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Sony Alpha 9 vs Sony Alpha 9 III

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyAlpha 9SonyAlpha 9 III
Overview
ReleasedMay 2017January 2024
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor typeBack-illuminated stacked Exmor RS CMOSStacked Exmor RS CMOS with global shutter
Sensor dimensions35.6 × 23.8 mm35.6 × 23.8 mm
Effective resolution24.2 MP24.6 MP
Largest image6000 × 40006000 × 4000
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–51200250–25600
Sensor detailApproximately 28.3 million total pixels; stacked sensor with integral memory and backside illumination.Approximately 25.2 million total pixels; integral memory and global exposure rather than sequential line exposure.
Image formatsJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.3 compressed or uncompressed RAW.JPEG, HEIF and Sony ARW 5.0 RAW.
ISO detailMechanical-shutter stills use standard ISO 100–51200, expandable to 50–204800. Electronic-shutter stills use ISO 100–25600 with expanded ISO 50. Movie ISO 100–51200, expandable to 102400.Standard ISO 250–25600 for stills and movies; stills expand to ISO 125–51200.
Image processorBIONZ X with front-end LSI.BIONZ XR with dedicated AI processing unit.
Lens and shooting
Lens mountSony E-mountSony E-mount
StabilisationSensor shiftSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst20 fps120 fps
AutofocusCurrent Sony specification lists 693 full-frame phase-detection points and 425 contrast-detection points; contrast points increased from 25 through firmware. Phase coverage approximately 93%; sensitivity EV −3 to 20 with an F2 lens at ISO 100. Current features include Real-time Tracking and Eye AF; launch reviews describe earlier firmware.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 20 fps electronic Hi with AF/AE tracking under Sony's supported-lens and exposure conditions; up to 12 fps with uncompressed RAW, or 5 fps mechanical. Maker buffer claim is 241 compressed RAW or 362 JPEG frames using a UHS-II card under its stated 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; Sony claims 5.0 stops under CIPA pitch/yaw conditions with Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA and long-exposure noise reduction off.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 resolution3840 × 2160 at 30 fps3840 × 2160 at 120 fps
Video detailXAVC S 3840 × 2160 at 30p/24p in NTSC mode or 25p PAL, up to 100 Mbps; Full HD 120p NTSC or 100p PAL is lower resolution. HDMI supports 8-bit 4:2:2 output. No video picture profiles or S-Log.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.
AudioBuilt-in stereo microphone; 3.5 mm stereo microphone and headphone sockets; compatible Multi Interface Shoe audio accessories.–
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 detail0.5-inch Quad-VGA OLED, 3686400 dots, 100% coverage and approximately 0.78× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; selectable 60/120 fps display.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)650 photographs530 photographs
Body weight588 g617 g
Release detailSony Japan lists 26 May 2017 for ILCE-9; this is the Japanese first-sale date, not a UK release claim.Sony UK announced availability in January 2024; Japan's announcement specifies 26 January. The main date retains UK month precision.
Recording mediaSlot 1 accepts UHS-I/UHS-II SD; slot 2 accepts UHS-I SD or Memory Stick Duo. Simultaneous and separate-format recording supported.Both slots accept CFexpress Type A or UHS-I/UHS-II SD.
PortsMulti/Micro USB, Micro HDMI Type D, wired LAN, sync terminal, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets and 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 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz; Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC; smartphone location linkage supported.Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4/5 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0.
Battery life detailNP-FZ100; CIPA approximately 650 photographs with LCD or 480 with viewfinder; USB 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 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7 mm (width × height × maximum depth); grip-to-monitor depth 63.0 mm.Approximately 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9 mm (width × height × maximum depth); grip-to-monitor depth 72.8 mm.
Weight detailSony Japan specifies approximately 588 g body only or 673 g with battery and memory card, excluding lens. The UK page labels 588 g as including battery/card, conflicting with the explicit Japanese split.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, AC-UUE12 AC adaptor, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap, eyepiece cup and Micro USB cable, according to Sony UK.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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