Decision tools · Compare
1 J5 vs A9
Quick take: The A9 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the 1 J5 is the most affordable; only the A9 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.
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
A9 — Professional Sports, Wildlife & Action Photography: The camera that changed professional photography — the A9's 20fps blackout-free burst and silent shutter proved mirrorless had definitively surpassed the DSLR.
Who should buy what
A9 (2017)
is the right camera for you if…
- Sports photographers who want the original 20fps mirrorless at a lower used price than the A9 II
- Wildlife photographers who need blackout-free burst with fast, reliable tracking
- Sony FE system users who want a professional sports body
- Photographers interested in the camera that changed the industry
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | 1 J5Nikon · 2015 | A9Sony · 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | £1,026 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 + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 265g (with battery)Best | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 98.3 × 59.7 × 31.5mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | None (rear screen only) | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| 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, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, 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
Portrait
4.3/10
7.5/10
Street
6.7/10
6.0/10
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
6.8/10
Sports & Action
4.9/10
8.2/10
Landscape
3.9/10
6.1/10
Wildlife
5.1/10
8.2/10
Casual
5.0/10
4.6/10
Food
4.8/10
6.5/10
Macro
3.4/10
5.8/10
Architecture
3.9/10
6.0/10
Astrophotography
3.0/10
7.3/10
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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