Decision tools · Compare
1 J5 vs A9 II
Quick take: The A9 II has the highest resolution at 24MP; the 1 J5 is the most affordable; only the A9 II is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
A9 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & Photojournalism: The A9 II polished the A9's groundbreaking formula — 20fps blackout-free, improved subject tracking, and a LAN port made it the professional sports standard.
Who should buy what
A9 II (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- Sports photographers who need 20fps with reliable eye and body tracking
- Photojournalists who need LAN transfer and instant wireless file delivery
- Wildlife photographers who want the fastest Sony AF in a proven body
- A9 owners who need the improved ergonomics, weather sealing, and Ethernet
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | 1 J5Nikon · 2015 | A9 IISony · 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | £1,766 used |
| Sensor | 20.8MP 1-inch (CX) BSI CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 20.8MP | 24.2MPBest |
| Video | 4K UHD/15p, 1080p/60 | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF: 171 areas, 105 with phase detection; face detection, subject tracking | 693 phase-detect + 425 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 20fps (blackout-free with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ~500 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 265g (with battery)Best | 678g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 98.3 × 59.7 × 31.5mm | 128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | None (rear screen only) | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon 1 | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single microSD slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB, micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet (LAN), HDMI |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
1 J5
A9 II
Portrait
4.3/10
7.6/10
Street
6.7/10
6.1/10
Travel
6.1/10
5.9/10
Wedding & Events
2.9/10
7.5/10
Filmmaking
3.2/10
6.7/10
Documentary
4.1/10
6.9/10
Sports & Action
4.9/10
8.3/10
Landscape
3.9/10
6.1/10
Wildlife
5.1/10
8.2/10
Casual
5.0/10
4.7/10
Food
4.8/10
6.8/10
Macro
3.4/10
5.9/10
Architecture
3.9/10
6.1/10
Astrophotography
3.0/10
7.2/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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