Decision tools · Compare
A9 vs A9 III
Quick take: The A9 III has the highest resolution at 25MP; the A9 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.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
A9 — Professional Sports, Wildlife & Action Photography: The camera that changed professional photography — the A9's 20fps blackout-free burst and silent shutter proved mirrorless had definitively surpassed the DSLR.
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 (2017)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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 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 | A9Sony · 2017 | A9 IIISony · 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,026 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 + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) | 120fps blackout-free electronicBest |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA)Best | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 673g (with battery and card)Best | 703g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) | 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, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, 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
A9 III
Portrait
7.5/10
8.5/10
Street
6.0/10
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
6.8/10
8.2/10
Sports & Action
8.2/10
9.4/10
Landscape
6.1/10
6.5/10
Wildlife
8.2/10
9.2/10
Casual
4.6/10
5.3/10
Food
6.5/10
7.9/10
Macro
5.8/10
7.6/10
Architecture
6.0/10
6.6/10
Astrophotography
7.3/10
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 →
Next
More comparisons with A9
Camera family history