In a recent post on SLRLounge, Matthew Saville writes that the Sony α9 is the most significant milestone of the past decade, specifically for wedding photographers. From autofocus and real-time tracking, to silent shutter and viewfinder framerate, read more on why this camera has changed the way he does wedding photography:
“The Sony α9, plain and simple, has made my job as a wedding photographer much easier and more hassle-free, while also allowing me to push my creativity in challenging shooting conditions." –Matthew Saville, SLRLounge
Autofocus
“Simply put, when I first took the α9 to a wedding, I was astonished at how good it was on a reception dance floor. No matter how dark it got, the dang thing refused to miss focus. When conditions got too dark for an f/2.8 GM zoom, an f/1.4 GM prime offered even better low-light accuracy.”
Real-Time Tracking
“Other mirrorless cameras do have impressive face/eye autofocus, however, Sony’s ability to still manually control your AF point, and/or quickly switch to Real-Time tracking, is revolutionary. On DSLRs, the focus points are clumped in the center of the frame, and usually, the outermost AF points aren’t even very reliable, either.”
“With the α9, hybrid AF points (both phase-detect and contrast-detect) are literally all over the viewfinder, which allows me to lock onto subjects in very active, dynamic conditions and reliably shoot wide-open at f/2.8 or f/1.4 without worrying about the subject jumping outside the main AF point cluster.”
Battery Life
“With Sony’s NP-FZ100 battery, the status quo changed. Not only did the battery provide a staggering increase in capacity, but the cameras themselves are better at power consumption.”
“I can get through an entire ‘normal’ wedding with one Sony “Z” battery, or two if I have to photograph something ultra-long like a Hindu wedding.”
What About The α9 II?
“Simply put, the original α9 is a bigger milestone. The Sony α9 II is a refinement of that milestone, and indeed it’s a better camera in every way. However, we’re not here to declare an absolute best camera for the job. We’re here to discuss which cameras have had the most impact, and have actually changed the way we shoot.”
Conclusion
“The Sony α9, plain and simple, has made my job as a wedding photographer much easier and more hassle-free, while also allowing me to push my creativity in challenging shooting conditions. That’s the honest truth. I miss fewer moments in “normal” conditions, and I nail far more shots in “impossible” light.”
See the full post and sample photos at SLRLounge.com.
