Lumix S9vs Sony A9 III
Lumix
Lumix S9 (2024)
Starting from £1299 new
Best for Travel photographers, content creators & L-mount entry buyers
View Lumix S9
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 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.
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
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
Sony A9 III (2023)
- Professional sports photographers who need zero blackout and 120fps burst
- Wildlife photographers who demand the most advanced Sony AF available
- Photojournalists who need flash sync at any shutter speed
- A9 II owners upgrading to the world's first full-frame global shutter
Quick take: The sony a9 iii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the lumix s9 is the most affordable; only the sony a9 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S9 (2024) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with subject recognition | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 413g (with battery) | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (touch drag AF) | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S9 | Sony A9 III |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
More comparisons with Lumix S9
Camera family history