Sony
A1 II 2024
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
£5699
new today at Clifton Cameras
Decision tools · Compare
A1 II vs A9 III
Quick take: The A1 II has the highest resolution at 50MP; the A9 III is the most affordable.
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.
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
A1 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work: The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
A9 III — Sports & Action Professionals: 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 (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
A9 III (2023)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A1 IISony · 2024 | A9 IIISony · 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,699Best | £5,699Best |
| Sensor | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 50.1MPBest | 24.6MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3 | 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 electronicBest |
| Battery Life | ~530 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 743g (body only) | 703g (body only)Best |
| 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 |
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
A1 II
A9 III
Portrait
9.0/10
8.5/10
Street
6.6/10
6.6/10
Travel
6.4/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
8.7/10
8.5/10
Vlogging & Video
6.4/10
6.4/10
Filmmaking
8.2/10
8.2/10
Documentary
8.3/10
8.2/10
Sports & Action
9.3/10
9.4/10
Landscape
8.0/10
6.5/10
Wildlife
9.2/10
9.2/10
Casual
5.3/10
5.3/10
Food
8.5/10
7.9/10
Macro
8.1/10
7.6/10
Architecture
8.4/10
6.6/10
Astrophotography
7.2/10
6.8/10
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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