Lumix S9vs A7S III
Lumix
Lumix S9 (2024)
Starting from £1299 new
Best for Travel photographers, content creators & L-mount entry buyers
View Lumix S9
Sony
A7S III (2020)
Starting from £2999 new
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
View A7S 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.
Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking — A7S III (2020): If video is your primary discipline, the A7S III is the camera. 4K/120p at 10-bit in a weather-sealed body with a 9.44M dot EVF is an extraordinary package. The 12MP sensor isn't limiting for video — and it's usable at ISO 409,600 in a pinch.
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
A7S III (2020)
- Filmmakers and videographers who need 4K/120p at 10-bit
- Event videographers who shoot in dark venues regularly
- Documentary filmmakers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Hybrid shooters where video is primary and stills are secondary
Quick take: The lumix s9 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the lumix s9 is the most affordable; only the a7s iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S9 (2024) | A7S III (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £2,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with subject recognition | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording |
| Weight | 413g (with battery) | 699g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (touch drag AF) | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Leica L mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S9 | A7S III |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
More comparisons with Lumix S9
Camera family history