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 A7C
Quick take: Only the A7C 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.
A7C — Compact Travel & Content Creation: The A7C proves full-frame doesn't have to be bulky. Excellent battery life, reliable Eye AF and a vari-angle screen in a pocketable body is a compelling combination for travel and content creators. The A7C II improved on it, but the original remains a strong value buy.
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
A7C (2020)
is the right camera for you if…
- Travel photographers who want full-frame in the smallest possible body
- Content creators who need a flip screen and reliable Eye AF
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want to keep a compact kit
- Vloggers who need 4K and great battery life on the road
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | S9Lumix · 2024 | A7CSony · 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999Best | £1,299 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Phase-hybrid AF with subject recognition | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronicBest | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~740 shots (CIPA) — outstanding for a Sony mirrorlessBest |
| Weight | 403g (body only)Best | 509g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm | 124.0 × 71.1 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | None built-in — use rear screen or accessory EVF |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen (touch drag AF) | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Leica L mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Single SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), 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
A7C
Portrait
7.3/10
7.5/10
Street
6.9/10
7.5/10
Travel
6.4/10
7.2/10
Wedding & Events
6.0/10
6.5/10
Vlogging & Video
7.3/10
5.7/10
Filmmaking
7.0/10
6.6/10
Documentary
6.9/10
7.0/10
Sports & Action
6.4/10
6.9/10
Landscape
6.5/10
6.5/10
Wildlife
6.7/10
7.6/10
Casual
6.3/10
5.2/10
Food
7.6/10
7.1/10
Macro
8.1/10
6.1/10
Architecture
7.1/10
6.3/10
Astrophotography
7.6/10
7.6/10
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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