A6700vs A9
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
All-Round & Video — A6700 (2023): Best-in-class autofocus and 4K/120p video in a compact APS-C body — the standout camera under £1,000.
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
A6700 (2023)
- APS-C photographers who want the best Sony autofocus in a compact body
- Video shooters who need 4K/120p and subject tracking in a smaller package
- A6400 or A6600 owners ready for a significant AF and video upgrade
- Photographers who want near-A7 performance without the full-frame price
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 a6700 has the highest resolution at 26mp; the a6700 is the most affordable; only the a9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A6700 (2023) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 26MP APS-C Exmor R BSI CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 26.0MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition (human/animal/bird/vehicle) | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~570 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 493g body only | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 122.0 × 69.0 × 75.1mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II / CFexpress Type A slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C (3.2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A6700 | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | — |
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