Lumix S9vs A7R
Lumix
Lumix S9 (2024)
Starting from £1299 new
Best for Travel photographers, content creators & L-mount entry buyers
View Lumix S9
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, Tripod Landscape & Camera History — A7R (2013): The world's first 36MP full-frame mirrorless — a landmark camera that launched the A7R series, despite contrast-detect AF and significant shutter shock limitations.
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 (2013)
- Collectors and photographers interested in the camera that started the A7R lineage
- Studio photographers who work on a tripod and can manage contrast-detect AF
- Landscape photographers who prioritise resolution over autofocus performance
- Sony FE system users who want a historical body at a very low used price
Quick take: The a7r has the highest resolution at 36mp; the a7r is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S9 (2024) | A7R (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £349 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 36.4MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with subject recognition | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | None |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 4fps |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 413g (with battery) | 465g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (touch drag AF) | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) |
| Mount | Leica L mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S9 | A7R |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Architecture | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history