical Grip for α9 (You can also use it on the A7R III camera) that extends the camera body. Sony's vertical grip is expensive, but I personally would not trust a 3rd party's vertical to go on the camera body. In my opinion it isn't worth trying to save a few bucks by by a cheap grip that might ruin an expensive camera body, plus it's just one more thing Sony could argue with you at the time of a warranty repair, if you didn't use the Sony's vertical grip.
3. Banding and Overheating issue on the Sony A9. I really shouldn't have put this a con, for the limited time that I have had this camera I haven't notice it. I just wanted to mention it, so that I don't get a reply "Hey, you never said anything about banding and/or overheating!".
As with any camera it's not the camera, but the person behind the camera that determines if the photograph will be any good or not.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2017
Style: BaseSet: BaseVerified Purchase
I have had this Sony A9 camera for over 5 weeks and I love it for the following reasons:
1. It is fast, fast, fast. Fast focusing, 3 times faster than my A7Rii in writing to the Lexar 2000x memory card in slot 1.
2. It has two memory card slots, (Though only slot 1 is faster.)
3. The larger battery lasts twice as long as the one in my A7Rii.
4. I really love the 1st tab, 11/13 menu: "AF in focus Mag." set to "ON". This lets me press the C1 button 2-3 times (I have set the C1 to turn on the Focus Magnification) and then pressing the shutter button halfway does an autofocus on the magnified image --- this really helps when the overall image can't find the focus in lower light situations.
5. And the Focus Magnification works in Autofocus-Shutter mode (or Manual Focus mode) where my A7Rii and A7ii will not use focus magnification in any mode except Manual Focus.
6. After focusing in Focus Magnification I can release the shutter button, drag the view to a new center and re-autofocus with a 1/2-shutter-press while the Focus Magnification remains on in the LCD or EVF. Thank you Sony! On my A7Rii or A7ii, the Focus Magnification disappears at the first touch of the shutter button.
Cons:
If only it had 80, or even 50, megapixels --- but then it would be even less sensitive in lower light.
**** WARNING 18 Nov 2017****
The Lens Release button is slightly larger than that on the a7Rm2, and it is about 1mm closer to the right hand grip. After having my 70-200mm GM lens disconnect from the camera unexpectedly --- three times in the last 3 weeks --- falling 1 meter onto a cement sidewalk the first time (but landing on the Really Right Stuff tripod foot and the lens hood, and still working perfectly) --- I found that when I grab the camera by the grip, unless I'm very, very careful, my 4th finger almost always hits that lens release button. Then after some juggling to put the camera strap around my neck, if the lens had become released it could disconnect from the camera. I am going to add another strap for the lens itself. But this may be a problem with all lenses on the a9, so always grab both the lens and camera when picking it up (at least with large lenses).
Photos are: 9mm paper clip failing to clear the lens release by 1mm on an a9 camera, 9mm paper clip clearing the lens release by .5 mm on an a7Rii camera, and dings to the lens hood and RRS tripod foot from the lens falling 1 meter to the concrete sidewalk; and it still works. --- And yes, the tripod collar/foot has been rotated to the top for handheld shooting because: 1. The tripod foot makes a good handle for carrying the lens and camera (keep the foot screwed on tightly), and 2. The smooth backside of the rotating collar is much more comfortable on the palm of my left hand.
1. It is fast, fast, fast. Fast focusing, 3 times faster than my A7Rii in writing to the Lexar 2000x memory card in slot 1.
2. It has two memory card slots, (Though only slot 1 is faster.)
3. The larger battery lasts twice as long as the one in my A7Rii.
4. I really love the 1st tab, 11/13 menu: "AF in focus Mag." set to "ON". This lets me press the C1 button 2-3 times (I have set the C1 to turn on the Focus Magnification) and then pressing the shutter button halfway does an autofocus on the magnified image --- this really helps when the overall image can't find the focus in lower light situations.
5. And the Focus Magnification works in Autofocus-Shutter mode (or Manual Focus mode) where my A7Rii and A7ii will not use focus magnification in any mode except Manual Focus.
6. After focusing in Focus Magnification I can release the shutter button, drag the view to a new center and re-autofocus with a 1/2-shutter-press while the Focus Magnification remains on in the LCD or EVF. Thank you Sony! On my A7Rii or A7ii, the Focus Magnification disappears at the first touch of the shutter button.
Cons:
If only it had 80, or even 50, megapixels --- but then it would be even less sensitive in lower light.
**** WARNING 18 Nov 2017****
The Lens Release button is slightly larger than that on the a7Rm2, and it is about 1mm closer to the right hand grip. After having my 70-200mm GM lens disconnect from the camera unexpectedly --- three times in the last 3 weeks --- falling 1 meter onto a cement sidewalk the first time (but landing on the Really Right Stuff tripod foot and the lens hood, and still working perfectly) --- I found that when I grab the camera by the grip, unless I'm very, very careful, my 4th finger almost always hits that lens release button. Then after some juggling to put the camera strap around my neck, if the lens had become released it could disconnect from the camera. I am going to add another strap for the lens itself. But this may be a problem with all lenses on the a9, so always grab both the lens and camera when picking it up (at least with large lenses).
Photos are: 9mm paper clip failing to clear the lens release by 1mm on an a9 camera, 9mm paper clip clearing the lens release by .5 mm on an a7Rii camera, and dings to the lens hood and RRS tripod foot from the lens falling 1 meter to the concrete sidewalk; and it still works. --- And yes, the tripod collar/foot has been rotated to the top for handheld shooting because: 1. The tripod foot makes a good handle for carrying the lens and camera (keep the foot screwed on tightly), and 2. The smooth backside of the rotating collar is much more comfortable on the palm of my left hand.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
R Croft
Superb for fast-moving subject or low-light environments.
Reviewed in Canada on July 12, 2019Style: BaseSet: BaseVerified Purchase
Arne Jansen
Reimport
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2017Style: BaseSet: BaseVerified Purchase
