A9vs ZV-1 II
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.
Pocket Vlogging — ZV-1 II (2023): The best pocket vlogging camera — 1-inch sensor, ultrawide zoom, flip screen, and real-time Eye AF in a shirt 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
ZV-1 II (2023)
- Vloggers and content creators who want a pocketable fixed-lens camera
- Travellers who want 4K video and a flip screen in a jacket-pocket size
- ZV-1 owners who want a wider lens and improved subject tracking
- Beginners who want a simple, capable vlogging camera without changing lenses
Quick take: The a9 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the zv-1 ii is the most affordable; only the a9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A9 (2017) | ZV-1 II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | Phase-detect + contrast, 315 points, Real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops | Optical SteadyShot (OIS) |
| Burst Rate | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) | 15fps |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 673g (with battery and card) | 292g |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm | 105.5 × 60.0 × 43.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) | None |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed zoom — 18–50mm f/1.8–4.0 equiv |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A9 | ZV-1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| 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