S1 IIvs A9
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
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 & 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
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 (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 a9 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | S1 II (2025) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,200 | £1,999 |
| 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 + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 680g (body only) | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 100.0 × 91.5mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.78× | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| 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, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | S1 II | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 →
More comparisons with S1 II
Camera family history