Welcome to my Sony a9 (ILCE-9) resource page. Here you will find the latest firmware version for the a9, user guides, FAQs, product images and my accessories guide.
| Latest Firmware | Manual | Accessories | Price Check & Buyer Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Version 6.0 | PDF / Online | Accessories | Amazon | B&H |
Sony a9 Forum & Facebook Group
If you are looking for further help and advice on the a9 or would simply like to share your photos, then please head over to our friendly Sony a9 Forum. If you prefer Facebook then I also run the Sony a9 / a9II Shooters Group.
Sony a9 Guides
Sony a9 Overview
The Sony a9 was announced on April 19th, 2017 and was the first Alpha camera to feature a stacked sensor that allowed it to shoot 20 frames per second with zero blackouts using a completely silent electronic shutter.
Sony marketed the a9 for sports photographers but thanks to its mind blowing speed it didn’t take very long for it to become popular with wildlife photographers as well, especially those who enjoy shooting birds in flight.
DPReview awarded this camera their Gold Award and concluded their in-depth review with the following:
The Sony a9 is more than just a refinement of the company’s a7-series of full-frame mirrorless cameras; it’s an evolution. With meaningful ergonomic and user interface improvements, the a9 is a polished and highly capable camera. It may not be a go-to camera for landscape and studio photographers, but its compact dimensions, silent operation, abundant speed and blackout-free shooting make it not only a step forward for mirrorless, but a compelling proposition for professionals who can’t afford to miss a moment.
DPReview
I’ve owned the a9 since it was first released and can certainly attest for its speed in both initial subject acquisition, tracking and the number of shots in focus. It rarely misses and when it does it’s normally down to user error and not the camera.
I use my own a9 for shooting birds in flight the most, especially faster birds like puffins that are extremely difficult to capture in flight due to their speed and size, but the a9 has very little difficulty in nailing shot after shot.
Although the Sony a9II has since been released the a9 still remains a fantastic camera.
I decided not to upgrade to the a9II because I didn’t feel that it offered significant improvements to justify the expense. Upgrading would not have improved my photography in anyway, just dented my bank balance!
If you shoot sports or birds in flight, the Sony a9 will most definitely not disappoint you.
Sony a9 Key Specs
- 24.2 megapixel 35mm full-frame stacked sensor
- ISO 100-51200 range (50-204800 extended) with mechanical shutter
- ISO 100-25600 range (50-25600 extended) with electronic shutter
- 20 fps blackout free continuous shooting with the electronic shutter
- 5 fps continuous shooting with mechanical shutter
- 693-point phase-detection and 425-point contrast detection AF points
- 5.0-stop (CIPA rated) 5-axis image stabilization
- Dual SD card slots (slot 1 UHS-II / slot 2 UHS-I)
- 3.69M-dot OLED viewfinder (1280 x 960 pixels)
- 1.44M-dot rear touchscreen LCD
- Oversampled full width UHD 4K/24p video (1.24x crop for 30p)
- LAN port, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
- 588g (20.74oz) with battery and memory card
You can find the full Sony a9 details and specifications over on Sony’s product page.
Sony a9 FAQs
The Sony a9 uses the Sony NP-FZ100 rechargeable battery pack.
Power cord, rechargeable battery NP-FZ100, battery charger BC-QZ1, cable protector, AC adaptor, shoulder strap, body cap, shoe cap, eyepiece cup, micro USB cable, instruction manual.
The Sony a9 was announced on April 19th, 2017. First shipment was the following May.
UHS-I and UHS-II SD cards are supported in slot 1. Slot 2 only supports UHS-I SD cards, although you can still use UHS-II cards in slot 2 but you won’t get the speed benefits.
Approx. 24.2 megapixels
Approx. 588g (20.74oz) with battery and memory card included.
Sony claim that the a9 is dust and moisture resistant, they don’t claim that it is fully waterproof and you should therefore use a protective rain cover if using the camera in wet weather.
Yes. The Sony a9 is a full-frame 35-mm camera.
Approx. 24.2 megapixels
Yes the Sony a9 is a mirrorless camera.
The maximum fps (frames per second) for the mechanical shutter of the a9 is 5 fps.
The maximum fps (frames per second) for the electronic shutter of the a9 is 20 fps.
You can find a full list of lenses that support the maximum frame rate of 20 FPS here.
