Upgrade Guide
Sony A9→Sony Sony FX5
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 Sony FX5
-
Generation9 years newer (2026 vs 2017)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution17MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
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 | Sony FX5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.6 | ||
| Street | -0.7 | ||
| Travel | +0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.5 | ||
| Filmmaking | +2.0 | ||
| Documentary | +1.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | -1.4 | ||
| Landscape | -1.0 | ||
| Wildlife | -1.4 | ||
| Casual | +0.5 | ||
| Food | +0.9 | ||
| Macro | -0.6 | ||
| Architecture | +0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A9 | Sony FX5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £4,699 | |
| Released | 2017 | 2026 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 16.6MP full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 17MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 5K/60p open-gate, 4K/120p, internal RAW/X-OCN, 10-bit Log, triple base ISO | |
| Autofocus | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | AI-powered hybrid phase-detect AF (759 points) with subject tracking | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops | IBIS with Dynamic Active Mode | |
| Burst Rate | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) | 10fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~105 min actual recording, ~170 min continuous (LCD) | ↓ |
| Weight | 673g (with battery and card) | 734g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) | Optional detachable EVF (DVF-EL1), OLED | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | Fully articulating touchscreen (4-axis arm) | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | CFexpress Type A + SDXC (dual) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A9 and Sony FX5 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Sony FX5 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the A9
Camera family history