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Sony A99 vs YI M1

Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76
Sony SLT-A99 front
 
YI M1 front
Portability
87
Imaging
59
Features
66
Overall
61

Sony A99 vs YI M1 Key Specs

Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Revealed December 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A900
  • Refreshed by Sony A99 II
YI M1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 vs YI M1 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Sony A99 versus YI M1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Sony and YI. The resolution of the A99 (24MP) and the M1 (20MP) is very comparable but the A99 (Full frame) and M1 (Four Thirds) feature different sensor size.

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The A99 was released 4 years before the M1 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the YI M1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the A99 scores versus the M1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the YI M1

 A99 M1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k1040kCrisper display (+189k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick YI M1 over the Sony A99

 M1 A99 
RevealedSeptember 2016December 2012Newer by 45 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A99 and YI M1

 A99 M1 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size

Sony A99 vs YI M1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A99 has got physical measurements of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs) while the YI M1 has proportions of 114mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 350 grams (0.77 lbs).

Check the Sony A99 versus YI M1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the A99 vs the M1.

Sony A99 vs YI M1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A99 and M1 is 57 and 87 respectively.

Sony A99 vs YI M1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A99 vs YI M1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions simply by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A99 and M1.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A99 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony A99 will provide extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A99 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A99 vs YI M1 sensor size comparison

Sony A99 vs YI M1 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony A99 Portrait photography details
YI M1 Portrait photography details
81
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW formats
75
has manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A99 Street photography highlights
YI M1 Street photography highlights
75
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
very good ISO range (25,600)
73
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A99 Sports photography advice
YI M1 Sports photography advice
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (500 shots)
54
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
better than average battery life (450 CIPA)
slow frames per second (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A99 Travel photography advice
YI M1 Travel photography advice
60
weather proof
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (500 per charge)
78
better than average battery life (450 CIPA)
connects via bluetooth
features touch focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A99 Landscape photography details
YI M1 Landscape photography details
74
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
terrible battery power (500 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
76
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (450 CIPA)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A99 Vlogging details
YI M1 Vlogging details
76
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone port
33
touchscreen capability
supports face detect focus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
doesn't have mic port
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Sony A99 vs YI M1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A99 and YI M1
 Sony SLT-A99YI M1
General Information
Brand Name Sony YI
Model type Sony SLT-A99 YI M1
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-12-12 2016-09-19
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 35.8 x 23.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 852.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6000 x 4000 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 19 81
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 143 107
Focal length multiplier 1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,229k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Red-Eye Slow
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) 4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 75 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 812g (1.79 pounds) 350g (0.77 pounds)
Dimensions 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") 114 x 64 x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 89 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 25.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1555 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 450 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Two Single
Retail cost $1,998 $320