Decision tools · Compare

S9 vs Z6 III

Quick take: The Z6 III has the highest resolution at 24MP; the S9 is the most affordable; only the Z6 III is weather sealed.

16 specs side by side·16 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

S9 — Travel Photographers, Content Creators & L-Mount Entry Buyers: The most compact full-frame camera available — a perfect travel and content creation companion with brilliant colour science.

Z6 III — Hybrid Video & Action: Partial-stacked FF sensor for near-zero blackout, 6K RAW video, and 60fps burst — Nikon's most capable hybrid.

Who should buy what
S9 (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact package
  • Content creators attracted to Real-time LUT and 10-bit video
  • Photographers already in the L-mount ecosystem wanting a lightweight second body
  • Lumix S5 II users who want something smaller for travel and casual shooting
Z6 III (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Hybrid photographers who want partially-stacked sensor speed with full-frame quality
  • Z6 II owners ready for a major AF and video upgrade
  • Sports and action shooters who want 6K RAW video and fast burst
  • Professionals who want a versatile full-frame Z body for any situation
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification S9Lumix · 2024Z6 IIINikon · 2024
Price £999Best£2,199
Sensor 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS24.5MP Full-frame Partial-stacked CMOS
Resolution 24.2MP24.5MPBest
Video 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p6K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, N-Log, 10-bit
Autofocus Phase-hybrid AF with subject recognitionPhase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle/aircraft)
Stabilisation IBIS — up to 5 stops5-axis IBIS, 6.0 stops
Burst Rate 30fps electronicBest20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic
Battery Life ~310 shots (CIPA)~380 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 403g (body only)Best760g (body only)
Dimensions 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm138.5 × 101.5 × 74.0mm
Weather Sealed Not weather sealedYesBest
Viewfinder None — rear screen onlyEVF, 5.76M dots, 0.90× magnification
Screen 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen (touch drag AF)3.2" fully articulating touchscreen
Mount Leica L mountNikon Z-mount (full-frame)
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-II slotDual slots: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II
Connectivity USB-C, Wi-Fi, BluetoothUSB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
S9
Z6 III
Portrait
7.3/10
8.4/10
Street
6.9/10
6.3/10
Travel
6.2/10
6.0/10
Wedding & Events
6.0/10
8.3/10
Vlogging & Video
7.0/10
6.4/10
Filmmaking
7.0/10
7.8/10
Documentary
6.9/10
7.9/10
Sports & Action
6.4/10
9.2/10
Landscape
6.5/10
7.0/10
Wildlife
6.7/10
8.9/10
Casual
6.3/10
5.2/10
Food
7.6/10
7.5/10
Macro
8.1/10
7.0/10
Architecture
7.1/10
7.2/10
Astrophotography
7.6/10
7.4/10
Fun & simple
4.7/10
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Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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