Lumix S9vs A1
Lumix
Lumix S9 (2024)
From £1299
Best for Travel photographers, content creators & L-mount entry buyers
View Lumix S9
VS
Which should you buy?
Travel Photographers, Content Creators & L-Mount Entry Buyers — Lumix S9 (2024): The most compact full-frame camera available — a perfect travel and content creation companion with brilliant colour science.
Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting — A1 (2021): 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
Lumix S9 (2024)
- 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
A1 (2021)
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Quick take: The a1 has the highest resolution at 50mp; the lumix s9 is the most affordable; only the a1 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S9 (2024) | A1 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with subject recognition | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 413g (with battery) | 737g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (touch drag AF) | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S9 | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with Lumix S9
Camera family history