Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

Like many, I've been eagerly awaiting sensor tests on the a99ii. DxO hasn't tested it yet, but PetaPixel today has an article with links to a couple of YouTube videos showing how incredibly good this beast performs. There are not yet RAW converters for the a99ii (oddly, Sony shipped the camera without one according to reports I read), so the sample shots in the videos are x.fine jpeg with no in-body noise reduction. Here's the link: http://petapixel.com/2016/11/24/test-show-sony-a99-ii-low-light-monster/

The guy took it all the way up to ISO 102,000 and showed the results with 200% magnification. I will concede that at this level the images would benefit from just a teeny bit of post-processing noise reduction (grin), but wow, what a performance! The baseline for comparison was shot at ISO 400, and up to ISO 8000 I could not discern any difference. At 12,800 some color shift and fuzziness started becoming noticeable with close scrutiny, but again, these are jpegs without noise reduction.

Since the a7Rii, I hoped Sony would release the same camera in an a-mount, and indeed, it seems that's exactly what Sony did -- but Sony stayed with the superior (and even improved) focus system and frame rate of the a-mount line. I expect DxO to rate the sensor, even with its translucent mirror, in its top ten.

This camera is the one to beat, the new benchmark by which all other cameras are destined to be compared.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Oh, but you are so wrong! You have to shoot in raw!!! According to all the knowledgeable people who contribute to the main photo discussion section, one must always shoot in raw - period; even the novices. That makes these tests totally invalid. What good is a photo shot in 2 million ISO in Jpeg, even if the photo is still totally clear even in almost non existent light?

I just bought a Sony a77 M2 in late June and I love it! I can do stuff with the focus points that are not possible with the Nikons or the Canons. I know, I have tried. What I also like about the A77 M2 is that one now has to depress a button in order to move the dial from one mode to another. On all my other Sony cameras, used to have to super glue the mode dial in the M position so I would not accidentally switch modes. Now I have more super glue to use on my model trains.

Anyway, I pre-ordered 2 A99 ll's because I am going on a cruise to Norway in January and I want to use a different lens on each one so I don't have to change lenses. I suppose I am going to have to ask a question on the main photo section as to which lens to put on each camera because I am too stupid to understand what each lens does. I have 3 lenses (all A mount, full frame). One is a Minolta 24-85mm zoom, one is a Sigma 24-85mm zoom, and the 3rd one is a Tamron 24-85mm zoom and I don't know which one to leave at home. In addition, I am going to have some one to teach me how to shoot in Auto Mode because from what I understand so far, that is what you are supposed to do when you buy a real expensive camera. Always something.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

You have just proven that no matter what camera or what mode you shoot...., it's definitely the monkey and not the machine!!! LoL
SS

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Oh, you liked that one, eh?

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Looks like Sony is on a roll right now. They are releasing in the near future the a99II, an alpha A-mount full frame. And there are rumors of the release of the A7r3, E-Mount full frame mirrorless camera, and a new a9 camera. Sony has abandoned the DSLR. They only make Translucent Mirrorless and Mirrorless now. Both in Crop Sensor and Full Frame. Sony intends to exceed 42 megapixels in these upcoming new cameras. More and more megapixels equals more and more money for the camera.

puku8849

You guys should look at the award winning photographs in National Geographic taken with an iPhone !

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

I have seen a couple posts about them, and some are very nice shots. I have a few nice grabs from my cell phone, too. That's because a camera is merely a tool, as I'm sure you know.

Good photographs come from a combination of: 1. Some combination of subject, timing, luck/happenstance; 2. skill of the photographer; and 3. equipment. Since I'm very much lacking the second item in my overly-simplified list, I'll use the best equipment I can. I made a pinhole camera out of an oatmeal container in high school, and I took a couple of pictures with it that came out surprisingly good, but I bet I can do a lot better with a Sony a99ii.

puku8849

Agreed, but as so often repeated here, the best camera is the one you have in your hand when an opportunity presents itself in front of your eyes. If you have 1 and 2 mentioned above, 3 becomes less relevant and less important for anyone to be obsessed about. In the end, Whether you want to focus your energy, sleepless nights and resources into chasing the "perfect camera & Lens" or to divert your energy into making a great photo by concentrating on 1 & 2 is really a matter of choice for the individual. Both can be ego boosting or energy sapping if you found out a new model is announced a few weeks after you bought yours, but one choice is much cheaper, can be just as rewarding and makes life less complicated.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

The posts are open for discussion by anyone. But, the topic was the Sony a99II. And now it becomes National Geographic photos taken by an iPhone.

Davethehiker Loc: South West Pennsylvania

I wonder when the A99M2 are going start shipping in the USA?

tsilva Loc: Arizona

yep, a crap picture is a crap picture regardless of what it is taken with so whatever you have is fine

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

I thought they just started shipping domestically, Dave, but I guess not. Amazon lists a ship date of November 30. And I'm eagerly awaiting your thoughts and first impression on it! It'll be a little while before I get one, if I do. I'm currently shooting with an a77ii -- which I love, but I don't like its low-light abilities (more accurately, inabilities). It was a big improvement over the a77, but a backlit sensor (a la the a99ii, but crop) would have made it quite a formidable competitor -- to the D7200, for example. As it is, the sensor fares no better than a Canon crop sensor with regard to low light (though still blows away any Canon with dynamic range). Who knows, maybe Sony will soon release an a77iii with such a sensor to help support the a-mount line and the a99ii.

I hedged there and said if I get an a99ii. I suspect that by the time I'm ready, Sony will have released either a successor to the a7Rii or the long-rumored new and superior mirrorless line. I've purchased an a7R, but I adapt my a-mount lenses so I don't have much vested in the e-mount. I had planned to go all e-mount and pick up one of the a6k-types to replace my a77ii, but now Sony released this a99ii which on paper appears to be THE camera of cameras. What's a guy to do?

Davethehiker Loc: South West Pennsylvania

Hopefully I'll be able to give my 1st impressions of this lens late next week. I also have the A77ii and consider to way better than my A900, because of the faster auto-focus.

It has long been my philosophy to invest in and be loyal to lenses not camera bodies. I have a rather large collection of A-mount glass, some very good. :
Sigma 12-24 f/4.5-5.6 DG FF
Konica Minolta AF17-35mm F2.8-4(D) FF A99II support No X-F or LC
Sigma 28-105 f/2.8-4 Aspherical FF
Minolta 28mm f/2.8 FF A99II support No X-F or LC
Sony 50mm f/1.4 FF A99II full support
CZ 24-70 f/2.8 SSM FF A99II full support
Minolta 35-70 f/4 w/marco mode FF (two copies) A99II support No X-F or LC
Sony 100m f/2.8 Macro FF A99II full support
Minolta 135mm f/2.8 FF A99II support No X-F or LC
Minolta 100-200mm f/4.5 FF Dedicated AF limited to 61 points No LC
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 w/macro mode
Sony 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 G SSM A99II full support
Sony 300mm f/2.8 G SSM A99II full support
1.4X TC for above No LC
2X TC for above No LC
Sigma 400mm f/5.6 FF
Sony 500mm f/8 Reflex FF Spot focus only No LC No XF

Sony 11-18 f/4.5-5.6 DT/APS-C Dedicated AF limited to 61 points No LC
Sony 18-70 f/3.5-5.6 DT/APS-C No LC No XF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Five of the best lenses in the above list are supposed to be 100% compatible with the A99ii. The others will also compatible to some degree but may not be able to use all the auto-focus power. I look forward to testing each of these lenses. I never bought the A-to-E mount adapters. I did buy an inexpensive, "refurbished" A-3000 and the 18~35mm lens that came with it. I did this so I could use some old legacy glass. The novelty quickly wore off and A-3000 now gathers dust. Trusting Sony to eventually keep their word to support the A-mount and patience will soon pay off. Some of the above lenses were practically given to me by a friend who dumped all his Minolta gear and moved to Canon.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

It certainly paid off for you. I didn't have as much glass as you, and I really wanted a full frame body with good low light capabilities. I considered the a99 as well as the a7ii and a7S, but ultimately decided on the a7R. With the a6300 available I figured it was a suitable replacement for my a77ii, and I wasn't sure Sony would ever release an a99 successor. If it did, I thought, it wouldn't be as good as the a7Rii, even though I long thought that Sony could incorporate an a7Rii's specs into an a-mount body -- but I didn't think Sony would ever do that. Boy was I wrong. Now I'm at the point I have to decide which way to go.

I noticed you have a Sigma 28-105mm f2.8-4, a relatively uncommon lens. That's the first lens I bought after my a77. It's a very nice lens! It has a rather interesting bokeh, but it's sharp and focus is quick and spot-on. Mine is damaged now, as the focus ring won't turn but a bit. One of these days I might try to dissect it and see if maybe it's just a loose screw or something, but I fear it could be a stripped gear.

My favorite Maxxum-era lens is also quite rare: Tamron 35-135mm f3.5-4.5 Tele Macro. I use this with a Sony LA-EA4 adapter on my a7R as its primary lens, and I absolutely love it! I wish it were slightly wider sometimes, but otherwise no complaints. And I picked it up with original caps and hood on eBay for about $90 a couple years ago.

What do you mean by X-F and by LC? And I presume my Sony 70-400G will be fully supported, but I wonder about my Minolta 50mm f2.8 AF Macro. My Roki and Samy are irrelevant, and I assume my other Maxxum-era Minolta, Sigma, and Tamron lenses won't be fully supported either. BTW another old lens I really like is the Minolta 75-300mm "New." I often opt for it over my long Sony G because it's so much lighter, and the IQ is surprisingly very, very good. A tad bit of purple fringing on high contrast wide open, but otherwise perfect, especially for the price they can be had.

Davethehiker Loc: South West Pennsylvania

Sorry X-F and LC are abbreviations that I made up for myself

X-F = Cross Focus where the A99ii uses both PD systems to lock onto and track the subject.

LC = Digital lens corrections made by the camera during in-camera JPG conversion.

The Sigma 28-105 f/2.8-4 Aspherical FF lens was given to me by a friend after I bought some his primes. I was surprised by how sharp it was, but I have read that it's prone to break. Mine is working for now.

A rule of thumb in determining if a lens will be fully supported is to count the contact pins.
5 = probably not.
8= Good chance it will be compatible. There are exceptions.