A7Svs A9
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
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 (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
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 a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7S (2014) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £600 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 12.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | None | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with A7S
Camera family history