The Sony a9 was already a match for the Canon 1DX Mark II and Nikon D5 according to DPReviews previous score and many owners, but now it is even better thanks to the addition of ‘real-time tracking’, which pushes the a9 above the competition. This is the first time Sony has added a major feature using a firmware update, which is something Fujifilm has been doing for years. Some were surprised by the update 2 years after launch since Sony wasn’t known for adding features after releasing to there cameras, lets, hope this is the new normal from Sony.
This isn’t the first time that DPReview has revised their Sony a9 content and it speaks to the amount of attention the camera gets from reviewers and photographers alike even 2 years after it’s launch. Here are some of their reasons for updating the camera’s score.
“The increased score reflects the precision of the updated a9’s subject tracking system, as well as its ease-of-use that makes it valuable for nearly all types of photography. ”
“‘Real-time tracking’ refers to the ability of the a9 (and a6400) to understand the subject you initiated focus on, and track it in three dimensions, much like 3D Tracking on Nikon DSLRs, and the respective subject tracking modes on various mirrorless cameras. What sets the a9’s system apart are both its performance (we found it to reliable enough to be useful for portrait, event, candid, sports and even landscape photography), and its ease-of-use.”
“It’s robust enough that it will even, again reliably, switch in and out of Eye AF as necessary if a face or eye is detected on the subject you are tracking, as you can see in the video above.* Collectively, this means you can concentrate on the composition and the moment. There is no longer a need to focus (pun intended) on keeping your AF point over your subject, which for years has constrained composition and made it difficult to maintain focus on erratic subjects.
In practice, the system excels. While many professional sports photographers that know their sport, and can anticipate the action, have successfully used Single Point or Zone AF for years, real-time tracking can help both the amateur and the pro achieve potentially better results. First, it frees up the photographer to compose freely, as composition is no longer constrained by having to keep an AF point over the subject. But perhaps more importantly, not having to keep a fixed AF point or zone over a fast moving subject is a boon when it comes to fast, erratic subjects shot using long telephoto lenses, where framing is increasingly difficult.”
You can read about the full update here and see samples, but with the Sony a9II expected to be announced soon, Canon and Nikon should be worried. Cameras like the Sony a9 make shooting stupid easy to get right and show us what the future of “professional” photography will look like.
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Sony a9 Action Shooting Kit: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony a9 Accessories Kit: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Sony a9: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
a9 Battery Grip: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
a9 Battery NP-FZ100: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama