Upgrade Guide
Sony A9→Sony A9 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the A9. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the A9 II
-
Generation2 years newer (2019 vs 2017)
Unchanged or similar
-
ResolutionSimilar (24MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | A9 | A9 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.1 | ||
| Street | +0.1 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | +0.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.1 | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | +0.1 | ||
| Food | +0.3 | ||
| Macro | +0.1 | ||
| Architecture | +0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.1 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A9 | A9 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,026 used | £1,766 used | |
| Released | 2017 | 2019 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | 693 phase-detect + 425 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) | 20fps (blackout-free with full AF/AE) | |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~500 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 673g (with battery and card) | 678g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A9 and A9 II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the A9 II against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the A9
Camera family history