The A9 is simply stunning, both as a technical achievement and as a tool for capturing fast-moving action. The silent 20fps continuous shooting mode can capture shots you would once have missed, and the AF system is complex but extremely effective. Bravo!

Completely silent 20fps mode; Fast and effective autofocus; No viewfinder blackout

Unbalanced with larger lenses; Shorter battery life than DSLRs; EVF is good but not perfect

Sony's new camera matches Canon and Nikon's best pro DSLRs—for thousands less.

Professional cameras tend to specialise and concentrate on fairly limited area of photography. As a professional-level camera the Sony Alpha 9 has an extensive feature set and there’s a huge range of customisation options.

Sony’s high-end mirrorless cameras continue to impress, and the A9 represents a genuine challenge to Nikon and Canon’s top-of-the-range DSLRs. 20fps stills shooting, with continuously-updating autofocus and exposure, from a full-frame lens? That’s something none of this camera’s rivals can touch at the moment. Is this a camera for non-professionals, though? At £4,500, it’s a tough sell – the Sony A7 series offers fantastic (albeit slightly slower) models for £2,000 less, and I’d be inclined to recommend those above the A9 for the vast majority of people. For those five percenters who shoot sport, wildlife or photojournalism and need the speed, though? The A9 is the fastest camera in town.

Incredibly fast stills shooting; 5-axis image stabilisation; Solid, compact build; Good battery life; Cheaper than Canon and Nikon rivals; Slick 4x slo-mo video;

Screen won’t flip to the front; That price tag;

Full-frame cameras for pro sports and wildlife photographers are the last bastion where dSLRs still rule. But the Sony A9 ($3,246 at Amazon) looks like it has the chops, if not to bring their reign to an end, to at least make significant inroads into the territory held by the Canon EOS-1D and Nikon D5 series models. In addition to a maximum continuous-shooting speed of 20 frames per second matched by a 693-point phase-detection autofocus system, the A9 brings in-body image stabilization, something those dSLRs lack.

It's not perfect and it's too expensive for many of us, but the A9 is fast, accurate, lightweight and delivers on photo quality.

The Sony a9 is more than just a refinement of the company's a7-series of full-frame mirrorless cameras; it's an evolution. With meaningful ergonomic and user interface improvements, the a9 is a polished and highly capable camera. It may not be a go-to camera for landscape and studio photographers, but its compact dimensions, silent operation, abundant speed and blackout-free shooting make it not only a step forward for mirrorless, but a compelling proposition for professionals who can't afford to miss a moment.

Sports, peak action, wedding, event and child photography, photojournalism;

Landscape and studio photographers for whom resolution and dynamic range are important considerations;

Excellent handling and controls; Superb autofocus tracking; High-speed shooting with minimal distortion; Excellent electronic viewfinder with zero blackout; Impressive battery life;

AF area not highlighted in viewfinder when moved via the joystick; Touchscreen woefully under-used;

Incredibly fast stills shooting; 5-axis image stabilisation; Solid, compact build; Good battery life; Cheaper than Canon and Nikon rivals; Slick 4x slo-mo video;

Screen won’t flip to the front; That price tag;