Lumix S1vs Sony A9 III
Lumix
Lumix S1 (2019)
Starting from £1499 new
Best for Landscape, studio & professional stills on L-mount
View Lumix S1
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Landscape, Studio & Professional Stills On L-Mount — Lumix S1 (2019): Built like a tank with one of the finest viewfinders ever made — the S1 is the choice for photographers who prioritise build quality and IBIS over AF speed.
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
Who should buy what
Lumix S1 (2019)
- L-mount system photographers who want a rugged, weather-sealed full-frame body for demanding conditions
- Landscape and studio photographers who value exceptional IBIS and an outstanding EVF
- Video professionals who need V-Log and 4K/60p in a robust, weather-sealed body
- Leica SL users who want a more affordable second body on the same L-mount system
Sony A9 III (2023)
- Professional sports photographers who need zero blackout and 120fps burst
- Wildlife photographers who demand the most advanced Sony AF available
- Photojournalists who need flash sync at any shutter speed
- A9 II owners upgrading to the world's first full-frame global shutter
Quick take: The sony a9 iii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the lumix s1 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S1 (2019) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,499 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 898g body only | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 148.9 × 110.0 × 96.7mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S1 | Sony A9 III |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
More comparisons with Lumix S1
Camera family history