A9vs Sony FX30
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
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.
Video Creators & Filmmakers — Sony FX30 (2022): The Cinema Line entry point — S-Cinetone colour science, 4K/120p, and XLR audio in a compact, affordable body that punches far above its price.
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
Sony FX30 (2022)
- Filmmakers and video creators who want a dedicated cinema-style APS-C body
- Content creators who need S-Cinetone and S-Log3 in a compact form factor
- A6700 owners who want cinema-style ergonomics and a full-size HDMI port
- Video professionals who want Sony's colour science without full-frame pricing
Quick take: The sony fx30 has the highest resolution at 26mp; the sony fx30 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A9 (2017) | Sony FX30 (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 26.1MP APS-C BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 26.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | Real-time tracking AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops | 5-axis Active IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) | 20fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 673g (with battery and card) | 579g body only |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm | 129.7 × 77.8 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) | None (EVF optional via XLR handle) |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" 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, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A9 | Sony FX30 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Documentary | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history