A7S IIIvs A9
Sony
A7S III (2020)
Starting from £2999 new
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
View A7S III
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking — A7S III (2020): If video is your primary discipline, the A7S III is the camera. 4K/120p at 10-bit in a weather-sealed body with a 9.44M dot EVF is an extraordinary package. The 12MP sensor isn't limiting for video — and it's usable at ISO 409,600 in a pinch.
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
A7S III (2020)
- Filmmakers and videographers who need 4K/120p at 10-bit
- Event videographers who shoot in dark venues regularly
- Documentary filmmakers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Hybrid shooters where video is primary and stills are secondary
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 a9 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a9 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7S III (2020) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,999 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 12.1MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop IBIS | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 699g (body, battery, card) | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S III | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with A7S III
Camera family history