Lumix S1vs A9
Lumix
Lumix S1 (2019)
Starting from £1499 new
Best for Landscape, studio & professional stills on L-mount
View Lumix S1
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
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.
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
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
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 lumix s1 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S1 (2019) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,499 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 898g body only | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 148.9 × 110.0 × 96.7mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S1 | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with Lumix S1
Camera family history