A1 IIvs Sony A9 III
Sony
A1 II (2025)
Starting from £6500 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
View A1 II
VS
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work — A1 II (2025): The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
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
A1 II (2025)
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
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 a1 ii has the highest resolution at 50mp; the sony a9 iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A1 II (2025) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,500 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 50.1MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/240p super slow-motion | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~530 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 743g body only | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-mount (full-frame) | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A1 II | Sony A9 III |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
More comparisons with A1 II
Camera family history