Z50 IIvs Sony A9 III
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
All-Round Photography — Z50 II (2024): Nikon's updated APS-C body with 4K/60p, improved subject tracking, and a vari-angle screen — a solid all-rounder.
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
Z50 II (2024)
- Beginners stepping into the Nikon Z system wanting improved autofocus
- Content creators who want APS-C Z quality with subject detection AF
- Z50 owners who want meaningfully better AF performance for people and pets
- Travel photographers wanting a compact, capable Z body at an accessible price
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 z50 ii is the most affordable; only the sony a9 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z50 II (2024) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K/60p uncropped, 1080p/120p, N-Log | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 249 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 385g body only | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 127.0 × 96.8 × 66.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z50 II | Sony A9 III |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history