It is not everyday that I get to attend a product launch in a gym. But on June 20, 2017, at the posh Kerry Sports at the Bonifacio Global City, Sony Philippines launched their latest mirrorless camera: the Sony Alpha 9.
The reason for the gym setting, as one of the Sony executive present intimated, was to highlight the new camera’s prowess in capturing athletes in their natural environ - in sporting events. In such a setting, speed is critical because things can happen really, really fast. And the sports photographer should be ready to capture such moments. With its fast focusing speed, plenty of autofocus points, and high buffer rate whether one shoots in RAW or JPEG make the Alpha 9 a very capable sports camera. And the fact that it is also weather-sealed means even outdoor sports can be covered by this.
A Sony representative demonstrated the prowess of the camera by shooting two boxers that were sparring at the event. Media people were able to get some hands-on time with demo units and the Alpha 9 surely impressed. It not only focuses on what I wanted to shoot quickly but, once it’s locked, even if something crosses in front of the subject, the Alpha 9 still retains what it was focused on. Sadly, I don’t have sample photos to show you since we were not provided SD cards that we can take home. Instead, all the photos that appeared here were taken with my iPhone 7.
(Note to camera brands: why not give media people a small SD card, say 512MB, so that we can take home sample photos of your cameras instead of us bloggers just saying that your cameras can do such-and-such? Thanks.)
Ergonomics-wise, the Alpha 9 felt good in the hand. It felt as if all the knobs and buttons are in the right place and within one’s reach. And it felt rigid and solid that I felt that the camera can take a beating.
The Sony Alpha 9 will be available in the Philippines at Sony Centers and authorized distributors starting on July 1, 2017. It will retail for 239,999 pesos.
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