Sony Alpha SLT-A99V User manual

DI12023
a99 |full-frame interchangeable lens camera
the power of full-frame

Sony’s full-frame interchangeable lens camera, the a99.
amaze yourself

The new DSC-RX1 is the world’s
first fixed lens 35mm full-frame
digital camera which offers
an uncompromising design
that focuses on intuitive,
user-friendly operation. The
camera fits in the palm of
a hand and allows users to
carry it nearly everywhere
to capture any shooting
opportunity that arises.
DSC-RX1
•
Full Frame 24 megapixel resolution
with 14-bit RAW output
•
Bright F2.0 Carl Zeiss®Sonnar T*
lens with macro capability
• World’s first fixed lens 35mm
digital camera
• Full HD 24p video with manual
control and audio input
welcome to the family
Introducing Sony’s full-frame sensor lineup.
With the introduction of the SLT-A99V, DSC-RX1 and NEX-VG900, Sony brings some of the most innovative and revolutionary
technologies to the table. Dual Phase Detection AF systems for lightning fast Tracking AF in stills and video, impeccable
image quality from one of the world’s first 35mm sensors to give you 1080/60p video and XLR adapters for the best in audio
recording are just a few of features that can be found in the new family of full-frame cameras from Sony.
The new Sony NEX-VG900
interchangeable lens Handycam®
camcorder features a 24.3 MP
full-frame 35mm sensor for high-
quality HDvideo witha truly
professionallook. Shootvideo in
Full HD 24p, 60p or 60i, and take
advantageofsuperb low-light
performance.
• World’s first 24.3 MP Exmor™full-frame
HD CMOS Sensor (As of September 11,
2012)
• Uncompressed Full 1080 HDMI®output
in 24p/60p/60i
• Includes LA-EA3 lens adaptor for full-
frame A-mount lens compatibility
• High contrast XGA OLED Tru-finder™
EVF with eye sensor
NEX-VG900
welcometothe family
Introducing Sony’s full-frame sensor lineup.
With the introduction of the a99, DSC-RX1 and NEX-VG900, Sony brings some of the most innovative and revolutionary
technologies to the table. Dual Phase Detection AF systems for lightning fast Tracking AF in stills and video, impeccable
image quality from one of the world’s first 35mm sensors to give you 1080/60p video and XLR adapters for the best in audio
recording are just a few of features that can be found in the new family of full-frame cameras from Sony.

The new Sony NEX-VG900
interchangeable lens Handycam®
camcorder features a 24.3 MP
full-frame 35mm sensor for high-
quality HDvideo witha truly
professionallook. Shootvideo in
Full HD 24p, 60p or 60i, and take
advantageofsuperb low-light
performance.
NEX-VG900
welcometothe family
Introducing Sony’s full-frame sensor lineup.
With the introduction of the a99, DSC-RX1 and NEX-VG900, Sony brings some of the most innovative and revolutionary
technologies to the table. Dual Phase Detection AF systems for lightning fast Tracking AF in stills and video, impeccable
image quality from one of the world’s first 35mm sensors to give you 1080/60p video and XLR adapters for the best in audio
recording are just a few of features that can be found in the new family of full-frame cameras from Sony.

By fully leveraging the potential of
Translucent Mirror Technology, the
35mm full-frame format and Sony's
professional broadcasting technology,
it takes a major leap forward in
quality, performance and handling
ease. Meet the future of Sony a .
16 Push the Envelope
Image Quality
20 Think Fast
Speed and Response
24 Sharpen your Focus
Translucent Mirror Technology
26 Hone your Vision
Viewfinder
30 Take Control
Intuitive Operation
32 Get Tough
Build Quality
34 Get into Motion
Video Capabilities
38 Unleash your Creativity
Creative Modes
40 Get to Know the A99
Product Tour
44 Extend your Point of View
Lens System
46 Expand your Horizons
Accessories
49 System at a Glance
Accessories
50 Explore the Possibilities
Software
51 Specifications
SLT-A99V
05

“Standing on the edge of this waterfall in
Iceland, I knew I wanted to capture this
scene as a panorama. I love having
the ability to shoot dramatic imagery
with one press of a button.”
16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM (SAL1635Z), 1/160 sec., F6.3, ISO 100

the calling
“This assignment of a lifetime made
me stop and think about the way
photography has shaped my life. It
made me appreciate how powerful
photography is.”
Sony took a major leap forward with the introduction of the new flagship
Alpha a99 interchangeable lens camera. To demonstrate the revolutionary
capabilities of the a99, Sony sent world-class photographer David McLain on
the “Assignment of a Lifetime”. David took the a99 on a trip around the world
that resulted in some of the most stunning footage and still photographs he has
ever captured. The assignment took David to Iceland, Vietnam, Spain, Paris,
Detroit and Death Valley. Each location presenting unique challenges and
opportunities that made the most of the a99’s capabilities.
Go online to see David’s short film “The Calling.”
David McLain, Sony Artisan of Imagery
09

“I love the way images, light,
and color are so fleeting.”
“I love shooting ice and icebergs. When we got to this glacier in Iceland, the light
was cold and the water was still, which was perfect for the environment. I shot at
a low angle to get the maximum reflection on the water and chose to put a little
foreground of the shore in the frame to balance out the background. A few minutes
later the wind picked up, the water started to ripple, and the picture was gone. I
love the way images, light, and color are so fleeting. It’s one of the many things that
makes photography never get old.”
11
35mm F1.4 G (SAL35F14G), 1/160 sec., F2.0, ISO 100

“As I started looking around I saw this
statue of Buddha lit by neon lights that
seemed more suited to the window of
a bar than a temple.”
“We went to a Buddhist temple in Vietnam expecting to see weathered monks praying
in dramatic shafts of light. When we got there, all the monks were gone, and the
temple was lit with fluorescent light. That’s the way it goes sometimes and you always
need to make the best of it. As I started looking around I saw this statue of Buddha lit
by neon lights that seemed more suited to the window of a bar than a temple. I really
liked this contradiction of objects and light. It’s important to have expectations but
also to understand they may not always be met and to be able to change course or
mindsets quickly in the field. It’s a very Buddhist approach....”
13
135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z), 1/80 sec., F1.8, ISO 800

“I was amazed afterward how much
latitude the final frame had, and how the
detail on the backside of the fisherman
was maintained despite the fact we were
shooting into the sun.”
“We got up early one morning to shoot a fisherman on the Mekong Delta. Like most
people who make a living from the land or sea he was very capable and skilled at
his craft. I chose to shoot into the sun and from a low angle so the net and fisherman
would stand out agains the sky. I was amazed afterward how much latitude the final
frame had, and how the detail on the backside of the fisherman was maintained
despite the fact we were shooting into the sun. Like a lot of scenes, I doubled this up
on 60p (slow motion)video and the same scenario made it into the video we created
from the shoot as well.”
15
16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM (SAL1635Z ), 1/200 sec., F4.0, ISO 250

push the envelope
Gorgeous full-frame sensor image quality.
David found the perfect travel companion in the a99 because of the camera’s ability to perform in
the real world. In low light, contrary light, fog, rain, golden light, snow, overcast light, all conditions were
conquered by the a99.
“We were hanging out with a goat herder in his barn early one morning in Southern Spain. There is a lot
less light on his face than it looks like in this image. I opened all the way up, focused on his eyes, and made
this portrait. Its important to always be on the lookout for light... its amazing all the places you can find it.”
“I’m in love with my Zeiss
135mm F1.8 and shoot
people with it all the time
wide open. This lens along
with the a99’s full-frame
sensor makes for some
amazing image quality.”
16

24.3 megapixel 35mm full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor
The new 24.3 megapixel 35mm full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor delivers
beautiful, finely detailed images from corner to corner with a wide
dynamic range and low noise. Thanks to innovations that only Sony—one
of the world’s leading image sensor developers—could achieve, the sensor
is 1.5x more sensitive and 2x more effective at eliminating random noise
than the acclaimed a900. This wide and high ISO sensitivity combines with
extremely low noise to make the a99 a brilliant performer in dim lighting.
Photographers and cinematographers will also welcome the gorgeous
bokeh and full compatibility with full-frame wide-angle lenses.
Light concentration technology
Sony compressed the height of circuitry within the image sensor via newly developed
proprietary processing technology to dramatically increase the amount of light
collected by each pixel. This vastly improved light-gathering efficiency results in
significantly higher sensor sensitivity, much lower noise, an impressive signal-to-noise
ratio and outstanding image quality in virtually all shooting conditions.
Photo diode substrate
Circuit and wiring
Expanded receptor
surface
Photo diode expansion
technology
By taking full advantage of optimized
image sensor circuitry, Sony significantly
increased the size of the photo diode
at every pixel. These larger photo diode
dimensions more than doubled the
sensor’s dynamic range in comparison
with the a900—a major breakthrough
in performance that delivers smoother,
richer image gradation. The larger
dimensions also improved the signal-
to-noise ratio by further increasing
sensitivity and lowering noise.
APS-C
Full-frame
color filter
On-chip lens
Thinner wiring layer
Cutting-edge design
Conventional design
Photo diode substrate Photo diode substrate

On-chip column A/D conversion with dual NR
Thousands of parallel analog/digital converters in the sensor convert light to
digital signals with utmost precision and speed. Before and after conversion, the
sensor cancels noise to ensure exceptionally clean 14-bit signal output at all ISO
settings. By performing analog/digital conversion and dual noise reduction on
the chip itself before image processing, the a99 produces images of exceptional
quality and clarity.
Multi-segment optical low-pass filter
Unlike conventional optical low-pass filters that degrade image
resolution when suppressing moiré, Sony’s new multi-segment
optical low-pass filter effectively maintains high-resolution detail.
This achievement was made possible by proprietary multi-segment
technology from Sony’s professional broadcasting equipment that
subtly controls the distribution of image points.
18
push the envelope
Image sensor
Conventional OLPF
Conventional system
Image sensor
Multi-segment OLPF
Newly developed system

135mm F1.8 ZA (SAL135F18Z), 1/250 sec., F1.8, ISO 500

think fast
Engineered for speed and response.
David was able to capture crisp, sharp, perfectly-focused photographs as he globe trotted with the a99.
The Dual Phase Detect AF system, a world first* among interchangeable lens cameras, allowed him to
perfectly capture each decisive moment with tack-sharp precision.
“Every pro demands speed and responsiveness from their camera and the a99 over-delivers on both
fronts. This camera has an amazing amount of processing power which means quicker focus in low light
and buffering that rarely kicks in while shooting still photographs.”
“The a99 focuses fast,
processes images fast, and
allows me to shoot in the
widest possible range of
light. These are the qualities
in a camera that all
photographers value.”
20