Upgrade Guide
Sony Sony A9 III→Sony A1
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the Sony A9 III. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the A1
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Resolution50MP vs 25MP (+26MP)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Sony A9 III | A1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +2.0 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Sports | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wedding | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Sony A9 III | A1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £5,999 | |
| Released | 2023 | 2021 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | |
| Resolution | 25MP | 50MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p | |
| Autofocus | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points | |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 120fps blackout-free electronic | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE | ↓ |
| Battery Life | 530 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 703g body only | 737g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps | |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony FE (E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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