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Sony just announced the new Sony a77II which has the world’s fastest continuous shooting speed in its class — up to 12 frames per second at full resolution. Equipped with a 79-point AF sensor and advanced auto focus tracking technology, you never have to miss a moment. The a77II outperforms even more expensive rivals with continuous auto focus and auto exposure when shooting at 12fps at full 24.3MP resolution, and can capture up to 60 frames in a single burst when in JPEG fine setting.

The a77II camera is equipped with a newly-developed phase detection auto focus system, featuring wide coverage 79 AF points. Fifteen of the AF points are cross-type, and placed in the most-frequently-used central area of the sensor. This helps the a77II achieve accurate focusing even with horizontally striped subjects, which line-type AF points typically find challenging. The new AF system also performs well in low-light conditions — as low as EV -2 (ISO 100), which is similar to a moonlit night under which objects are difficult to see even with the naked eye. The new AF algorithm instantly recognizes and reliably tracks the desired subject.

Product Highlights

• 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor
• BIONZ X Image Processor
• Gapless On-Chip Lens Design
• Translucent Mirror Technology
• 3.0″ 1,228k-Dot 3-Way Tilting LCD Screen
• 0.5″ 2,359k-Dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder
• Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
• 79-Point Phase-Detection AF System
• ISO 25600 and Shooting Up to 12 fps
• Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity

Other Camera Features

• SteadyShot INSIDE sensor-shift type image stabilization helps to minimize the appearance of camera shake with any mounted lens when recording still images, with the results visible in both the EVF and on the rear LCD monitor. When recording video, electronic image stabilization is available to reduce camera shake.
• An advanced 1200-zone evaluative exposure metering sensor delivers consistent and accurate results using multi-segment, center-weighted, or spot metering modes.
• Auto Object Framing is an intelligent shooting mode that can automatically analyze the scene and subjects within it and determine an aesthetically-pleasing composition. The subsequent imagery will be cropped according to subject matter, resulting in a well-balanced composition that utilizes Face Detection and Tracking Focus to ensure high image quality and sharpness.
• Clear Image Zoom can be used to magnify the center of scenes by 2x to effectively extend the reach of any focal length lens. This digital zoom technology uses an intelligent interpolation process to minimize the amount of image degradation in order to produce realistic, high-quality images.
• Picture Effect modes allow you to apply creative settings and emphasize certain facets of individual images for a richer, more aesthetic picture quality. Posterization (Color/B&W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R/G/B/Y), High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera, Soft High-Key, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-Tone Monochrome, Miniature, Watercolor, and Illustration modes are available.
• Multi Frame NR records consecutive images at a reduced ISO sensitivity and then composites them into a single image to realize higher effective sensitivity with minimal image noise. Standard image compositing is comprised of four exposures and High image compositing utilizes 12 distinct exposures.
• Creative Style settings provide control over how the camera processes images based on six different predetermined styles: Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, and B&W. Within these settings, contrast, saturation, and sharpness can also be adjusted depending on personal preference.
• Auto HDR automatically records three sequential frames of an image and composites them into a single frame to realize greater shadow and highlight detail with an extended range of mid-tones.
• Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO) works to improve images featuring backlit subjects or scenes with high contrast where details can be lost in the shadows or highlights. This mode can be controlled automatically or fine-tuned using five settings.
• In-camera creation of 4K slide shows is possible for rich playback to ultra high definition televisions. An HDMI port is incorporated into the camera’s design, too, to enable direct connection to HDTVs.

For more details, visit the Sony Press Room here.

The Sony α77 II is now available for pre-order and ships in June 2014 in a kit with a 16-50mm F2.8 lens for $1800, and will also be found body-only for $1200.