Features
New full-frame stacked CMOS sensor with integral memory
α9 is the mirrorless camera that delivers next-generation high-speed performance far exceeding SLRs. It’s equipped with the world’s first 35mm stacked CMOS image sensor with integral memory for 20 times faster overall readout speed. This 24.2MP image sensor achieves high sensitivity of up to ISO 204800 (extended) with the design of back-illuminated structure. (1) Pixel area (2) Integral memory (3) Hi-speed signal processing circuit (4) Image processing engine
High-speed BIONZ X image processing engine
The camera's image-processing algorithms have been upgraded with the latest software update, allowing higher levels of natural tonal gradations and more stable AWB for continuous shooting.
20fps continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking
A combination of groundbreaking high-speed full-frame Exmor RS CMOS sensor and high-speed BIONZ X processor enables 20fps continuous shooting without a break for as many as 362 shots. Thanks to the capability of displaying subjects nearly as naturally as they appear in reality, EVF lets you “sync” your intentions with camera behavior.
AI-based Real-time Tracking
Once the subject to be tracked has been specified, precise focus is automatically maintained while the shutter button is half-pressed to provide framing flexibility and allow you to concentrate on composition. Changes in position are tracked with outstanding accuracy using a newly developed subject recognition algorithm.
Blackout-free shooting
Thanks to the non-mechanical electronic shutter system, you can observe the reality of what you’re shooting through the electronic viewfinder even during continuous shooting, without blackout interruption that typically occurs among optical viewfinders due to up-and-down mirror motion. Enhanced speed of the image sensor eliminates distracting EVF display lag in continuous shooting, so that you can compose images with natural comfort, like seeing scenes with your own eyes. (A) Blackout-free shooting (B) Shooting with blackout
AF/AE calculations up to 60 times/sec.
AF/AE is calculated up to 60 times per second and virtually uninterrupted not only while composing but also even releasing the shutter. You can depend on this continuous AF/AE — operated on the image sensor — to lock onto and track erratically moving subjects with significantly high speed, precision, and reliability. (1) AF/AE calculations (2) 60times/sec (3) 20 frames/sec
Fast shutter release at 1/32000 sec., achieved silently
Explore the advantages of a high-speed silent shutter that is fully digital — without a physical mechanism. A result of Sony’s image sensor innovation, this shutter achieves speeds up to 1/32000 sec., beyond the limits of mechanical systems.
Anti-distortion shutter
High curtain speed of the electronic shutter suppresses rolling shutter effect and shows excellent performance in capturing moving subjects during sports and other fast-moving activities. (1) Conventional electronic shutter (2) α9 electronic shutter
A remarkable number of phase-detection and contrast-detection AF points
A total of 693 phase-detection points (covering approximately 93% of the image area) is now augmented by 425 contrast-detection AF points (expanded from 25), to ensure highly accurate subject detection even under poor lighting conditions, which is where contrast-detection AF is most effective.
Enhanced Real-time Eye AF
A subject's eyes can be detected as soon as the shutter is half-pressed or the AF-ON button is pressed, then tracked continuously in either AF-S or AF-C mode. In combination with Real-time Tracking, this further enhances the camera's subject-tracking ability. There have also been improvements in AF response time when the custom assigned button is pressed, and it is now possible to select either the subject's left eye or right eye.
Precision AF effective down to EV-3 brightness
Low-light AF detection down to EV-3 at ISO 100 has been achieved. The precision AF system will function properly even when shooting dimly lit scenes. This opens dramatic new possibilities in low-light and night shooting.
AF/AE-tracking continuous shooting with A-mount lenses
The body’s 693-point focal-plane phase-detection AF provides wide-area coverage, fast response, and high tracking performance, not only for E-mount but also for A-mount lenses with use of a mount adaptor (LA-EA3). Continuous shooting of up to 10fps with AF tracking is possible.
My Dial function
Custom function assignments can now be made to the front and rear dials and the control wheel. When assigning frequently used functions to these dials, they become temporarily available for fingertip control while a custom button is held. The assignments can also be toggled on and off via a custom button.
Rating function convenient for on-location sorting
Ratings from 1 to 5 stars can be applied to still images and maintained as the images are imported into the new Imaging Edge software suite from Sony or PlayMemories Home running on a PC. This function and a protect function to prevent accidental image deletion can each be assigned to a custom button (C3 by default for protect). Ratings and protection can be applied via review playback display and continuous groups can be reviewed, protected, and deleted while you’re on location or travelling.
High-resolution Quad-VGA OLED Tru-Finder
See your subject with a bright image for natural, seamless shooting. Quad-VGA OLED Tru-Finder has approx. 3686k-dot high resolution with 0.78x finder magnification, corner-to-corner clarity, and ZEISS® T* Coating to reduce reflections. Display mode at high 120fps refresh rates provides a smooth image with minimal display blur when shooting moving subjects. Fluorine coating is applied on the outmost lens for improved protection from dirt.
Body-integrated 5-axis image stabilisation
The body-integrated image stabilisation system is fine-tuned to compensate accurately for 5-axis camera shake that can compromise handheld shooting. This gives you extremely high performance in both stills and movies, whether you're shooting at longer focal lengths, in close-ups, or at night. Camera shake compensation is equivalent to using a 5.0-stop faster shutter speed, allowing stable determination of composition at times of capturing subjects in high-speed motion. Real-time effects can be monitored via live view. (1) Yaw (2) Pitch (3) Roll
Dual slots with UHS-II compatibility
This camera provides two media slots for SD card (UHS-II-compatible for fast data writing) and SD card/Memory Stick, respectively. Two cards in the slots can be used to simultaneously record or relay-record data; separate RAW data from JPEG data, or stills from movies; and copy data from one card to the other. The memory card cover is lockable to prevent it from being opened unintentionally.
Support for FTP background transfer
Now FTP file transfer is supported as a background operation, so professional photographers can meet the demand for immediate delivery of images while they're continuing to shoot. The transfer method and filtering have been improved for easier selection of images to transfer, and a new mobile application Transfer & Tagging add-on lets you transfer files to a server via a smartphone or a tablet.
Renewed operability and My Menu
Set up your camera just the way you like it. My Menu allows menu items to be registered for instant recall, and you can also create your own original custom menu. In addition, custom button assignments let you customise the camera interface to perfectly match your individual shooting preferences. Up to 112 functions can be assigned, and illustrations showing the selected controls have been added to the custom button setting display. Moreover, stacked drive mode and focus mode dials provide fast access, the AF-ON button offers a handy means to activate autofocus by pressing when shooting stills or movies, and the multi-selector can be used as an efficient way to shift AF points.
3.0-type 1440k-dot LCD screen with touch-function support
The α9's 3.0-type LCD screen has 1440k-dot resolution for detailed viewing. The convenient Touch Focus function sets the focus point with a touch to the screen, while Touch Pad lets you smoothly shift focus, and Touch Tracking specifies a subject for tracking. The screen tilts as far as 107° upwards and 41° downwards for flexible framing.
Location Information Link via Bluetooth
Location Information Link makes the most of α9 capabilities. The camera can be paired with Imaging Edge Mobile app installed on a compatible mobile phone or tablet device to acquire location data, record it on still images, and correct camera date/time and location settings.
File Name Setting for easy organisation
Customise the first three characters of a file name on the camera. While the name starts with “DSC” by default, you can change and register three characters of your choice. This helps photographers manage files easily, especially when working with multiple cameras during assignments.
One-touch remote & One-touch sharing
Use one-touch remote to turn a smartphone or tablet into a viewfinder/remote control. One-touch sharing transfers photos/videos to your device for SNS sharing. Just install an Imaging Edge Mobile app via Wi-Fi to your NFC-enabled Android device, and then touch the device to the camera to connect them. If you don’t have NFC, use QR code compatibility to pair the devices.
Support for uncompressed 14-bit RAW format
For RAW recording, 14-bit RAW output and 16-bit image processing help preserve maximum detail and produce images of the highest quality with rich tonal gradations. The 14-bit RAW (Sony ARW) format ensures optimal quality for later image adjustment (via Image Data Converter or other software).
Enhanced P-TTL flash metering
Your compositions can benefit significantly from reflected light via pre-flash fired a moment before the main flash is precisely metered. Moreover, high-precision lighting control not easily affected by background conditions is provided mainly around the subject area, utilising distance data from the lens in use. The result is stable command of illumination that suppresses underexposure, which tends to occur with white clothing and walls, as well as overexposure that may affect lighting of black clothing and nightscapes.
Sync terminal
Compatible external flash units with standard sync terminals or cables can be directly connected for convenient flash synchronisation, enhancing photographic expression with flash shooting.
Tough magnesium alloy body
α9 body is built for solid reliability, steady handling, and durability in the field. Its internal structure and top, front, and rear covers are all made of strong, rigid magnesium alloy. Body strength and rigidity and robust lens mount give you a solid foundation for lens mounting and rugged use, even with large, heavy telephoto and movie lenses.
Reliable dust- and moisture-resistant design
Enjoy carefree shooting in tough environments, with comprehensive dust- and moisture-resistance measures that help guard against moisture and dust. Protection includes sealing around buttons, dials, media jack cover, and enclosure edges featuring tongue-and-groove joints for double shielding to tightly interlock panels and components.
High-resolution 4K movie recording
The camera features high bit-rate recording (up to 100Mbps) and full-pixel readout without pixel binning. You can enjoy detail-rich, full-frame movies via the oversampling effect achieved by condensing approximately 2.4 times the amount of data required for 4K (6K equivalent) for 4K output (QFHD: 3840 x 2160). Additionally, the XAVC-S format is available for 4K recording, for minimal compression noise and enhanced detail.
Improved Fast Hybrid AF for movie shooting
Keep images sharp and clear in shooting 4K movies. Fast Hybrid AF for movie recording has evolved and its AF area has been extended to nearly the same width as that for stills, enabling high-speed high-precision AF throughout the frame. Also, further reduction of speed at the “low” end of AF speed enables more pronounced slow focus effects.
Versatile movie recording functions
The α9 provides a wide array of functions to facilitate workflows of professional videographers, including clean HDMI output, time code / user bits (TC/UB), rec. control, marker display/setting, zebra function, Slow and Quick Motion, simultaneous proxy movie recording, extraction and separate storage of a still from a movie, and Gamma Display Assist function, among others.
Support for IPTC information
The α9 is compatible with the IPTC photo metadata standard (XMP) widely used among photojournalists. With Sony's "IPTC Metadata Preset" software you can save a preset file onto a memory card and set it to include IPTC metadata in the image file, while the mobile app Transfer & Tagging add-on lets you add IPTC metadata on a mobile device.
Capture One (for Sony)
Capture One Express (for Sony) is free software for high-quality finishing of RAW data. Capture One Pro (for Sony) can be bought for such compatible functions as local adjustment and PC tethered shooting.
Imaging Edge™ Remote, Viewer, and Edit
Elevate your photography with Imaging Edge desktop applications. Use "Remote" to control and monitor shooting live on your PC screen; "Viewer" to quickly preview, rate, and select photos from large image libraries; and "Edit" to develop RAW data into high-quality photos for delivery. Get the best from Sony RAW files, and manage your productions more efficiently.
Works with iMovie and Final Cut Pro X
This product is compatible with Final Cut Pro X and iMovie.