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Sony Alpha 9 III vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyAlpha 9 IIISonyAlpha DSLR-A900
Overview
ReleasedJanuary 2024September 2008
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessDSLR
Sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor typeStacked Exmor RS CMOS with global shutterCMOS
Sensor dimensions35.6 × 23.8 mm35.9 × 24 mm
Effective resolution24.6 MP24.6 MP
Largest image6000 × 40006048 × 4032
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range250–25600200–3200
Sensor detailApproximately 25.2 million total pixels; integral memory and global exposure rather than sequential line exposure.Exmor CMOS; approximately 25.7 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter; anti-static coating and sensor-shift dust removal
Image formatsJPEG, HEIF and Sony ARW 5.0 RAW.JPEG, RAW (Sony ARW 2.1), compressed cRAW and RAW/cRAW+JPEG; 3:2, cropped 16:9 and approximately 11 MP APS-C crop. Sony’s Hong Kong launch PDF says ARW 2.0; the exact Japanese spec sheet and press table specify ARW 2.1.
ISO detailStandard ISO 250–25600 for stills and movies; stills expand to ISO 125–51200.Standard ISO 200–3200 in 1/3-stop steps, with expanded ISO 100–6400; Auto ISO 200–1600 with selectable limits
Image processorBIONZ XR with dedicated AI processing unit.Dual BIONZ image-processing engines
Lens and shooting
Lens mountSony E-mountSony A-mount
StabilisationSensor shiftSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst120 fps5 fps
Lens detail–Interchangeable Sony A-mount; compatible Sony, Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses. DT lenses trigger APS-C crop, but Sony does not guarantee full exposure performance with APS-C-only DT optics.
AutofocusUp 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.TTL phase detection with nine selectable points (centre dual-cross) and ten non-selectable assist points; additional F2.8 precision sensor; single-shot, automatic and continuous AF, direct manual focus and manual focus; EV 0–18 detection at ISO 100; LED AF-assist lamp. AF micro-adjustment stores up to 30 lenses; no Eye-Start AF according to Sony’s exact Japanese table, despite the Hong Kong press table listing it.
Shutter–Electronically controlled vertical-traverse focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/8000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second with stabilisation off or 1/200 second with it on; mirror-up drive mode
Burst detailUp 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.Up to 5 fps Hi or 3 fps Lo; maker buffer claims 285 Standard JPEGs, 105 Fine JPEGs, 11 Extra Fine JPEGs, 12 RAW/cRAW or ten RAW/cRAW+JPEG frames; depends on memory card and shooting conditions
Stabilisation detailFive-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.SteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; Sony claims approximately 2.5–4 stops depending on lens and shooting conditions; excludes Minolta AF Macro Zoom 3X–1X F1.7–2.8
Flash–No built-in flash; proprietary Alpha flash shoe and PC sync terminal; ADI and pre-flash TTL with compatible external units. Wireless control requires an HVL-F58AM and another compatible flash.
Exposure controls–Program, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual and Auto; no scene modes; 40-segment honeycomb, centre-weighted or spot metering; ±3 EV compensation in 1/2- or 1/3-stop steps; D-Range Optimizer, 13 Creative Styles, Quick Navi and three saved shooting setups
Video
Highest video resolution3840 × 2160 at 120 fps–
Video detailUp 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.Still-image DSLR without video recording or rear-screen live view; Intelligent Preview captures a temporary image for exposure, white balance and D-Range Optimizer simulation rather than a live feed
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicOptical
Screen size3.2″3″
Screen dots2,095,104921,600
TouchscreenYes–
Tilting screenYes–
Display detailFour-axis LCD tilts and opens sideways; approximately 98° up, 40° down, 180° sideways and 270° rotation.Fixed 3.0-inch Xtra Fine LCD, 921,600 dots (640 × 480 RGB subpixels), with anti-reflection coating; separate small top status LCD
Viewfinder detail0.64-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.Fixed eye-level pentaprism; approximately 100% coverage and 0.74× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; built-in eyepiece shutter; user-replaceable G/L/M focusing screens; optical depth-of-field preview
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
BluetoothYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)530 photographs880 photographs
Body weight617 g850 g
Release detailSony UK announced availability in January 2024; Japan's announcement specifies 26 January. The main date retains UK month precision.Sony Europe’s spokesperson told Photography Bay that main-market availability began at the end of September 2008; month precision retained. Regional maker announcements give October 2008 for Hong Kong and 23 October 2008 for Japan.
Recording mediaBoth slots accept CFexpress Type A or UHS-I/UHS-II SD.Separate CompactFlash Type I/II (UDMA Mode 5) and Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo slots; Microdrive support; user selects recording medium, without simultaneous dual-card recording (PhotographyBlog)
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 2.0 Hi-Speed; HDMI mini for still-image playback; NTSC/PAL video output; wired remote-release connector, flash sync and DC input; supplied software supports computer remote control
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4/5 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0.–
Battery life detailNP-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.NP-FM500H; Sony CIPA claim approximately 880 photographs per charge; optional VG-C90AM grip holds two batteries. PhotographyBlog achieved barely half the claim during its review use.
Charging–Supplied BC-VM10 external charger; optional AC-VQ900AM adaptor/charger
DimensionsApproximately 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9 mm (width × height × maximum depth); grip-to-monitor depth 72.8 mm.Approximately 156.3 × 116.9 × 81.9 mm (width × height × depth), excluding protrusions
Weight detailSony 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.Approximately 850 g without battery, memory card, lens or accessories; PhotographyBlog describes just under 930 g with battery, without providing a precise loaded figure
Materials–Magnesium-alloy front, rear and upper covers with aluminium internal chassis; seals reduce dust and moisture ingress. Sony explicitly says the camera is not waterproof or splash-proof.
Colours–Black
In the boxNP-FZ100 battery, BC-QZ1 charger, power cord, cable protector, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap and eyepiece cup, according to Sony UK.NP-FM500H battery, BC-VM10 charger and power cord, RMT-DSLR1 wireless remote, USB and video cables, shoulder strap, eyecup, remote clip, body and shoe caps, software CD

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