Z6 IIIvs A9
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Hybrid Video & Action — Z6 III (2024): Partial-stacked FF sensor for near-zero blackout, 6K RAW video, and 60fps burst — Nikon's most capable hybrid.
Professional Sports, Wildlife & Action Photography — A9 (2017): 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
Z6 III (2024)
- Hybrid photographers who want partially-stacked sensor speed with full-frame quality
- Z6 II owners ready for a major AF and video upgrade
- Sports and action shooters who want 6K RAW video and fast burst
- Professionals who want a versatile full-frame Z body for any situation
A9 (2017)
- 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
Quick take: The z6 iii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a9 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z6 III (2024) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-frame Partial-stacked CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 6K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, N-Log, 10-bit | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle/aircraft) | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 6.0 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 760g body only | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 101.5 × 74.0mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.90× magnification | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z6 III | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wedding & Events | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Travel | — |
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