Z5vs Sony A9 III
VS
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible price.
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
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
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 z5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z5 (2020) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 590g (with battery) | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | 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 | Z5 | Sony A9 III |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
More comparisons with Z5
Camera family history