A9vs RX100 VI
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.
Travel & Vlogging — RX100 VI (2018): The RX100 VI trades fast apertures for a remarkable 24-200mm zoom range — giving it more versatility than any previous model. 4K/30p, 24fps burst, a pop-up EVF, and an articulating screen round out an exceptional compact package. Variable aperture limits low-light performance at the long end, but for travel and events where reach matters, there is no practical alternative at this size.
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
RX100 VI (2018)
- Travel photographers who need versatile reach in a pocketable body
- Vloggers and content creators who need 4K and an articulating screen
- Event photographers who want discreet, capable wide-to-tele coverage
- Wildlife and sports enthusiasts who want a compact travel option
Quick take: The a9 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the rx100 vi is the most affordable; only the a9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A9 (2017) | RX100 VI (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £700 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 20.1MP 1-inch BSI Stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p, 960fps HFR |
| Autofocus | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | Fast Hybrid AF, 315 phase-detect points, Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops | Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) | 24fps |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~240 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 673g (with battery and card) | 301g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm | 101.6 × 58.1 × 42.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) | Pop-up EVF, 2.35M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD / Memory Stick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A9 | RX100 VI |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Casual | — | |
| Landscape | — |
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