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Sony A77 MkII

Sony A77 MkII Review – Sony is one of the few companies who have been dedicating a lot of resources into creating some of the most compelling cameras in modern history. The A77 MkII is the company’s latest effort, and we’re about to take a look at what makes it a great image shooter. The A77 MkII comes with a number of improvements, which include a new BIONZ X imaging processor, a 24-megapixel CMOS sensor which is capable of capturing images in lighting conditions as low as -2EV.

Sony A77 MkII

The biggest improvement, however comes in the form of its Autofocus sensor. The main reason it is so impressive is due to the fact that it has 79 autofocus points, and 15 cross-type autofocus points which covers much of the framed area. Its tracking is also fast enough that it allows the camera to shoot at 12 frames a second in RAW. Sony’s use of magnesium alloy in the construction of the A77 MKII’s chassis also shows, as it has a nice hefty feel to it in our opinion. The layout of the buttons on the A77 may look a bit much at first, but we certainly appreciate the dedicated buttons for ISO, white balance and Manual/ Autofocus modes on the body itself. The A77 MkII’s 1.23M colour LCD is also great because of the triple-hinged articulation mechanism that allows users to shoot from virtually any angle comfortably.

As far as image quality is concerned, the Sony A77 MkII is very impressive in both well-lit and under-lit conditions. Even as we shot photos at ISO 3,200 and ISO 6,400, there is hardly any noise, unless you zoom in really-really deep, although beyond this point, loss of detail is quite apparent. One nitpick we do have however is the fact that the shutter button is a bit too soft for our liking. The half-press for autofocusing felt more like a 1/3 press, and anything beyond that will set off the shutter.

That being said, what surprised us most was the lens that the A77 MkII came with. While most DSLRs typically have to be content with being paired with a 16-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, you have the option to pair this Sony shooter with a 16-50mm f/2.8 SSM constant aperture lens, something that’s almost unheard of. This lens allows you to take a wide variety of shots, from portraiture to macros as well as street photography. The Sony A77 MkII is a great camera to use by both budding enthusiasts and those who are aiming to become pro photographers. Its autofocus is easy to use, and is wickedly fast, even when compared to some of the best cameras out there.