Lumix S9vs A7R III
Lumix
Lumix S9 (2024)
Starting from £1299 new
Best for Travel photographers, content creators & L-mount entry buyers
View Lumix S9
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
GearScore™ Verdict — 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.
Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
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
A7R III (2017)
- Landscape and studio photographers who need 42MP resolution at a used-price discount vs A7R IV
- Canon/Nikon DSLR professionals considering a mirrorless switch at a lower investment
- Commercial and product photographers who want full-frame resolution with IBIS for handheld work
- Portrait photographers who want the sharpest possible full-frame files for large print work
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the lumix s9 is the most affordable; only the a7r iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S9 (2024) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with subject recognition | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 413g (with battery) | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (touch drag AF) | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Leica L mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S9 | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | ||
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with Lumix S9
Camera family history