Lumix G9vs A7C
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Wildlife, Sports, Travel — Lumix G9 (2017): The G9 showed that Micro Four Thirds could compete for fast-action stills.
Compact Travel & Content Creation — A7C (2020): The A7C proves full-frame doesn't have to be bulky. Excellent battery life, reliable Eye AF and a vari-angle screen in a pocketable body is a compelling combination for travel and content creators. The A7C II improved on it, but the original remains a strong value buy.
Who should buy what
Lumix G9 (2017)
- Wildlife photographers who want fast burst and long telephoto reach at lower cost
- MFT system users who prioritise stills over video
A7C (2020)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame in the smallest possible body
- Content creators who need a flip screen and reliable Eye AF
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want to keep a compact kit
- Vloggers who need 4K and great battery life on the road
Quick take: The a7c has the highest resolution at 24mp; the lumix g9 is the most affordable; only the lumix g9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix G9 (2017) | A7C (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £1,299 |
| Sensor | Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.3MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K 60fps, C4K 24fps | 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | 225-point contrast-detect DFD | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 6.5 stops (6.0 stops dual IS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | 400 shots (CIPA) | ~740 shots (CIPA) — outstanding for a Sony mirrorless |
| Weight | 658g (body only) | 509g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 136.9 × 97.3 × 91.6mm | 124.0 × 71.1 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.83× 3.68M-dot | None built-in — use rear screen or accessory EVF |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, HDMI full-size | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix G9 | A7C |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
More comparisons with Lumix G9
Camera family history