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Nikon ZR vs A9

Quick take: The Nikon ZR has the highest resolution at 25MP.

16 specs side by side·15 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 — 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 Nikon ZRNikon · 2025A9Sony · 2017
Price £1,999Best£1,999Best
Sensor 24.5MP full-frame CMOS24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS
Resolution 25.0MPBest24.2MP
Video 6K/60p, 4K/120p, internal R3D NE/N-RAW, ProRes, 10-bit N-Log, 32-bit float audio4K/30p, 1080p/120p
Autofocus Hybrid phase-detect AF with subject detection693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking
Stabilisation 7.5-stop IBIS (Synchro VR)IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops
Burst Rate 20fps20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE)
Battery Life 390 shots (CIPA); ~90-125 min continuous recording~650 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 630g (with battery and card)Best673g (with battery and card)
Dimensions —126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder None (screen only)EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free)
Screen 4.0" fully articulating touchscreen3.0" tilting touchscreen
Mount Nikon Z-mountSony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards CFexpress Type B + microSDDual SD UHS-II slots
Connectivity USB-C, HDMI (micro), Wi-Fi, BluetoothUSB, 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
Nikon ZR
A9
Portrait
6.6/10
7.5/10
Street
4.8/10
6.0/10
Travel
6.1/10
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
6.6/10
7.5/10
Vlogging & Video
6.5/10
—
Filmmaking
7.9/10
6.7/10
Documentary
8.1/10
6.8/10
Sports & Action
6.4/10
8.2/10
Landscape
6.1/10
6.1/10
Wildlife
6.5/10
8.2/10
Casual
5.7/10
4.6/10
Food
7.8/10
6.5/10
Macro
6.2/10
5.8/10
Architecture
7.2/10
6.0/10
Astrophotography
5.6/10
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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