Sony A77 II reaffirms Translucent Mirror commitment with record-breaking autofocus sensor
posted Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 4:59 AM EDT
If you've been watching Sony's ever-more-impressive mirrorless camera launches with concern, wondering whether the company's commitment to its Translucent Mirror camera line was wavering, you can worry no more. The Sony A77 II is here, and it makes clear that the company is still pumping development dollars into its fast-focusing DSLR camera alternative with a brand-new, record-setting autofocus system, among quite a few other changes.
The 24-megapixel Sony Alpha ILCA-A77 II's new autofocus sensor has more autofocus points than has any dedicated AF sensor to date, with a total of 79 points covering around 40% of the image frame. Of these, 15 points are cross-types, and the center point works at f/2.8. The new sensor is also more sensitive than before, able to work down to -2EV.
The new AF sensor is clearly the big news, but there are many other changes in the Sony A77 II. These include an improved electronic viewfinder and LCD monitor, an updated sensor that yields lower noise levels, and the latest-generation BIONZ X image processor. Sony has also made a huge increase in burst depth, switched to its current Multi Interface Shoe for external strobes and accessories, added wireless communications and tethered remote control, and gifted its new creation with uncompressed HDMI output.
Available from June 2014, the Sony A77 II will be priced at US$1,200 body-only, or US$1,800 with a 16-50mm f/2.8 constant-aperture zoom lens. Find out more in our hands-on Sony A77 II preview!