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Archive 2023 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

Waltz41
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

Hello,

Currently I'm shooting with an A7RIII and A7III. They have been great for me, but I want to make the jump up to the A9. At this point, budget wise I'm looking at used versions of both...and it seems like it can be as much as $500- $1000 separating them. So my question is, well,...is the A9II work the extra money? I shoot mainly aviation and then just family/kids stuff. Just a hobbyist really. I would end up selling one of the two bodies I have now....so that savings (a9 vs a9ii) could be put to something else, like a lens or maybe future upgrade for the other body. Lol or just bills!

And yes, I understand the A9III is in the pipeline, but it's going to be most likely out of my budget at the moment.

Would appreciate some thoughts, Thanks!

Brian

Apr 20, 2023 at 08:05 PM

kooshball
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

very unlikely to be useful for you. the biggest change is probably the minor ergo update on the body. i dont see anything here that'll give you better photos.

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sony-alpha-9-ii-review/2

Apr 20, 2023 at 08:25 PM

ke3vg
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

Here is the article for A9 Versus A9II, there is more than ergo difference between these cameras.
https://www.techradar.com/news/sony-alpha-a9-vs-a9-ii-the-key-differences-between-sonys-sports-oriented-cameras

Apr 20, 2023 at 10:52 PM

GHarris
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

The features that version 2 has are oriented towards pro shooters. You can add voice notes to images, there are better networking options for quick transfer to news agencies, etc.

The body of the original a9 is the same as your current cameras. The a9ii's is better, they've improved the buttons etc a bit, but right now you don't know what you're missing there and presumably you're happy with the ergonomics you have now.

There's one feature that is worth mentioning - flicker prevention. The a9ii can adjust its shutter speed in very precise ways to try to avoid banding in images that are taken by certain flickering high-frequency LED lights. You don't find these everywhere, not all LED lights are like that, and the a9's electronic shutter copes with most light sources fine (and this niche, highly particular kind of high-frequency flicker is even a problem for mechanical shutters, I believe, but I am happy to be corrected on that) - but to a pro who "must" get the shot, at whatever venue they turn up to, it's a useful tool.

Apr 20, 2023 at 10:55 PM

cxpics
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

I own both, and I'd be hard pressed to pay >$500 to make my a9 into an a9ii. The shutter dust protection option on the ii is the most valuable upgrade for me. The bigger grip is only a plus when using bigger lenses. $500 more maybe... $1000 more seems crazy.

Apr 20, 2023 at 11:51 PM

tuomkok
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

cxpics wrote:
I own both, and I'd be hard pressed to pay >$500 to make my a9 into an a9ii. The shutter dust protection option on the ii is the most valuable upgrade for me. The bigger grip is only a plus when using bigger lenses. $500 more maybe... $1000 more seems crazy.

There is a very nice small Sony accessory extra grip available to A9 (and other mk3 cameras). It makes the camera handle very nicely - the only ergonomic problem being too small af-button.

In the big picture A9 I and A9 II are very close to each others. Most of the time they do the same job. We can evaluate the difference better when A9 III is out. If it is a major improvement, then A9 I and II may look like "practically the same". If A9 III is only an incremental improvement, say improving specs in speed and video, the it is more of continuum from I and II to III.

Personally I think, that even though the camera is fast, there is some lag in A9 image pipeline from sensor to evf. This is a problem in very fast phased photoraphy, and should see a major improvement in A9 III. There should be also a Olympus pre capture -type feature in A9 III. Thinner AA-filter and some extra resolution would be wellcome.

Apr 21, 2023 at 12:29 AM

schlotz
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

I never upgraded from the A9 to Ver II. Definitely not worth the price, instead I sold two of my A9s and picked up two A1s which are a significant step up. IMO, keep the RIII and sell the other to help cover the cost of the used A9.

Apr 21, 2023 at 07:36 AM

Waltz41
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

Thanks so much everyone for the replies. I'm going to look for a good priced A9 and go with that I think unless I can find a cheap A9II. It's what I was leaning towards anyway, but figured I'd ask the group here for their thoughts.

While I love my A7III and A7RIII, from everything I hear it's going to be a huge jump in some areas with the A9's.

Thanks again.

Apr 21, 2023 at 08:18 AM

chiron
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

Waltz41 wrote:
Hello,

Currently I'm shooting with an A7RIII and A7III. They have been great for me, but I want to make the jump up to the A9. At this point, budget wise I'm looking at used versions of both...and it seems like it can be as much as $500- $1000 separating them. So my question is, well,...is the A9II work the extra money? I shoot mainly aviation and then just family/kids stuff. Just a hobbyist really. I would end up selling one of the two bodies I have now....so that savings (a9 vs a9ii) could be put to something else, like...Show more →

I think the summary by GHarris is a very accurate summary. The A9 will handle almost all LED lights without banding--this is a key reason I have kept mine over the years. The adjustable flicker control on the A9II is I think for some very difficult and specialized types of LED lights such as those found in stadium scoreboards and some types of theatrical lighting. In four years of using the A9 around lots of LED lights (e.g., my home is all LED), I have never had a banded picture from the A9.

As for the body, it is true that the A9II has the newer body, but that body is larger and blockier and I actually prefer the A9's body which is smaller and more convenient for carrying along.

A used A9 is a fabulous value. It is a great camera.

Hang on to the A7RIII for its high resolution. That camera and the A9 will give you a terrific combination of photo technology.

Apr 21, 2023 at 08:33 AM

osv2
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

the a9 is known for problems with the shutter button half-press failing... i also hated the lack of tactile feedback with that, on my a9, so i switched to bbaf, which works much better with the a9ii button arrangement.

the a9 had a long-standing free repair for loose hotshoe mount with some serial numbers, mine included, but i never saw an issue and i don't know if the free repair is still available.

so if you get a used a9 check those two things... whichever model you get will give you sony real-time tracking capability, which is a step up in target acquisition capability from what you have now.

i would be leaning towards an a9ii.

Apr 21, 2023 at 09:41 AM

Waltz41
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

osv2 wrote:
the a9 is known for problems with the shutter button half-press failing... i also hated the lack of tactile feedback with that, on my a9, so i switched to bbaf, which works much better with the a9ii button arrangement.

the a9 had a long-standing free repair for loose hotshoe mount with some serial numbers, mine included, but i never saw an issue and i don't know if the free repair is still available.

so if you get a used a9 check those two things... whichever model you get will give you sony real-time tracking capability, which is a step up in target...Show more →

Thanks for those couple pieces of info, I had not heard about those!

Apr 21, 2023 at 10:21 AM

KarmaKramer
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

There’s a low mileage A9 decently priced on the B&S forum that 19 people are watching. Snatch that one up.

Waltz41 wrote:
Thanks for those couple pieces of info, I had not heard about those!

Apr 21, 2023 at 10:51 AM

Lt.Deadeye
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

Yep. I'm coping with the half-press issue now. I've switched to back button AF as a result.

Apr 21, 2023 at 01:05 PM

arbitrage
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

The ergonomics of the A9II over the A9 were worth every penny to me. I only paid about $1300 CAD to upgrade.
The A9II is also less laggy to switch to EVF...and does everything a bit faster as it has an upgraded processor.

But if you are used to the ergo of your A7III/RIII then that will be identical to the A9 size and buttons (with the addition of the A9's drive mode dial).

Apr 21, 2023 at 05:43 PM

wind30
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

arbitrage wrote:
The ergonomics of the A9II over the A9 were worth every penny to me. I only paid about $1300 CAD to upgrade.
The A9II is also less laggy to switch to EVF...and does everything a bit faster as it has an upgraded processor.

But if you are used to the ergo of your A7III/RIII then that will be identical to the A9 size and buttons (with the addition of the A9's drive mode dial).

I have the a9 and a74 side by side... I honestly don't feel anything about the supposedly better ergonomics of the a74... if anything I wish a74 can be identical to a9 like the movie button so that it is easier.

all the menu thing is like zero value. The most important usability thing was getting a coloured AF square (in a9) vs the stupid grey square of a73...

Apr 21, 2023 at 09:07 PM

arbitrage
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

wind30 wrote:
I have the a9 and a74 side by side... I honestly don't feel anything about the supposedly better ergonomics of the a74... if anything I wish a74 can be identical to a9 like the movie button so that it is easier.

all the menu thing is like zero value. The most important usability thing was getting a coloured AF square (in a9) vs the stupid grey square of a73...

Well ergonomics are always a very personal thing. The dinky back buttons on the A9 generation body were horrible. My friends and I had to modify them with Surgu just to make them feasible to quickly use back and forth for fast action shooting. I'm also a fan of big bodies and always grip mine so as the bodies have gotten larger it has been better for my grip ergonomics.

Apr 22, 2023 at 05:43 AM

InFocus2014
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

I'm surprised that the difference in dynamic range has not been mentioned. The Version II has between 0.5 and 0.7 EV improvement in dynamic range.

I shot the A9 for a couple years. I loved the camera, but when shooting alongside the A7RIV, shadow recovery was not nearly as good and I didn't like the color noise that was introduced when lifting shadows with the A9. I think I would definitely prefer the Version II model to a significant degree.

Apr 22, 2023 at 05:51 AM

berimbolo
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

InFocus2014 wrote:
I'm surprised that the difference in dynamic range has not been mentioned. The Version II has between 0.5 and 0.7 EV improvement in dynamic range.

I shot the A9 for a couple years. I loved the camera, but when shooting alongside the A7RIV, shadow recovery was not nearly as good and I didn't like the color noise that was introduced when lifting shadows with the A9. I think I would definitely prefer the Version II model to a significant degree.

This is one of the things that is making me consider upgrading my A9 to something else. Unfortunately, I don't want to pay 8500+tax (here in Canada) for an A1

Apr 22, 2023 at 07:36 AM

osv2
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

InFocus2014 wrote:
I'm surprised that the difference in dynamic range has not been mentioned. The Version II has between 0.5 and 0.7 EV improvement in dynamic range.

from iso200 and beyond they have the same pdr.

InFocus2014 wrote:
I shot the A9 for a couple years. I loved the camera, but when shooting alongside the A7RIV, shadow recovery was not nearly as good and I didn't like the color noise that was introduced when lifting shadows with the A9. I think I would definitely prefer the Version II model to a significant degree.

that's 24mp vs. 61mp, yes the a7riv will look better, you won't see nearly the same difference between a9 vs. a9ii... downrezzing improves every aspect of p.q.

the pdr numbers also show that the a7riv has worse pdr than those two cameras, from iso640 and up: https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Sony%20ILCE-7RM4,Sony%20ILCE-9,Sony%20ILCE-9M2

Apr 22, 2023 at 09:31 AM

chiron
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · A9 vs A9II - Is it worth the difference in $

So much of one's ergonomic preferences depends on how you are going to use the camera. If you are going to shoot long telephotos for sports, BIF, or wildlife, often using a tripod and gimbal and often hand-holding, then most shooters would prefer a large body. This is the appeal of the gargantuan Nikon Z7 and why some people want Sony to make their bodies bigger.

If you want to take your camera with you comfortably whenever you go somewhere as many photographers try to do, for example when you go somewhere with your family or when you are traveling, then a smaller body will suit you much better. I have an A1, an A9, and an A7C. The A9 and A7C are much easier to take with me anywhere or to have readily available or in a small bag than is the larger and heavier A1.

The a9II was essentially a specialized version of the A9 that was created for sports photographers who use longer and heavier lenses, who wanted to transmit images to editors very quickly via wireless and who might find it useful to record a voice memo for a picture before they transmitted it.

Given what you have said about what and how you shoot, I think an A9 would be perfect for you. Use any money left over toward another lens--that will give you more toward varying your photography than the scant and expensive differences between the A9 and the A9II.

(Also, the screw issue on the hot shoe of the A9 was a very early minor issue affecting 2018 and earlier A9 bodies. Just get one bought new after that year or check affected serial numbers online. Not to worry.)

Apr 22, 2023 at 11:33 PM

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