The Good Stuff.

▼

3.02.2014

My long overdue review of the Sony a99.


It's got a 24 megapixel sensor. It focuses native Sony lenses very quickly. The colors it generates are good. The dynamic range is super groovy. It's fun to handle. It's got lots of nice bells and whistles for video. It's full frame and weather resistant. It has an EVF instead of an OVF. I've had one since the Fall of 2012 and I haven't wanted to get rid of it yet. It's got focus peaking for optimal use with manual focus lenses like the Rokinon 85 and 35 1.5 Cine lens. Everything works just like it's supposed to. If I forget about the nuts and bolts and use it in the same fashion I've used all my other cameras throughout time it helps me make images that are technically good. Sadly, it does not provide inspiration, insight, warmth, context or vision. We have to add those to the mix ourselves.

That's the review. Would I buy it again? If I owned lots of Sony lenses and was upgrading from a previous Sony camera? You bet. Would I do it again, right now, if I had a fat wallet and a totally empty camera bag? Probably not. I think I'd just snag a Pentax 645D and a couple of good lenses and be done with it. All subjective information is subject to change.....

Image above done with a Sony a99 for my class on Studio Portraits for Craftsy.com. Go poke around at Craftsy and see what they offer in the field of photography. And baking. And food. And while you are there check out the trailers for my three courses. One of them is absolutely free.

Studio Portrait Lighting
at

3 comments:

  1. Dave JenkinsMarch 3, 2014 at 1:35 PM

    I think that has to go down as your briefest review so far. :o)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Charles "Rain" BlackMarch 3, 2014 at 2:53 PM

    Kirk, I think your review of the A99 has been going on for years. You have chronicled how effective it has been in your work, both for stills and video, which to me is far more valuable than running a camera through a series of tests and checkbox evaluations.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 3, 2014 at 3:20 PM

    Lousy review, you said nothing about how you feel after you fondle the camera, nor did you mention how much whiter your smile is after using it.

    Did it make you the envy of men and the object of desire of women?

    Did your gas mileage improve?

    The internet needs to know!

    ReplyDelete

We Moderate Comments, Yours might not appear right after you hit return. Be patient; I'm usually pretty quick on getting comments up there. Try not to hit return again and again.... If you disagree with something I've written please do so civilly. Be nice or see your comments fly into the void. Anonymous posters are not given special privileges or dispensation. If technology alone requires you to be anonymous your comments will likely pass through moderation if you "sign" them. A new note: Don't tell me how to write or how to blog! I can't make you comment but I don't want to wade through spam!