OM-1vs A9
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Wildlife, Sport, Outdoor — OM-1 (2022): OM System's statement camera — class-leading weather sealing and the best IBIS in the business.
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
OM-1 (2022)
- Wildlife and bird photographers who need fast burst and pro weather sealing
- Outdoor photographers who work in challenging conditions
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 a9 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the om-1 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM-1 (2022) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | Micro Four Thirds Live MOS stacked BSI | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K 60fps 10-bit | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 1053-point cross-type phase-detect, AI subject recognition | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops (8 stops with sync IS) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 50fps electronic, 120fps Pro Capture | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | 520 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 599g (body only) | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134.8 × 91.6 × 72.7mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.83× 5.76M-dot | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M-dot | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II / CFexpress Type B | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C 3.1, HDMI, 3.5mm mic/headphone | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | OM-1 | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with OM-1
Camera family history