Is the Sony A9 worth buying for wildlife photography in 2021?

[@gedoxey]

I agree great shots I'm getting one too for my sports and wildlife.

[@davidmcc6666]

Mate, I bought an a9 a few weeks back. Still waiting on a lens so I haven't even looked at the menu. Can't wait to set it up. Thanks. Great photos, mate.

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@Stefan1968ful]

I use the Sony A9 I and II together with the Sony 600mm 4.0 GM for my wildlife work and this camera is really top notch. If you can't get the shot then it is purely your own fault and mistake. This camera is the best I ever used beside the Canon EOS R5 for Wildlife.

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Would love to be able to use the 600 GM!

[@EthanolEnthusiast]

Lucky, lucky man.

[@abelfernandez5648]

A día de hoy Franciscus la A9 y el 200-600 son un conjunto muy bueno y recomendable. En mi caso con este equipo llevo haciendo fotos de todo tipo de aves, vuelos, estáticos y muy contento con los resultados. Que la A1 es una bestia, totalmente de acuerdo, pero el gasto en el cuerpo, tarjetas CF expres y sobre todo algo que la mayoría de la gente no tiene en cuenta, el ordenador para trabajar con semejantes archivos. Todo suma al final. Un saludo

[@ChrisDSAC]

Great Vid we have the same set up 100% agree the a9 is still viable and more than capable in 2021-22

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Yep good setup isn’t it! Thanks for watching!

[@MaverickChristian]

I recommend waiting until it goes on sale though; on the week of this comment it had gone from $4000 to $3000! (And of course that's when I bought it.)

[@antonmuhlbock9486]

I must say just absolutely stunning photos I got an a9 very happy with it you are a great motivator thanks for your great videos

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Thanks so much!

[@olivierks6123]

Thanks for this video. Great information. Decided to pull the trigger and buy one

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Hope you enjoy!

[@christiang-berg8490]

Looking at buying a used A9 this was just the video that I was looking for! Thanks a lot! 😊

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Glad the video was of use!

[@robintully9540]

I really enjoyed watching this .

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Thanks!

[@jakesdewet3567]

For the price a good quality A9 in the used market still beats the best the other brands have on offer. To think it was released in 2017 and canon only recently came to the market with their offering and still not where the A9 is except for more mp. The menus system. After a short time of use, I find it very easy to use and in ways better than to Nikon and Canon. Talk complicated go try Olympus...Ergonomics, I have the A9 and A9ii and in some ways like the smaller grip better. But Bothe are very good and minor issues. Just still an amazing camera that beats anything that Nikon has on the market bar the higher MP's of that is important. But you take the 24 and 20 mp bodies from Nikon including the D5 and D6.

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Agree completely

[@QuickQuips]

I'm deciding between this and the a7r3 for birding. The former has great AF while the latter can help with reach via cropping. What would you pick?

[@FranciscusScheelings]

I've never used the A7T3 so can't comment on what it is like. However both of these cameras are quite old now and I'd be looking more towards something like the A7IV if you can afford it because in this model you get bird/animal eye detect which is a huge bonus.

[@edmarsh5708]

Yes

[@ernreeders1487]

Oddly, what the A9 is unreliable at is focussing on a small perched bird. It too often simply fails to lock and extends past the subject without recording a lock point in EXIF. The A7R III and IV are the same. It's a hardware problem with the small line-type PD sensors on the image sensor; they get confused.

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Have you tried changing your focus limiter on the lens?

[@ramnayak2209]

Loved your images ❤ I m looking to get used a9. Is it worth in 2024.?

[@FranciscusScheelings]

It will still take great images. The best camera is the one you can afford and the one you will take out with you.

[@neogod29]

I'm waiting to see what the A7iv will come out with since both cameras will be at a similar price.

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Yeah looking forward to that as well as a potential A9III - hopefully it will have the autofocus features of the A1 but without the video specs.

[@neogod29]

@@FranciscusScheelings I think the A9 will stay pretty much what it is. They will probably improve animal eye AF, and maybe get the tracking stickier, but the AF is already the best in the game, I think the biggest thing will be will be them putting dual processors in the camera, and add the CFE cards. And another upgraded body of course.

[@bryanstephens6007]

I too am considering a used A9. I presently shoot the A6600 and really like it but the tracking could be a lot better and the FF of the A9 will give a better view for that tracking. My only concern is the 24.2 mix. coz I crop my A6600 a lot to 50% or higher and the only way to really get around this is to get closer if possible which often isn't. So what's your take on the crop-ability of the A9

[@FranciscusScheelings]

The 24MP is about as low as I would go for wildlife and cropping but it also depends on what you do with your photos. Printing large prints can get a little tough but to be honest most people don’t actually do this and usually only display digitally so it’s far less of an issue. An 8MP image will still display well on a 4K screen. You will also get a low light advantage with increasing to FF over the crop sensor.

[@bryanstephens6007]

@@FranciscusScheelings thx. Yes ever after trying the Canon R5 with 45mpx it's convinced me that FF is the way to go

[@jezmink]

How much sharpening did you apply to images shown, just wondering does it need some with it's low pass filter.

[@FranciscusScheelings]

No sharpening at all

[@jezmink]

@@FranciscusScheelings Do you still believe it's a good buy in 2024?

[@FranciscusScheelings]

@@jezmink depends on your budget and what sort of photography you mostly do. If you can afford it I would look at some of the more modern bodies.

[@pauloclemente8892]

Thanks for yogur video,

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Thanks for watching

[@samstellastephen]

I like the A9 but all of those photos of birds not stationary posted on a branch, well any camera from 2005 could take those photos with a nice lens.

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Yes and no. Definitely there are some images there that could be taken with any camera but there are a few species there like the scarlet honeyeater and eastern spinebill that are incredibly fast moving birds that don't actually sit still on the perch at all and the speed of the A9 was invaluable in getting the shots.

[@antonmuhlbock9486]

Great video thank you I just found your chanel and your photos on instagram are the best what focus system are you using on your a9? Thank you

[@FranciscusScheelings]

I have my A9 setup so that using the back buttons I can easily switch between spot, zone or tracking depending on the subject

[@lokhincheung1344]

Hello, your photos are awsome ! Will you use apsc crop mode or 1.4 X teleconveter on A9 with 200-600 lens ?

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Hi I use a mixture of both depending on the situation. Sometimes I use the teleconverter as well as APSC if the subject is very far away. The teleconverter is not great if lightning is poor as you will get a minimum aperture of f9 at 600mm so that is a major consideration.

[@lokhincheung1344]

@@FranciscusScheelings thanks for your reply, actually I am considering to upgrade my A6100 to A9( a good condition used A9 costs HKD$15000).

[@FranciscusScheelings]

@@lokhincheung1344 go for it will be a good upgrade!

[@Ljrandomphotos]

How do you compare this to a7r3? Which is better ?

[@FranciscusScheelings]

I’ve never used the A7R3 so I can’t comment specifically but the A9 will have much better autofocus and tracking as well as faster fps and blackout free shooting.

[@uncledraw7050]

a9 focus+evf+20fps vs a7riv and a7riii reach?

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Exactly

Nice video, Like 8 and Greetings from Italy :)

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Thanks!

[@referent2009]

Отлично!

[@touchedbynature5445]

Very Helpful and informative, Many Thanks For Sharing. 🇬🇧

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@robertbohnaker9898]

Sony’s the GOAT ! For Birders.

[@FranciscusScheelings]

Sure is, especially with the A1!