X-H2Svs A9
Fujifilm
X-H2S (2022)
Starting from £2499 new
Best for Sports, wildlife & professional video
View X-H2S
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Sports, Wildlife & Professional Video — X-H2S (2022): The fastest Fujifilm ever made — 40fps, 4K/120p, and subject-detection AF that redefines what APS-C can do for action photography.
Professional Sports, Wildlife & Action Photography — A9 (2017): The camera that changed professional photography — the A9's 20fps blackout-free burst and silent shutter proved mirrorless had definitively surpassed the DSLR.
Who should buy what
X-H2S (2022)
- Sports and wildlife photographers who want mirrorless AF performance without full-frame prices
- Fujifilm videographers who need 4K/120p and internal ProRes in a compact body
- X-T5 owners who prioritise speed and video over resolution
- Professionals who need weather sealing down to -10°C and deep-grip ergonomics for heavy lenses
A9 (2017)
- Sports photographers who want the original 20fps mirrorless at a lower used price than the A9 II
- Wildlife photographers who need blackout-free burst with fast, reliable tracking
- Sony FE system users who want a professional sports body
- Photographers interested in the camera that changed the industry
Quick take: The x-h2s has the highest resolution at 26mp; the a9 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | X-H2S (2022) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,499 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans BSI CMOS 5 HS (stacked) | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 26.1MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 6.2K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p — Apple ProRes internal | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, subject detection (human, animal, vehicle, aircraft, bird) | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 7-stop IBIS — best in the X-mount system | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 40fps electronic, 15fps mechanical | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~580 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 660g body only | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 136.3 × 92.9 × 84.6mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.8× magnification | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Fujifilm X-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B / SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C (10Gbps), 3.5mm mic, HDMI full-size, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | X-H2S | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with X-H2S
Camera family history