A9vs A9 II
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
Sony
A9 II (2019)
Starting from £3299 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & photojournalism
View A9 II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
Professional Sports, Wildlife & Photojournalism — A9 II (2019): 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.
Who should buy what
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
A9 II (2019)
- 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
Quick take: The a9 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A9 (2017) | A9 II (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £3,299 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | 693 phase-detect + 425 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) | 20fps (blackout-free with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~500 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 673g (with battery and card) | 678g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm | 128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet (LAN), HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A9 | A9 II |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Wedding & Events | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with A9
Camera family history