Sony A9 in 2024?? Worth buying? | Wedding Photography | Sony

Let's take a look at the somewhat forgotten Sony A9 and is it still worth it or even worth owning in 2024. Let's dive in to some image examples and my thoughts on this brilliant camera.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
KZbin FILES / RAWS / DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT
files.raysawyer.co.uk
IMAGEN AI EDITING
imagen-ai.com/?ref_id=13942243
SPROUT STUDIO
www.TrySproutStudio.com/raysa...
Website:
www.raysawyer.co.uk
Instagram:
/ raysawyerphoto
Music in my videos:
Artlist - artlist.io/referral/3973655/Ray
Epidemic Sound - www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
GEAR I USE
Sony A7IV Camera Body x2
Sony 35mm 1.4 GM Lens
Sony 85mm 1.4 GM Lens
Sony 256GB SDXC SD Card
Sony 128GB SDXC SD Card
Manfrotto 190 Go Tripod
Manfrotto 804RC2 Mark II 3-Way Head
DJI Mavic Mini 4
DJI Osmo Action and Action 3
Godox V1 Speedlights
Leather Dual Camera Harness
Lowepro Pro Roller X300
Apple MacBook M1 Pro 14"
Dell 27" Monitor
DROBO HDD 5 Bay
WD Red 6TB NAS 3.5 Inch Internal Hard Drives
Apple iPad Pro XDR
Apple Pencil 2nd Gen
Apple Smart Keyboard
Apple Watch

[@martinruiz398]

I love my A9, I just picked it up last year for $1,400. The electronic shutter is killer, no blackout, no moving parts, pure silence, & great autofocus.

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Yeah they are class. Loved mine.

[@spaminacan6039]

I just bought an a9 with a mere 28k on the actual shutter and paired it with the 70-200mm II lens. Holy cow was that a killer investment. I have an a7r II that's been my main since going to it from the a6300, but I needed some speed for shooting my grandson's sporting events and other hobbies. I'm blown away by how capable that beast is, and the focus system over the r2 is night and day. Now I've got to jump to an r4 I think and I'll have an amazing setup. The A9 is absolutely fantastic today for people shooting actual pix and not needing hybrid.

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

It’s awesome. Was so far ahead of its time.

[@Mattbowcock]

a9 was ahead of its time and still relevant. One of the best options for “cheaply” getting into sports photography today. Used in the $1200 range, not sure you could find a better Sony option.

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Ahmen to that mate. If I wasn’t doing film now too I’d never have got rid of my A9 bodies. They are ace

[@jasonmontoyaphoto]

Underrated camera that still holds up 7 years later. I’m finding myself a little limited by the video capabilities but for pure photography it’s amazing.

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Yeah same Jason. Hence the move. Need better video. If I was just sticking with photo only I’d use the A9 for many more years to come.

[@joemuchmoore]

Thanks for making this video in 2024! I've been on the fence about getting the a9 or the a92. After seeing this, I'm convinced the a9 will be perfect for me. The extra money I was willing to spend on a body will go to a 200-600! Subscribed.

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Glad I could help! Yeah the original A9 is plenty. I do miss mine but the a74 is nice and has lots of benefits. Miss silent shooting but at the same time I do like the shutter noise of the a74

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Also thanks for subscribing

[@abhinkv88]

Got mine for 1200$ with a shutter count of 800. Super clean one, no scratch or scuff marks on the body at all.

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Winner winner

[@CVNTGETENOUGH]

May I ask, did you buy it on eBay, locally (Facebook/OfferUp), or camera shop (probably not likely 😅)?

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

@@CVNTGETENOUGH if i buy used, i use mpb.com

[@CVNTGETENOUGH]

@@RaySawyerPhoto whoa, I never heard of that. Thank you for sharing :D

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

@@CVNTGETENOUGH no bother.

[@CapturedByKen]

I've won some awards from the National Wildlife Federation and those inages were with the A9 , awesome body ...especially if you're mainly focused on still images Although, i have made a couple of stop-motion "videos" because the fps is so fast

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Ah well done 👍

[@andrewbueno3935]

I got mine recently for $800 and it’s well worth it

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Bargain

[@bikuda]

Era el video que estaba buscando, estaba a punto por ir por una D5, usada pero ahora voy a ir por la A9, muchas gracias

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Your welcome

[@kennyT73]

Came for the A9 stayed for the accent and the shirt👍

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Two brilliant reasons haha

[@carlj1964]

Have to agree Ray. If I was to look back at my A7II from 2016 if I recall, I would say the images from it are as good as those from the A7iii. Again, the biggest difference is how I shoot and edit now compared to then. And can't wait to see your work with the A7iv!

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Cheers Carl. I’ll do a video when I get them and once I’ve used at a few weddings.

[@jasonmarkharris]

I had one arrive yesterday, have a lens coming today to test out.. currently shooting Fuji

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

I’ve always wanted to shoot a wedding on Fuji. I’ll have to get my hands on one for an engagement shoot or something. Experiment with shooting jpeg only recipes. Would be interesting

[@themarksmanABP]

I started with the A9 then added the A7iv for the hybrid option along with the flip out screen. I'm now waiting on sony to drop an fx3 mkii and will decide between that and the A9iii when the tine comes then. I haven't touched the A9 since shooting the A7iv but I'll never get rid of it. Better built than the A7iv with more heft to it. If you are after a pure photography scenario camera the A9 is absolutely solid. It never lets you down. Now I'm venturing into video lately, an A9iii with solid video specs appeals massively. It would replace my A7iv as my main camera and it would be my B cam for extra video angles. Or... the missus would nick it for herself to learn with lol

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

absolutely. if money wasnt a obstacle I would just buy 2 Sony A9III bodies - I'd need to sell a kidney though haha

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

I'll give it a couple years for the price to drop, but in that time the global shutter tech will trickle down to other cameras. exciting times.

[@simonhickie7589]

Thanks for an Interesting review. I'm a hobbyist shooting family, landscapes, street/documentary, architecture and cricket. I currently drive a pair of Olympus EM1 mk2 bodies with 12-40, 40-150 f2.8 pro lenses and a Panasonic 100-300mm for sport. I shoot in RAW and post process in Capture One Pro. I'm considering the A9 for what I hope is superior AF and lower noise up to ISO 8,000. The low rolling shutter appeals, not that it's been an issue on the EM1ii. I have shot full frame in the past (Nikon D750). As my mobility is limited these days, An A9 with something like the Tamron 28-200mm plus nifty fifty f1.8 would meet most needs with possibly a Sony 100-400mm for sport. Does this make sense to you?

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

A9 will handle all that no problem. I shoot all the time at 12,800 iso even higher sometimes. The AF is awesome.

[@CVNTGETENOUGH]

I need a second body to pair with my a7iii that I bought new and now I'm considering selling it to buy 2 A9's

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Both great

[@akaseahorse]

Hello thank you very much for your video it was very helpful and I feel it is a very honest opinion and I appreciate it very much I will definitely buy this camera first of all I have 1 question regarding the video is there a possibility to import some logarithm profile? Or professional or put custom parameters in video?

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

The a9 has no video profiles. Just standard rec709

[@akaseahorse]

@@RaySawyerPhoto How sad that they wasted this camera, it would have been one of the best hybrid cameras of the time

[@casperionx]

I used to have a sony a7iii and by god I miss the autofocus (I went for a bit with out a camera, and now back to a simple and small olympus om-10mkii w/ 25mm f1.8 - great little camera, but by god going from sony to this is like going back to the stone age) Im contemplating nabbing a used A9 simply because its next level. But may hold off and see if I can pick up a deal on a A9III (though the global shutter is curious)

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Ah brill enjoy whatever you purchase. A9III is nuts

[@DAVE_WHITE]

A9 is a great buy now under 2K used..

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Yeah great price. It was £4500 when released lol

[@Choppersliveforever]

I just got one with a mechanical shutter count of 93, for $1200 and not a single scratch on it... super stoked. Phenomenal camera.

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

@@Choppersliveforever absolute bargain. Nice one

[@mikester1963]

would 160k shutter count be to much for A9 at 1900$ Canada

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Probably not. I used mine almost entirely on electronic shutter. Just have a look on google for average life span of the shutter. Back on DSLR 300,000 would have been high so life in that A9 especially if using electronic shutter. Depends on how much mechanical shutter you’re gonna use. Just do some research on it.

[@user-jq1ll3hm8x]

You are looking at it from the POV of experienced skilled pro. A skilled pro can get great shots with a full manual camera, digital or film. Skill actually makes up for lesser gear. The other is true too, many times a feature is good enough to lean on as a novice. It doesn't mean ignore skill, it doesn't have to be one or the other. I don't think skill or gear should be ignored, they both work to the same goal; they allow us to take photos we wouldn't otherwise have gotten.

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Thanks for the comment.

[@alebella02]

How would you spend 1700-2000€ if you wanted a camera for starting to get serious about both photos and videos (including 1 or 2 basic lenses)? Currently I'm not sure between the Sony a7 iii (body 1000-1200€ used) and the Sony a6700 (body 1350 - 1400€ used). The a6700 is tempting despite being an aps-c, because of 4k 120 and all the newest AI-AF features; on the other end, the a7 iii is one of the few full-frames I can afford, considering the price of full-frame lenses. Do you think that beginning with a full-frame is more important than beginning with an high-end aps-c? Like if you want to do some photos and videos in your trips or in events? Thank you if you read this.

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

It’s always your decision. You will know in your gut what you want to go with. Full frame is great but not big deal starting on aps-c cameras. Just have to look at Fuji shooters. Lovely photos and video out of them. John branch for example shoots Fuji and they are all crop sensor. Do what’s best for your budget. Once you’re good at the craft. The gear matters less and less.

[@williamvesterberg1107]

im using the a7riii is the a9 better in autofocus department? What is the sensor readout?

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Honestly much of a muchness. It’s a stacked sensor so the readout is fast hence the no banding etc. a9 is a sports camera so can handle pretty much anything. If you have the rIII are you doing landscape or something for the resolution?

[@williamvesterberg1107]

@@RaySawyerPhoto i sometimes crop for wildlife but other than that no

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

A9 is intended for fast moving objects such as cars. Sports etc so wildlife would be no bother. If it ain’t broke why fix it. If your r3 is doing great stick with it. Be nice for the cropping like you said.

[@nelsonZeledon]

What do you think about buying one for 1100$ usd at 70k shutter ?? Good condition otherwise ?

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Not sure what a shutters lifespan is these days but when I had my A9 I used it predominantly in electronic shutter so shutter count was pointless. 1100 is probably a pretty good buy

[@nelsonZeledon]

@@RaySawyerPhoto thanks man. I’m going to get this next week. Appreciate the content.

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Thanks man

[@vinhnguyenhuu5653]

I bought Sony A9 at a price of $1080 at 47k shots. Is it too expensive?

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

That’s less than a £1000 here so pretty good buy I would say. Guess it depends on how long it will last you.

[@talesin13]

Traded my a7iv for an a9. A9 better camera.......if video is not your thing. Also some a7iv's have focusing issues.

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Both my A7IV have been great so far. Love them. I find it works exactly like the A9 in terms of focus etc. works brilliant 🤩

[@martinjongeneelen1963]

A9 with 70-200 and A7C with 24-70 and you can handle almost everything…

[@RaySawyerPhoto]

Nice