Decision tools · Compare
A9 II vs A9 III
Quick take: The A9 III has the highest resolution at 25MP; the A9 II 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?
A9 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & Photojournalism: The A9 II polished the A9's groundbreaking formula — 20fps blackout-free, improved subject tracking, and a LAN port made it the professional sports standard.
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
A9 II (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- Sports photographers who need 20fps with reliable eye and body tracking
- Photojournalists who need LAN transfer and instant wireless file delivery
- Wildlife photographers who want the fastest Sony AF in a proven body
- A9 owners who need the improved ergonomics, weather sealing, and Ethernet
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 | A9 IISony · 2019 | A9 IIISony · 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,766 usedBest | £5,699 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.6MPBest |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 693 phase-detect + 425 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5.5 stops | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 20fps (blackout-free with full AF/AE) | 120fps blackout-free electronicBest |
| Battery Life | ~500 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 678g (with battery and card)Best | 703g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet (LAN), HDMI | 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
A9 II
A9 III
Portrait
7.6/10
8.5/10
Street
6.1/10
6.6/10
Travel
5.9/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
7.5/10
8.5/10
Filmmaking
6.7/10
8.2/10
Documentary
6.9/10
8.2/10
Sports & Action
8.3/10
9.4/10
Landscape
6.1/10
6.5/10
Wildlife
8.2/10
9.2/10
Casual
4.7/10
5.3/10
Food
6.8/10
7.9/10
Macro
5.9/10
7.6/10
Architecture
6.1/10
6.6/10
Astrophotography
7.2/10
6.8/10
Vlogging & Video
—
6.4/10
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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