Sigma fp Lvs A9
Sigma
Sigma fp L (2021)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for High-resolution creative & documentary shooters
View Sigma fp L
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
High-Resolution Creative & Documentary Shooters — Sigma fp L (2021): 61MP and phase-detect AF in the world's smallest full-frame body — the fp L is the most capable iteration of Sigma's extraordinary compact.
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
Sigma fp L (2021)
- Commercial photographers who want 61MP in the world's smallest full-frame body
- Filmmakers using the fp L as a high-resolution cinema camera
- fp owners who need more resolution for large-format printing
- L-mount photographers who want extreme resolution in an ultra-compact form
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 sigma fp l has the highest resolution at 61mp; only the a9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Sigma fp L (2021) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 61MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 61.0MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 12-bit Cinema DNG RAW, 4K/24p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with face/eye detection | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | None (lens-based only) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 18fps electronic | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | 200 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 427g body only | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 112.6 × 69.9 × 45.3mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional clip-on EVF available) | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.15" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Sigma fp L | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| 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