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Sony A99 II vs YI M1

Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83
Sony Alpha A99 II front
 
YI M1 front
Portability
87
Imaging
60
Features
66
Overall
62

Sony A99 II vs YI M1 Key Specs

Sony A99 II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 849g - 143 x 104 x 76mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Older Model is Sony A99
YI M1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 350g - 114 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed September 2016
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Sony A99 II vs YI M1 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Sony A99 II vs YI M1, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Sony and YI. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the A99 II (42MP) and M1 (20MP) and the A99 II (Full frame) and M1 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor size.

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The A99 II was manufactured around the same time to the M1 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A99 II being a Mid-size SLR camera and the YI M1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the A99 II scores versus the M1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A99 II over the YI M1

 A99 II M1 
Screen typeFully articulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k1040kCrisper screen (+189k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick YI M1 over the Sony A99 II

 M1 A99 II 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A99 II and YI M1

 A99 II M1 
RevealedSeptember 2016September 2016Similar age
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size

Sony A99 II vs YI M1 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and size. The Sony A99 II offers external dimensions of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs) and the YI M1 has specifications of 114mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 350 grams (0.77 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A99 II vs YI M1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the A99 II versus the M1.

Sony A99 II vs YI M1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the A99 II and M1 is 57 and 87 respectively.

Sony A99 II vs YI M1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A99 II vs YI M1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A99 II and M1.

As you can see, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The A99 II because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony A99 II will offer more detail due to its extra 22MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures more aggressively.

Sony A99 II vs YI M1 sensor size comparison

Sony A99 II vs YI M1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A99 II vs YI M1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A99 II Portrait photography features
YI M1 Portrait photography features
86
you can focus manually
megapixel count amazing (42 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
76
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A99 II
Street photography with YI M1
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
74
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A99 II Sports photography details
YI M1 Sports photography details
82
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (42MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
not so great battery pack (490 shots)
55
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great battery life (450 CIPA)
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A99 II as a Travel photography camera
YI M1 as a Travel photography camera
70
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
megapixel count amazing (42 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
not so great battery pack (490 per charge)
78
great battery life (450 per charge)
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A99 II Landscape photography details
YI M1 Landscape photography details
82
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (42 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
has double storage slots
not so great battery pack (490 shots)
77
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (450 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A99 II Vlogging details
YI M1 Vlogging details
78
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic port
33
touchscreen functionality
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
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Sony A99 II vs YI M1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A99 II and YI M1
 Sony Alpha A99 IIYI M1
General Information
Company Sony YI
Model type Sony Alpha A99 II YI M1
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2016-09-19 2016-09-19
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 42MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 7952 x 5304 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Max enhanced ISO 102400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 399 81
Cross type focus points 79 -
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 143 107
Crop factor 1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fully articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,229k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Off, auto, fill, slow sync, redeye reduction, rear sync, high-speed sync, wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Red-Eye Slow
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 75 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
Max video resolution 3840x2160 4096x2160
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 849 gr (1.87 lbs) 350 gr (0.77 lbs)
Physical dimensions 143 x 104 x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") 114 x 64 x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 92 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 25.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 2317 not tested
Other
Battery life 490 shots 450 shots
Style of battery NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery & charger Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS Duo slots SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Dual 1
Cost at release $3,198 $320