Upgrade Guide
Sony A7R III→Sony A9
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the A7R III. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the A9
-
Burst rate20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) vs 10fps with AF/AE tracking
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution24MP (down from 42MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R III | A9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -3.0 | ||
| Wedding | — | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Sports | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Travel | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7R III | A9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,799 | £1,999 | |
| Released | 2017 | 2017 | |
| Sensor | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | |
| Resolution | 42MP | 24MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) | |
| Weight | 650g body only | 673g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) | |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
Compare side-by-side
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Other upgrades from the A7R III
Camera family history