Sony

Sony A9

The Sony A9 changed professional photography. Its 24.2MP stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS sensor enabled 20fps burst shooting with a completely silent, electronic shutter and zero blackout — a feat previously impossible in any camera. With 693 phase-detect points, a blackout-free EVF running at 60fps, and 5-stop IBIS, the A9 proved that mirrorless technology had overtaken DSLRs for sports and action photography. It was the camera that convinced professional sports photographers to leave Canon and Nikon DSLRs behind, and it permanently altered the course of the camera industry.

GearFrame's Take

The camera that changed professional photography — the A9's 20fps blackout-free burst and silent shutter proved mirrorless had definitively surpassed the DSLR.

Not currently stocked by our retailers

Launch price £4,500 (2017)
Used from £1026 (eBay)
New on eBay from £1159 (marketplace)
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RetailerPrice
New
eBay
eBay
Lowest Buy It Now · marketplace
£1159
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Used
eBay
eBay used
Lowest Buy It Now · marketplace
£1026
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Prices are synced live from UK retailers. Not every product will be stocked by every retailer; older models may only be available second hand.
Value & Depreciation
£4500
Launch price
→
£1999
Today
=
56%
Value drop
Over ~9 years, this camera has cost roughly £278/year to own (buy at launch price, sell today).

What fits the Sony A9

See all 316 accessories that fit →
Memory card
SD Slot 1 + 2 of 2 Cheapest at V30 / U3+: £15.99 · Lexar Professional 1066x 64GB SD
Top mode needs V30 / U3 (maker's minimum) SD cards and speeds →
Filter size Depends on the lens. The commonest threads on Sony E lenses: 67mm6677mm4382mm4062mm3772mm2752mm2449mm2258mm19 Number = lenses with that thread. Your lens's size is on its product page. All filter sizes →
Core
Released
2017
Sensor
24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS
Resolution
24.2 MP
Mount
Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Dimensions
126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm
Weight
673g (with battery and card)
Weather Sealed
Yes
Performance
Autofocus
693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking
Stabilisation
IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops
Burst Rate
20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE)
Battery Life
~650 shots (CIPA)
Features
Video
4K/30p, 1080p/120p
Viewfinder
EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free)
Screen
3.0" tilting touchscreen
Memory Cards
Dual SD UHS-II slots
Connectivity
USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI
Detailed Specs
Sensor Format
Full frame
Viewfinder Type
Electronic
Screen Type
Tilting
Touchscreen
Yes
Card Slots
2
Battery Life (CIPA)
650 shots
Dimensions
127 × 96 × 63mm
Weight (Grams)
673g
Autofocus Type
On-sensor phase detect (hybrid)
Subject Detection
Face, Eye, Animal
Max Burst Rate
20.0fps
In-Body Stabilisation
Yes (5.0 stops)
Maximum Native ISO
51200
Max Video Resolution
4K
Max 4K Frame Rate
30fps
10-Bit Video
No
Log Profile
No
Built-in Microphone Input
Yes
Headphone Jack
Yes

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25 lenses compatible with the Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) mount.

Who should buy this
  • 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
GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre

Base score — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. Camera Match adjusts it for your skill level and priorities.

Portrait
7.5
Street
6.0
Travel
5.9
Wedding & Events
7.5
Filmmaking
6.7
Documentary
6.8
Sports & Action
8.2
Landscape
6.1
Wildlife
8.2
Casual
4.6
Food
6.5
Macro
5.8
Architecture
6.0
Astrophotography
7.3
✅ Great For
⚡
Sports & Action 8.2 Strong on burst speed, autofocus and viewfinder. 20fps blackout-free with 693 phase-detect points — the camera that redefined sports mirrorless.
🦅
Wildlife 8.2 Strong on autofocus, burst speed and lens reach / ecosystem. Silent, 20fps burst and real-time tracking deliver outstanding wildlife sequences.
💍
Wedding & Events 7.5 Strong on autofocus, image quality / low light and pro reliability. Silent shutter, fast AF, and IBIS — ideal for ceremonies where noise matters.
⚠️ Not Ideal For
📷
Casual 4.6 Held back by ease of use and generation.
📝 How suitability scores are calculated GearScore™ genre scores are calculated from this camera's verified specifications — autofocus, sensor, weight, weather sealing and more — weighted by what matters for each type of photography. Where a spec sheet misses something (e.g. a manual-focus rangefinder for street), we apply a documented editorial adjustment. Scores are not based on customer reviews. See our full methodology →
Price History — A9
New prices, last 30 days

Video reviews and hands-on coverage for the Sony A9 from across YouTube.

Video results sourced from YouTube. GearFrame is not affiliated with these channels.

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Go deeper

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📸
Series history
Sony A9 Series
Sony's professional sports and action full-frame mirrorless line.
→