X-E3vs Sony A9 III
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street & Travel — X-E3 (2017): The X-E3 is the lightest Fujifilm interchangeable-lens camera with the 24.3MP X-Trans III sensor. Its slim, compact body appeals to street photographers who find the X-T line too bulky. The touchscreen joystick and Bluetooth connection are welcome additions. 4K is technically available but limited to 15fps — this is a stills-first camera. An excellent compact travel camera at used-market prices.
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
Who should buy what
X-E3 (2017)
- Street photographers who want Fujifilm colours
- Travel photographers prioritising size
- Minimalist camera users
Sony A9 III (2023)
- Professional sports photographers who need zero blackout and 120fps burst
- Wildlife photographers who demand the most advanced Sony AF available
- Photojournalists who need flash sync at any shutter speed
- A9 II owners upgrading to the world's first full-frame global shutter
Quick take: The sony a9 iii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the x-e3 is the most affordable; only the sony a9 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | X-E3 (2017) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS III | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K/15p, 1080p/60p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF, face detection | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | None | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 8fps (electronic shutter up to 14fps) | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~350 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 337g (body only) | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 121.3 × 73.9 × 42.7mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.62× magnification | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen (fixed), 1.04M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Fujifilm X-mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | X-E3 | Sony A9 III |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with X-E3
Camera family history