Upgrade Guide
Sony A9→Sony Sony RX1R III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A9. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Sony RX1R III
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Resolution61MP vs 24MP (+37MP)
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Generation8 years newer (2025 vs 2017)
Unchanged or similar
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Weather sealingNot present in new body
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 RX1R III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.6 | ||
| Street | +1.6 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.8 | ||
| Filmmaking | -1.4 | ||
| Documentary | -1.3 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | -0.4 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | — | ||
| Food | -0.2 | ||
| Macro | -1.0 | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Astrophotography | -1.1 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A9 | Sony RX1R III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £3,899 | |
| Released | 2017 | 2025 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 61MP full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 61MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 10-bit | |
| Autofocus | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | Hybrid phase-detect AF (693 points) with eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) | 5fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | 300 shots (CIPA, LCD) | ↓ |
| Weight | 673g (with battery and card) | 496g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) | EVF, 2.36M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | Tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed 35mm f/2 Zeiss Sonnar lens | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A9 and Sony RX1R III 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 Sony RX1R III against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the A9
Camera family history