Lumix S9vs A7R VI
Lumix
Lumix S9 (2024)
Starting from £1299 new
Best for Travel photographers, content creators & L-mount entry buyers
View Lumix S9
Sony
A7R VI (2025)
Starting from £4399 new
Best for Studio, landscape and commercial photographers needing maximum resolution
View A7R VI
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.
Studio, Landscape And Commercial Photographers Needing Maximum Resolution — A7R VI (2025): The A7R VI cements its place as the resolution flagship of the Sony full-frame range — 61MP, AI-driven autofocus, and 8K video make it as capable for video and action work as it is for studio and landscape photography. The price reflects its position at the top of the lineup, but the capability is hard to match.
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 VI (2025)
- Studio and commercial photographers who need maximum resolution for large prints and heavy cropping
- Landscape photographers who want best-in-class dynamic range and detail
- Hybrid shooters who need 8K video alongside a 61MP stills sensor
- Professionals upgrading from the A7R V who want faster AI-driven autofocus
Quick take: The a7r vi has the highest resolution at 61mp; the lumix s9 is the most affordable; only the a7r vi is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S9 (2024) | A7R VI (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £4,399 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 61MP full-frame stacked back-illuminated CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 61.0MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 8K 30fps, 4K 120fps oversampled |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with subject recognition | AI processing unit — subject recognition for people, animals, birds and vehicles across the frame |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | In-body 5-axis IS, up to 8.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 8fps mechanical / 7fps electronic with full AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA, NP-FZ100) |
| Weight | 413g (with battery) | 723g (body with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm | 131.3 × 96.9 × 82.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | EVF, 9.44M-dot, up to 120fps |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (touch drag AF) | 3.2-inch 4-axis multi-angle touchscreen, 3.69M-dot |
| Mount | Leica L mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual slots — CFexpress Type A / SD (UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (10Gbps), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0, 2.5GbE |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S9 | A7R VI |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Casual | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with Lumix S9
Camera family history