Before Sony completely went ahead with mirrorless cameras, they were creating DSLRs. While these models may not have seen the same kind of fame as Canon or Nikon, they were quite powerful in terms of performance. If you have ever wondered what these devices offer, then today, we take a look at the greatest digital camera Sony made, the a99. What it does and why it was so crucial, we will discuss below.
The original a99 was launched in 2012, just a year before they released the a7 and the a7R. The a99 was beefy, and its top panel reminded us of a fusion between the Canon 1D X and a Nikon D800. For instance, the giant LCD is reminiscent of the other models, as well as the placement of the exposure compensation, ISO, and white balance buttons. However, its biggest takeaway was the LCD, which could flip to make it a selfie camera or go all the way down.
But the design was not the only exciting part; the Sony a99 had impressive specifications, too. Since the digital camera was designed in tandem with Minolta, it featured a 24MP CMOS full-frame sensor and worked really well with the latter’s lenses. Other features include 19 AF points, a 3-inch 12,28,000-dot tilting LCD, ISO up to 25,600, exposure compensation to -5 EV, and a burst rate of 6fps. For video, one can record full HD clips at 60fps. Its build was just as sturdy, allowing one to take it around for challenging shoots.
Now, as for the performance, the a99 also excelled here. Its tracking focus and AF-D both helped to nail the shot, while the metering was similar to the performance of a film camera. The image quality was just as impressive, with the photographs shot with the a99 could appear as if they were shot on Portra film. The high ISO images were also great up to 1600, but if you push past it, there will be detail retention, but a lot of color noise. Considering the time it was launched, this was more than acceptable. In fact, if you add the RAW file versatility and the ability to regain highlights and shadows, then you have a winner. As we said in our review, “It will take a little bit of dedication to get the right settings and to wrap your mind around the menus, but once you do, you’ll fall in love with the camera.”
The a99 went on to have a successor in 2016, the a99 II, which was just as wonderful. However, with mirrorless becoming the major segment for Sony, the a99 series never saw the light of day. Today, if one is looking to buy a camera that offers distinct images, away from the same color and feel of the mirrorless, then the original a99 is what they should be purchasing. If you get your hands on the original Sony lenses, you may be able to get photographs that do not need any presets.