Lumix G9vs A7R
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.
Studio, Tripod Landscape & Camera History — A7R (2013): The world's first 36MP full-frame mirrorless — a landmark camera that launched the A7R series, despite contrast-detect AF and significant shutter shock limitations.
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 (2013)
- Collectors and photographers interested in the camera that started the A7R lineage
- Studio photographers who work on a tripod and can manage contrast-detect AF
- Landscape photographers who prioritise resolution over autofocus performance
- Sony FE system users who want a historical body at a very low used price
Quick take: The a7r has the highest resolution at 36mp; the a7r is the most affordable; only the lumix g9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix G9 (2017) | A7R (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £349 |
| Sensor | Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) |
| Resolution | 20.3MP | 36.4MP |
| Video | 4K 60fps, C4K 24fps | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 225-point contrast-detect DFD | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 6.5 stops (6.0 stops dual IS) | None |
| Burst Rate | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | 4fps |
| Battery Life | 400 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 658g (body only) | 465g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 136.9 × 97.3 × 91.6mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.83× 3.68M-dot | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, HDMI full-size | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix G9 | A7R |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Architecture | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history