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Sony Alpha 1 vs Sony Alpha 9 III

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyAlpha 1SonyAlpha 9 III
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2021January 2024
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor typeStacked Exmor RS CMOS with integral memoryStacked Exmor RS CMOS with global shutter
Sensor dimensions35.9 × 24 mm35.6 × 23.8 mm
Effective resolution50.1 MP24.6 MP
Largest image8640 × 57606000 × 4000
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–32000250–25600
Sensor detailApproximately 50.5 million total pixels. Pixel Shift Multi Shooting combines four or 16 frames using Imaging Edge; 16-frame output is 17280 × 11520 and requires a suitable static scene.Approximately 25.2 million total pixels; integral memory and global exposure rather than sequential line exposure.
Image formatsJPEG, HEIF and Sony ARW 4.0 RAW; compressed, lossless-compressed and uncompressed RAW.JPEG, HEIF and Sony ARW 5.0 RAW.
ISO detailStandard still and movie ISO 100–32000; stills expand to ISO 50–102400.Standard ISO 250–25600 for stills and movies; stills expand to ISO 125–51200.
Image processorBIONZ XR.BIONZ XR with dedicated AI processing unit.
Lens and shooting
Lens mountSony E-mountSony E-mount
StabilisationSensor shiftSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst30 fps120 fps
Autofocus759 full-frame phase-detection points covering approximately 92% of the image area, plus 425 contrast points; sensitivity EV −4 to 20 with an F2 lens at ISO 100. Launch recognition includes human, animal and bird Eye AF.Up to 759 still-image or 627 movie phase-detection points; sensitivity EV −5 to 20 with an F2 lens at ISO 100 equivalent. Current UK specification includes automatic subject selection and people, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and aircraft; launch reviews precede later firmware enhancements.
Burst detailUp to 30 fps electronic Hi+ with compressed RAW/JPEG and AF/AE tracking under compatible-lens and maker conditions; in AF-C, shutter speed must be 1/250 second or faster. Uncompressed or lossless-compressed RAW tops out at 20 fps; mechanical bursts up to 10 fps. Launch buffer claim at 30 fps is 155 compressed RAW or 165 JPEG frames using CFexpress Type A under Sony test conditions.Up to 120 fps full-resolution electronic bursts with AF/AE tracking under Sony test conditions; speed depends on lens compatibility and shooting settings. Pre-Capture retains up to one second before full shutter press. No mechanical shutter.
Stabilisation detailFive-axis sensor shift; 5.5-stop CIPA pitch/yaw claim with Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA and long-exposure noise reduction off. Active movie stabilisation supported.Five-axis sensor shift; 8.0-stop CIPA pitch/yaw claim with FE 50mm F1.2 GM and long-exposure noise reduction off. Active and Dynamic Active movie modes supported.
Video
Highest video resolution7680 × 4320 at 30 fps3840 × 2160 at 120 fps
Video detailInternal 7680 × 4320 30p 10-bit 4:2:0 XAVC HS with 8.6K oversampling; lower-resolution 4K up to 120p with approximately 10% crop and 10-bit 4:2:2 support. S-Log3 and S-Cinetone; Super 35mm 4K uses 5.8K oversampling. External HDMI RAW is separate from internal recording.Up to uncropped 3840 × 2160 120p NTSC or 100p PAL; 4K 60p uses 6K oversampling. Supports 10-bit 4:2:2, S-Log3 and S-Cinetone; All-Intra 4K tops out at 60p. External HDMI RAW output is separate from internal recording.
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicElectronic
Screen size3″3.2″
Screen dots1,440,0002,095,104
TouchscreenYesYes
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailRear TFT LCD tilts approximately 107° upwards and 41° downwards.Four-axis LCD tilts and opens sideways; approximately 98° up, 40° down, 180° sideways and 270° rotation.
Viewfinder detail0.64-inch Quad-XGA OLED with 9437184 dots, 100% coverage and approximately 0.90× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity. Up to 240 fps display reduces resolution and field of view.0.64-inch Quad-XGA OLED with 9437184 dots and approximately 0.90× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; selectable up to 240 fps NTSC or 200 fps PAL.
Connections and design
Wi-FiYesYes
BluetoothYesYes
Battery life (maker's claim)530 photographs530 photographs
Body weight652 g617 g
Release detailSony's UK press centre specifies European availability in March 2021; no day inferred. Exact technical figures use Sony Japan because both UK specification URL forms were inaccessible during research.Sony UK announced availability in January 2024; Japan's announcement specifies 26 January. The main date retains UK month precision.
Recording mediaBoth slots accept CFexpress Type A or UHS-I/UHS-II SD.Both slots accept CFexpress Type A or UHS-I/UHS-II SD.
PortsUSB Type-C at 10 Gbps, Multi/Micro USB, full-size HDMI, 1000BASE-T Ethernet, sync terminal, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets and digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe.USB Type-C at 10 Gbps, Multi/Micro USB, full-size HDMI, 1000BASE-T Ethernet, sync terminal, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets and digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe.
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC.Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4/5 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0.
Battery life detailNP-FZ100; CIPA approximately 530 photographs with LCD or 430 with viewfinder; USB Type-C Power Delivery charging and power supported.NP-FZ100; Sony UK CIPA approximately 530 photographs with LCD or 400 with viewfinder. Japan lists 520/410 respectively. USB Type-C Power Delivery charging and power supported.
DimensionsApproximately 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8 mm (width × height × maximum depth); grip-to-monitor depth 69.7 mm.Approximately 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9 mm (width × height × maximum depth); grip-to-monitor depth 72.8 mm.
Weight detailApproximately 652 g body only or 737 g with battery and memory card, excluding lens.Sony UK specifies approximately 617 g body only or 702 g with battery and memory card; Japan specifies 618/703 g respectively. Main figures use the UK specification.
In the boxNP-FZ100 battery, BC-QZ1 charger, power cord, cable protector, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap, eyepiece cup and USB-A to USB-C cable, according to Sony Japan.NP-FZ100 battery, BC-QZ1 charger, power cord, cable protector, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap and eyepiece cup, according to Sony UK.

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