Decision tools · Compare

A1 vs A9 II

Quick take: The A1 has the highest resolution at 55MP; the A1 is the most affordable; only the A9 II is weather sealed.

Different kinds of camera — their specs aren't comparable, so read the rows as facts, not a contest.

32 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

A9 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & Photojournalism: The A9 II polished the A9's groundbreaking formula — 20fps blackout-free, improved subject tracking, and a LAN port made it the professional sports standard.

Who should buy what
A9 II (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Sports photographers who need 20fps with reliable eye and body tracking
  • Photojournalists who need LAN transfer and instant wireless file delivery
  • Wildlife photographers who want the fastest Sony AF in a proven body
  • A9 owners who need the improved ergonomics, weather sealing, and Ethernet
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification A1Antigravity · 2025A9 IISony · 2019
Price £909Best£1,766 used
Sensor —24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS
Resolution 55.0MPBest24.2MP
Video —4K/30p, 1080p/120p
Autofocus —693 phase-detect + 425 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking
Stabilisation —IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5.5 stops
Burst Rate —20fps (blackout-free with full AF/AE)
Battery Life —~500 shots (CIPA)
Weight —678g (with battery and card)
Dimensions —128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5mm
Weather Sealed Not weather sealedYesBest
Viewfinder —EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification
Screen —3.0" tilting touchscreen
Mount Fixed lens (360°, f/2.2)Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards —Dual SD UHS-II slots
Connectivity —USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet (LAN), HDMI
Take-off weight 249 g—
Fly without registering Yes — under 250 g—
Flight time 24 min—
Wind resistance 10.7 m/s—
Obstacle sensing Omnidirectional—
Video link OmniLink 360—
Range 6.0 km—
Top speed 16.0 m/s—
Cameras 1—
RAW stills Yes—
Vertical shooting Not supported—
Intelligent flight Subject tracking, waypoints, return-to-home—
Storage 20 GB built in + microSD slot—
Controller in the box Vision goggles + Grip Motion Controller—
FPV Yes, goggles in the box—
Folds Yes—

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
A1
A9 II
Portrait
—
7.6/10
Street
—
6.1/10
Travel
—
5.9/10
Wedding & Events
—
7.5/10
Filmmaking
—
6.7/10
Documentary
—
6.9/10
Sports & Action
—
8.3/10
Landscape
—
6.1/10
Wildlife
—
8.2/10
Casual
—
4.7/10
Food
—
6.8/10
Macro
—
5.9/10
Architecture
—
6.1/10
Astrophotography
—
7.2/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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