Lumix
S9 2024
Best for Travel photographers, content creators & L-mount entry buyers
£999
new today at Wex Photo Video
Decision tools · Compare
S9 vs A6400
Quick take: The A6400 is the most affordable; only the A6400 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.
A6400 — Content Creation & Vlogging: The best value APS-C Sony you can buy — especially used. Real-time Eye AF at this price point was transformative when it launched and still makes it one of the most reliable autofocus systems in the lineup.
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
A6400 (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- Vloggers and content creators who need a flip screen and reliable AF
- Photographers upgrading from a compact or smartphone
- Beginners who want room to grow into a full E-mount lens ecosystem
- Anyone prioritising autofocus performance at an accessible price
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | S9Lumix · 2024 | A6400Sony · 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £749Best |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS BSI |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 4K/30p (6K oversampled, no crop), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Phase-hybrid AF with subject recognition | Phase-detect, 425 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronicBest | 11fps mechanical, 8fps with AF tracking |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~410 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 403g (body only) | 403g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen (touch drag AF) | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 180° flip for selfie/vlog, 921k dots |
| Mount | Leica L mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Micro-USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
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
A6400
Portrait
7.3/10
6.7/10
Street
6.9/10
7.3/10
Travel
6.4/10
6.9/10
Wedding & Events
6.0/10
5.6/10
Vlogging & Video
7.3/10
6.0/10
Filmmaking
7.0/10
5.1/10
Documentary
6.9/10
6.1/10
Sports & Action
6.4/10
6.9/10
Landscape
6.5/10
5.6/10
Wildlife
6.7/10
7.4/10
Casual
6.3/10
5.8/10
Food
7.6/10
6.1/10
Macro
8.1/10
5.2/10
Architecture
7.1/10
5.5/10
Astrophotography
7.6/10
6.0/10
Fun & simple
4.2/10
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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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