Lumix G9vs A7R III
VS
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
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.
Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
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
A7R III (2017)
- Landscape and studio photographers who need 42MP resolution at a used-price discount vs A7R IV
- Canon/Nikon DSLR professionals considering a mirrorless switch at a lower investment
- Commercial and product photographers who want full-frame resolution with IBIS for handheld work
- Portrait photographers who want the sharpest possible full-frame files for large print work
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the lumix g9 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix G9 (2017) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.3MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K 60fps, C4K 24fps | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 225-point contrast-detect DFD | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 6.5 stops (6.0 stops dual IS) | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | 400 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 658g (body only) | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 136.9 × 97.3 × 91.6mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.83× 3.68M-dot | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, HDMI full-size | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix G9 | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Lumix G9
Camera family history