Comparing the Sony A9 II and Sony A68: A Deep Dive into High-End Pro Mirrorless vs. Entry-Level DSLR

When debating between the Sony Alpha A9 Mark II and the Sony A68, one is effectively contrasting two very different classes of cameras - Sony’s flagship pro-grade mirrorless system, and an entry-level DSLR option. Both are Sony-brand cameras capable of delivering solid image quality with a 24-megapixel sensor, but they cater to distinct user bases, use cases, and professional demands.

Drawing from extensive hands-on testing experience under varied shooting conditions, this article offers an exhaustive comparison across technical specifications, ergonomics, image quality, autofocus performance, video capabilities, and other critical factors. The goal is to help enthusiasts and working professionals decide which body best suits their photographic ambitions and budgets. Let’s embark on this methodical analysis starting with the fundamental physical differences.

Physical Size, Build, and Ergonomics: The Feel of Control

Sony A9 II and A68 have markedly different dimensions and build philosophies, reflecting their positioning. The A9 II is a SLR-style mirrorless professional camera designed as a high-performance workhorse, with a magnesium alloy chassis and substantial environmental sealing. Its dimensions measure 129 x 96 x 76 mm, weighing 678 grams - relatively compact considering the professional feature set. Meanwhile, the A68 is a compact SLR-style DSLR body measuring 143 x 104 x 81 mm at 610 grams, constructed predominantly of polycarbonate, revealing its budget-oriented build.

The A9 II’s robust weather sealing marks it “dust- and moisture-resistant,” essential for outdoor, hazardous environments. In contrast, the A68 offers no official environmental sealing, making cautious handling necessary in challenging conditions. These physical differences impact the user’s confidence and durability expectations, especially for professional or travel-oriented use.

Ergonomically, the A9 II sports a deeper handgrip and more tactile buttons laid out to facilitate rapid changes during shoots, whereas the A68’s grip and controls feel less substantial but remain serviceable for casual use. Analyzing the top view control layouts:

The A9 II integrates a modern command dial system with dedicated exposure-compensation and ISO dials, plus customizable function buttons. The A68 uses a more traditional DSLR interface with fewer customizable controls and a single command dial. This limits the speed at which professional users can adjust settings on the fly.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Full Frame Meets APS-C

The Sony A9 II incorporates a full-frame 35.6 x 23.8 mm Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor, 24MP resolution, and an optical anti-aliasing filter to balance sharpness with moiré reduction. The sensor’s back-illuminated design significantly enhances light gathering, critical for low-light and high-ISO performance. The native ISO range spans 100–51,200, expandable to a stunning ISO 50–204,800, pushing sensitivity deep into professional-grade territory.

In contrast, the Sony A68 features a 23.5 x 15.6 mm APS-C CMOS sensor, also at 24MP, but utilizes an older front-illuminated design. While this sensor size facilitates greater lens reach through the 1.5x crop factor and provides acceptable resolution, it does not match the dynamic range, color depth, or low-light sensitivity of the A9 II’s full-frame sensor. Its native ISO extends to 25,600, lacking boosted options.

Image analysis from real-world shooting confirms these technical parameters. The A9 II renders greater tonal gradation and cleaner shadows, especially under dim conditions. The A68 produces still-good images but shows elevated noise at ISO 3200 and above.

Both cameras produce 14-bit RAW files, aiding post-processing flexibility. However, the A9 II’s larger sensor area (~847 mm² versus ~367 mm²) confers significant advantages in signal-to-noise ratio and overall image quality fidelity, readily observable in landscape and portrait applications.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking Performance

Sony’s continuous autofocus (AF) technologies represent a pillar for the A9 II’s professional roots. It boasts 693 phase-detection points spread densely across 93% of the sensor area, complemented by contrast detection for precision. Additionally, it supports Real-time Eye AF for both humans and animals, allowing for precise portraiture and wildlife tracking. Its responsiveness is near-instantaneous, achieving accurate acquisition and seamless subject tracking at up to 20 frames per second (fps) with full AF/AE.

The A68’s autofocus system is comparatively modest, with 79 phase-detection points and 15 cross-type points, focused primarily in the central areas. While competent for general photography, it lacks the breadth and speed of the A9 II’s AF sensor. Eye AF and animal eye detection functionality are absent. The continuous shooting maxes out at 8 fps, making it less suited for fast action or wildlife photography.

Extensive testing under variable light and subject movement scenarios shows the A9 II maintaining crisp focus lock on erratic wildlife, sports sequences, and low-light portraits. The A68 sometimes exhibits hunt behavior under challenging contrast or fast motion, requiring manual intervention more often.

Display and Viewfinder: Framing and Review Experience

The A9 II sports a 3.0-inch 1.44M-dot tilting touchscreen LCD coupled with a 3.68M-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) providing near–100% coverage and 0.78x magnification. This high-resolution EVF renders bright, accurate previews, crucial for compositions under bright conditions or fast action shooting without missing a beat. The touchscreen enables intuitive menu navigation and AF point selection.

The A68’s 2.7-inch 461k-dot tilting LCD is serviceable but less sharp and lacks touch capabilities. It incorporates a lower resolution electronic viewfinder offering 1.44M dots and 0.57x magnification. While this is common at the entry-tier level, it can hinder precise focusing or framing in demanding workflows, especially with manual focus lenses.

For prolonged shooting situations, the A9 II’s larger EVF window and superior refresh rate enhance user comfort and reduce eye fatigue. Professionals will find this especially advantageous when working in continuous burst modes or rapid AF tracking.

Burst Rates and Buffer Depth: Speed Matters for Action

The Sony A9 II excels with 20 fps continuous shooting using an electronic shutter, and a robust buffer capable of handling up to 361 compressed RAW frames before slowdown. Its mechanical shutter supports 10 fps.

In contrast, the A68 caps at 8 fps with a much smaller buffer depth, quickly reaching limits after approximately a dozen JPEG frames. For high-paced shooting like professional sports or wildlife, these distinctions markedly affect workflow and the ability to capture critical moments.

Video Capabilities: Resolutions, Features, and Audio

Sony’s focus on hybrid shooting is evident in the A9 II’s video specs - it supports 4K UHD (3840 × 2160) recording at 30p and 100 Mbps bitrate using the XAVC S codec, which offers excellent detail retention and editing flexibility. It has full-size HDMI output, microphone and headphone jacks for professional audio monitoring and input, and sensor-based 5-axis image stabilization that enhances video smoothness.

The A68 provides Full HD 1080p video (1920 × 1080) at 60i/30p/24p, recorded in AVCHD, MPEG-4, or XAVC S formats but no 4K support. It features an external mic input but lacks a headphone jack, reducing audio monitoring capabilities for videographers. Its sensor-based stabilization aids handheld shooting, though performance is limited compared to the A9 II.

For professional video producers or hybrid photographers requiring 4K UHD, the A9 II is notably better equipped. The A68 suits casual video use without challenging editing workflows.

Wireless and Connectivity: Modern Workflow Integration

Connectivity options on the A9 II align with professional demands, providing built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and USB 3.1 Type-C for fast file transfer and tethered shooting. It supports wireless FTP and remote camera control apps designed for efficient on-set workflows.

The A68 includes Eye-Fi support (admittedly a legacy solution), USB 2.0, and HDMI, but lacks modern wireless capabilities such as Bluetooth or NFC. This limits remote device communication and hinders quick image transfers, impacting versatility for mobile workflows or on-the-go sharing.

Battery Life and Storage: Powering Your Work

Battery longevity is critically important for field photographers. The Sony A9 II’s NP-FZ100 battery yields approximately 690 shots per charge, supported by dual SD card slots compatible with UHS-II speeds for demanding write throughput.

The Sony A68 uses the older NP-FM500H battery, delivering around 510 shots per charge, with only a single memory slot that supports SD and Memory Stick Pro Duo cards. Dual slots are an industry professional standard for backup and overflow storage; their absence on the A68 represents a notable workflow limitation.

Price-to-Performance: Aligning Costs with Capability

The Sony A9 II commands a professional-level price of approximately $4,500 USD, reflecting its cutting-edge technology, advanced features, and durable build. By contrast, the A68’s entry-level DSLR price tag around $580 USD appeals to budget-conscious beginners or enthusiasts upgrading from compact cameras.

When considering value, the A9 II justifies its cost for professional applications - sports, wildlife, dynamic portraits, and video-heavy workflows. The A68 delivers adequate performance for casual photography, travel, and learning phases.

Specialized Genre Considerations: Which Excels Where?

Portrait Photography:
The A9 II’s full-frame sensor and advanced real-time eye/animal AF provide superior skin tone rendition, precise eye focus, and natural bokeh effects due to wider aperture lens compatibility. The A68, with smaller APS-C sensor and limited AF modes, still produces respectable portraits but less refinement in background separation.

Landscape Photography:
Wide dynamic range, higher resolution, and robust sealing favor the A9 II outdoors. Its sensor captures more shadow detail and superior highlight roll-off. The A68 can still deliver pleasing landscapes but is more limited under high contrast lighting and harsh weather conditions.

Wildlife and Sports Photography:
The A9 II’s autofocus and burst capabilities dominate, offering near-flawless tracking and up to 20 fps frame rate for fast-moving subjects. The A68 lags significantly with slower burst and limited AF points and is better suited to static subjects.

Street and Travel Photography:
The A68’s light weight and low cost appeal here, but the A9 II’s compact mirrorless body with fast lens selection and silent shooting modes facilitate discretion and versatility in urban settings.

Macro Photography:
Both cameras rely heavily on lenses, but the A9 II’s sensor stabilization and higher resolution benefit precise close-focus work. The A68 remains competent but less sophisticated for critical macro autofocus.

Night and Astrophotography:
A9 II’s elevated ISO range, clean low-noise performance, and long exposure control support stellar low-light and astro imagery. The A68 faces challenges with noise starting at moderate ISO.

Video Production:
The A9 II’s 4K, headphone jack, and advanced codecs make it a better tool for hybrid shooters and professionals. The A68’s Full HD options suffice for casual use.

Sample Image Comparison: Real-World Output

Sony A9 II front Sony A9 II screen back Sony A68 front Sony A68 screen back

Side-by-side comparisons from shooting sessions in varied lighting conditions emphasize the A9 II’s superior detail retention, dynamic range, and noise control, especially at elevated ISO. The A68 produces sharper images in good light but exhibits softness and noise creeping in low-light scenarios.

Overall Performance Ratings and Final Verdict

When summarizing across tested parameters including resolution, AF efficiency, burst shooting, video, ergonomics, and connectivity, the A9 II ranks near the top of professional-grade mirrorless cameras. The A68 holds steady within mid-entry DSLR ratings, respectable but overshadowed in every technical metric.

Conclusion: Matching Cameras to Needs and Budgets

Choose the Sony A9 II if you:

• Are a professional or enthusiast prioritizing high-speed action, superior image quality, and 4K video.
• Require robust build quality and weather sealing for shooting in varied environments.
• Need advanced autofocus features, including eye and animal detection, for portraits or wildlife.
• Desire comprehensive connectivity options for efficient workflows.
• Can invest significantly upfront for a camera that sustains professional reliability.

Opt for the Sony A68 if you:

• Are an entry-level photographer or hobbyist seeking a budget-friendly DSLR with solid image quality.
• Want a camera suitable for general-purpose shooting, travel, and casual use.
• Can accept limitations in autofocus speed and video capabilities.
• Prefer an optical viewfinder-like experience without the higher cost of full-frame mirrorless.
• Are beginning your photographic journey and want a camera with lens compatibility across Sony/Minolta Alpha mounts.

Additional Image Reference on Build and Interface Nuances

For a detailed look at control systems, LCD interface, and viewfinder characteristics discussed above, refer to:

In summary, the Sony A9 II and A68 stand at opposite ends of the photographic spectrum. The A9 II is a technologically advanced hybrid powerhouse aimed squarely at professionals who demand excellence and versatility. The A68 is a capable, affordable introduction to DSLR photography but constrained in speed, durability, and cutting-edge features. Investing time understanding workflow implications and real-world results, as presented here, aids in selecting the optimal tool aligned to your photographic vision and budget.