A9vs Sony RX100 VII
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
Sony
Sony RX100 VII (2019)
Starting from £1099 new
Best for Travel & versatility
View Sony RX100 VII
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 & Versatility — Sony RX100 VII (2019): The most versatile compact camera ever made — 24-200mm zoom, 20fps burst, and 960fps slow-motion in a jacket pocket.
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 RX100 VII (2019)
- Travel photographers who want the most capable 1-inch compact available
- Vloggers who need fast AF and a flip screen in a jacket-pocket body
- Photographers who want a high-quality compact backup to a mirrorless system
- Anyone who wants professional AF performance without carrying a large camera
Quick take: The a9 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the sony rx100 vii is the most affordable; only the a9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A9 (2017) | Sony RX100 VII (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £1,099 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS BSI CMOS (stacked) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p HLG, FHD/960fps super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | 357-point phase-detect + 425 contrast, Eye AF, tracking |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops | 3-stop Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) | 20fps AF/AE tracking (90fps short burst) |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 673g (with battery and card) | 302g 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, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A9 | Sony RX100 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Street | — |
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