S1 IIvs A9 II
Sony
A9 II (2019)
Starting from £3299 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & photojournalism
View A9 II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Hybrid & Video — S1 II (2025): The S1 II is the full-frame L-mount hybrid camera Panasonic's system has been waiting for — phase-detect AF, 4K/120p, class-leading IBIS, and a professional build in one complete package. It addresses every weakness of the original S1 and positions Lumix firmly back in the conversation for serious hybrid shooters.
Professional Sports, Wildlife & Photojournalism — A9 II (2019): The A9 II polished the A9's groundbreaking formula — 20fps blackout-free, improved subject tracking, and a LAN port made it the professional sports standard.
Who should buy what
S1 II (2025)
- Hybrid photographers who need excellent stills and serious video capability
- Video professionals who want full-frame quality with 4K/120p
- Landscape and portrait photographers who want maximum stabilisation
- L-mount system users upgrading from S1 or S5 II
A9 II (2019)
- Sports photographers who need 20fps with reliable eye and body tracking
- Photojournalists who need LAN transfer and instant wireless file delivery
- Wildlife photographers who want the fastest Sony AF in a proven body
- A9 owners who need the improved ergonomics, weather sealing, and Ethernet
Quick take: The s1 ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | S1 II (2025) | A9 II (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,200 | £3,299 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 6K/30p, 4K/120p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject recognition (human, animal, vehicle) | 693 phase-detect + 425 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) | 20fps (blackout-free with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~500 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 680g (body only) | 678g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 100.0 × 91.5mm | 128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.78× | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet (LAN), HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | S1 II | A9 II |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Wedding & Events | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Street | — |
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