Sony A9 IIIvs FX3
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 III
VS
Sony
FX3 (2021)
Starting from £3799 new
Best for Professional video, documentary & cinematic filmmaking
View FX3
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
Professional Video, Documentary & Cinematic Filmmaking — FX3 (2021): The definitive run-and-gun cinema camera — A7S III sensor quality in a body built specifically for video professionals.
Who should buy what
Sony A9 III (2023)
- 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
FX3 (2021)
- Professional videographers and filmmakers who need cinema-quality colour science in a compact body
- Documentary and run-and-gun shooters who need 4K/120p and built-in XLR audio
- Sony A7S III owners who want a purpose-built video body alongside their stills camera
- Gimbal and drone operators who need a compact full-frame cinema camera
Quick take: The sony a9 iii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the fx3 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Sony A9 III (2023) | FX3 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £3,799 |
| Sensor | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS (same as A7S III) |
| Resolution | 24.6MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p 10-bit, 12-bit RAW output, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect | Real-time tracking with subject recognition (human, animal) |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | 5-axis IBIS — 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 120fps blackout-free electronic | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 530 shots (CIPA) | ~640 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 703g body only | 715g body only (with XLR handle) |
| Dimensions | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm | 129.7 × 78.0 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots | None — monitor/external EVF use only |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating |
| Mount | Sony FE (E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 | USB-C (10Gbps), full-size HDMI, XLR via handle, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Sony A9 III | FX3 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with Sony A9 III
Camera family history