Sony A9 IIIvs ZV-E1
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 III
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.
Video Creators, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
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
ZV-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The sony a9 iii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the zv-e1 is the most affordable; only the sony a9 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Sony A9 III (2023) | ZV-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 24.6MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | 120fps blackout-free electronic | 10fps |
| Battery Life | 530 shots (CIPA) | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | 703g body only | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots | None — screen only |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Sony A9 III | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | — |
More comparisons with Sony A9 III
Camera family history