Sony
A1 II 2024
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
£5699
new today at Wex Photo Video
Decision tools · Compare
A1 II vs A9
Quick take: The A1 II has the highest resolution at 50MP; the A9 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 — 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
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 (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 | A1 IISony · 2024 | A9Sony · 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,699 | £1,026 usedBest |
| Sensor | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 50.1MPBest | 24.2MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3 | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanicalBest | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~530 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 743g (body only) | 673g (with battery and card)Best |
| Dimensions | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-mount (full-frame) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size | USB, 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
A1 II
A9
Portrait
9.0/10
7.5/10
Street
6.6/10
6.0/10
Travel
6.4/10
5.9/10
Wedding & Events
8.7/10
7.5/10
Vlogging & Video
6.4/10
—
Filmmaking
8.2/10
6.7/10
Documentary
8.3/10
6.8/10
Sports & Action
9.3/10
8.2/10
Landscape
8.0/10
6.1/10
Wildlife
9.2/10
8.2/10
Casual
5.3/10
4.6/10
Food
8.5/10
6.5/10
Macro
8.1/10
5.8/10
Architecture
8.4/10
6.0/10
Astrophotography
7.2/10
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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