The Sony A77 II is a new interchangeable lens camera that uses Translucent Mirror Technology to offer high-speed shooting and a solidly built body. Also the Sony Alpha A77 Mark II DSLT camera is an update to the A77 launched in 2011.
It may look almost identical to the old A77, but the latest Mark II version has a lot of new tricks up its sleeve that take Sony's prosumer interchangeable lens camera in a more action oriented direction that will particularly appeal to sports and wildlife photographers.
The A77 II features a new 79 point phase detection AF system with 15 cross points, which Sony claims features the world's highest phase detection AF point count. It also incorporates 12fps shooting for up to 60 shots, and an expanded ISO range of 50-51200, along with built in Wi-Fi and NFC (though sadly no longer GPS). It has a 24.3 megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor, and a 3-way tiltable LCD screen, an XGA OLED electronic viewfinder with 2359k dot resolution (is still one of the best EVFs that I've had the pleasure of using), double control dials, top-mounted LCD data display, Sweep Panoramas, Dynamic Range Optimizer and HDR.
The A77 II features the same tough magnesium alloy body as the A77, with dust and moisture resistant seals, with double-layered protection around all opening including media slot and terminals.
The good ergonomics and design makes the Sony Alpha A77 II an enjoyable camera to use.
The new 79 point phase-detection AF system gives an approximately 2x wider coverage area than the older A77, and is a big increase over the 19 focus points on the A77, and features 15 cross points within the central area of the sensor. There is a central, dedicated f/2.8 AF point in the centre of the sensor, and the camera can focus down to -2EV.
The Sony Alpha 77 II is a superb action shooter.
The 24.3 megapixel Exmor APS-C CMOS sensor features the same gapless on-clip lens structure as used in the Sony Alpha A7R and A6000, giving improved sensitivity, and an expanded ISO range of ISO50 to ISO51200.
There is a new Eye AF function that focuses on the subject's eyes when photographing people, great for portrait work, and there is also AF Range Control letting you limit the AF to a specified range, which can be useful if you know your subject is at a certain distance.
The A77 II delivers impressive image quality with very good colour and detailed images.Focus tracking is also good.