Computer Shopper - UK (2020-03)

CAMERAS

ISSUE385|COMPUTER SHOPPER|MARCH2020 95

THEREAREMIRRORLESScameras,and
thentherearemirrorlesscameras.Atthe
consumer end of thescale,theyoffer the best
of both worlds: large imagesensors capable
of good imagequality in apackage that in
many cases is allbut pocket-sized.
The topend of themarket is adifferent
place.High-end, full-frame mirrorless cameras
throw caution to the wind, blending exotic
sensor technology with supercomputer
processing power to produce cameras that
are nearly impossibletotripup, virtually
silent in operation,and capable of incredible
images that will withstand the most
aggressive reproduction.
The Sony A9 is aprimeexample.Ithas a
24.2-megapixel, full-framesensor,and is
capable of shooting up to 20fps. Impressively,
this number includes mid-burst autofocus and
auto-exposure adjustment,theoretically
letting you track subjectsnot only as they
move through space butalso as they move
through different light.There’s also in-body
image stabilisation, all housed in aweather-
sealed, magnesium-alloybody designedto
surviveall but themostwilful abuse.

GOANYWHERE
Despiteall thispremiumtechnology, the A9
is farfrombulky–it’s pleasantly small, if
anything –and extraordinarilypractical.
The modedial, drive mode,autofocusmode
and exposure compensation all get their
own physicalcontrols, along with two
variable-usedialswithin easy reach of your
index finger and thumb.
The 3in touchscreen doesn’t rotate,but
can be angled up anddown,and it’s more
than brightand sharp enough to review
shots.The electronic viewfinder is also a
stellar example of itstype,being
indistinguishable in its displayoffine detail
from an optical viewfinder, butwith the
added benefitoflive exposuresimulation.
The sensor might not be thelast word in
resolution, but it’s not short on pixelseithe
and canpull off some impressively fast
tricks. Theheadliner is its maximum
continuous Rawframe rate, whichat
20fps is most of theway to cinematic
frame rates and,amazingly,isfasterthan
the Canon EOS-1D XMark II’s 14fps(16fps
in itselectronic shutter mode)by6fps.
It helps thatthe sensoristhe first
full-frameCMOS sensor withastacked
design, in which the pixel sitesare bonded
to image-processing and DRAMlayers,
allowingthe sensor to read out data
extremely quickly.Yet it doesn’t just

SONY A9

★★★★★

£2,999•From http://www.wexphotovideo.com

VERDICT

Acombinationof smartdesignandtechnicaltrickery,
theSonyA9isaterrifichigh-endcameraforstills

shovel raw data

quickly: because

autofocusand

exposureare

performedon

thesensor,the

A9 is able to

continuously

calculate both

up to 60 times

persecond, even

while the camera

is shooting. Both

in theory and in

practice,thatmakes the

A9 much better at staying

focused on amoving subject.

TheA9’s technicalqualitiesare fornaught

if it can’t take decentpictures,but Sony’s

sensational snapper doesn’t trip up here,

either.Wetested it with Sony’s FE 16-35mm

F2.8 GM wide-angle lens, andwereimpressed

by the overall sharpness, colourrendition and

contrast, straight off the camera.

Theresults of ourISO testswerefrankly

ridiculous. With the imagezoomed out, our

test shots wereindistinguishable fromeach

other betweenthe A9’s lowest ISO and –

incredibly –ISO 12800.Evenwith our tests

zoomedall the wayin, between ISO 100 and

ISO3200 there was no telling images apart.

NIGHT OWL

This allmeans it’s possible to shootahuge

range of shutterspeeds or aperturesin

less-than-ideallight. Our test images

remained broadly acceptable until ISO25600,

and were just about tolerable at ISO102400.

Theabsolute maximum ISOof204800 is a

party piece bestavoided,but make no

mistake: the A9 is alow-light beast.

lenses,from macro

to superzoom.Sigma’s

Art line is also available

with an E-mount, further

boostingthe A9’sappeal to

professionalphotographers.

The closest thing this camera

has to aweakness is its setofvideo

features, albeit only in the sense that

these aregood rather than great.Itrecords in

4K, of course,in24, 25 and30fps, andFull HD

at up to 100fps(120fpsinNTSC). Video

quality –assuggested by our results testing

the A9 in stills-only mode –isexcellent, and

nicetiessuchasthe audio-in jack provide

videographerswith adegree of flexibility.

However,there’s no LOG mode forrecording

flat footage forgrading in the future,which

restricts the A9’svideo appeal somewhat.

CLOUD9

Every camera you buy will have some sort of

ceilingonwhatyou candowithit. On low-end

cameras, this ceiling becomes apparent pretty

early–limitationsinterms of frame rates,

autofocuspoints and bodycontrols all make

themselves felt, andcan cost you shots.

With theSonyA9, the camera’s ceiling is

somewhereinthe stratosphere.Its autofocus

holds on with tremendous tenacity, its

continuousburst mode is breathtakingly

fast and,although thecameraperhaps

looks sparinglyappointed when it comes to

physicalcontrols,these looks aredeceiving:

is one of theeasiest,fastest to use

meras we’ve ever come across.

On topofall that, it takes great images,it’s

mpatible with avast range of lenses,and its

stance to highISOsmakesitagood choice

forwhen youabsolutely have to turn in the

goodsirrespective of thelight.

On the downside, the A9 is very

expensive,and battery lifecontinues to

be achallenge even forthe best-designed

mirrorless cameras.Assuch, it doesn’t

quitehavethe same appeal as the much

more affordable Sony A6400. Still, fora

camera withthe power to more or less

vanishwhile you return sharp image after

sharp image, even in poorlight and with

dynamic subjects, it’shardtothink of

very many betteroptions.

n

r,

mistake:theA 9 isalowlightbeast.

The A9’sversatile Sony E-mount also

makesitcompatible with ahuge rangeof

phy

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