We've taken out the guesswork for you and have had a look at some of the key specifications for this latest camera by pitting it against each member of the Sony a7 range of Mirrorless Cameras.
If you are after a more in-depth look at new kid on the blog in particular, we recommend you read another of our blog posts - Sony a9: A Mirrorless Camera for Professionals
Sony a9 vs a7R II: Specs Comparison
This is the comparison that most people will be after - what's it like when compared with the Megapixel Monster that is the Sony a7R II?
There are elements to owners of the a7R II - or those looking to purchase the Sony a7R II - that will perfectly sate their needs when compared to the a9, but we aren't necessarily comparing the same kind of camera requirement here.
If you are a wildlife photographer, unless you are taking pictures of sloths, then the chances are that you'll plump for the burst mode beast that is the a9. Whereas landscape photographers may be swayed by that extra MP found in the a7R II.
We all know that the new monster will win all of these comparisons, as it is the flagship model - but winning all depends on the photographer's needs.
| Features | Sony a9 | Sony a7R II |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 24.2 Megapixels | 42.4 Megapixels |
| Continuous Shooting | 20 fps | 5 fps |
| Autofocus | 693-points | 399-points |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100 - 51,200 | ISO 100 - 25,600 |
| Video | 4K 30p/100Mbps (undersampled 6K) | 4K 30p/100Mbps |
| Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) | 3,686k-dot Quad-VGA OLED | 2,359-dot XGA OLED |
| LCD Screen | 1,440k-dot Touchscreen LCD | 1,228k-dot LCD |
| Battery Life | 480 shots (using EVF) 650 shots (LCD screen) | 290 shots (using EVF) 340 shots (LCD screen) |
| Weight | 673g | 625g |
It should also be noted that none of the Sony a7 cameras come with an ethernet port, or the ability to transfer images via FTP as well as being shy of one SD card slot (and UHS-II compatibility).
A nice surprise in the above comparison is the relative difference in weight - for extra feature sets and such a big difference in battery, the under 50g weight difference in the newer model is an impressive feat.
Sony a9 vs a7S II: Specs Comparison
This comparison once again does require a bit of thought about how you will be using your camera, but isn't as potentially black or white as landscape vs wildlife.
The USP of the Sony a7S and the Sony a7S II is that there is a huge ISO range on them, making them extra brilliant for low light photography or videography.
But the a9 has an ISO range of impressive proportions too, and the extra megapixels may well be an added temptation for added video and image quality at lower ISOs.
| Features | Sony a9 | Sony a7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 24.2 Megapixels | 12.2 Megapixels |
| Continuous Shooting | 20 fps | 5 fps |
| Autofocus | 693-points | 169-points |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100 - 51,200 | ISO 100 - 102,400 |
| Video | 4K 30p/100Mbps (undersampled 6K) | 4K 30p/16Mbps |
| Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) | 3,686k-dot Quad-VGA OLED | 2,359-dot XGA OLED |
| LCD Screen | 1,440k-dot Touchscreen LCD | 1,228k-dot LCD |
| Battery Life | 480 shots (using EVF) 650 shots (LCD screen) | 310 shots (using EVF) 370 shots (LCD screen) |
| Weight | 673g | 627g |
Once again the new flagship's battery life, dual SD card slots and connectivity win out against the a7S II - but the potential tempter for some could be that Electronic Viewfinder quality and some of the added features in form of custom menus, touch autofocus (great for videographers) and of course crazy, crazy continuous shooting.
Sony a9 vs a7 II: Specs Comparison
This is a slightly unfair comparison, and realistically if you are looking at the Sony a7 II you know that you're not in the market for a Sony a9 (and vice-versa).
However it is worth it if you are thinking about going for the Sony a7 II and realising that it is still a ridiculously capable camera, with good low-light performance, a not too shabby EVF and a lovely 24.3 MP full-frame sensor.
| Features | Sony a9 | Sony a7 II |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 24.2 Megapixels | 24.3 Megapixels |
| Continuous Shooting | 20 fps | 5 fps |
| Autofocus | 693-points | 117-points |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100 - 51,200 | ISO 100 - 25,600 |
| Video | 4K 30p/100Mbps (undersampled 6K) | Full HD 1080p 60p/50Mbps |
| Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) | 3,686k-dot Quad-VGA OLED | 2,359-dot XGA OLED |
| LCD Screen | 1,440k-dot Touchscreen LCD | 1,228k-dot LCD |
| Battery Life | 480 shots (using EVF) 650 shots (LCD screen) | 310 shots (using EVF) 370 shots (LCD screen) |
| Weight | 673g | 627g |
The a7 II also packs the same 5-axis image stabilisation, and actually should be flush with thanks from the a9 because it was the first of the Sony a7 cameras to adopt this excellent technology.
For those that are unsure why this is such a big feature - it enables steady imagery to be captured at slower shutter speeds, ideal for darker environments. It also enhances the use of older lenses when using an adaptor to change the mount type to work with your Sony E-mount camera, as it is effectively adding image stabilisation without requiring gubbins on-board the lens itself.
Sony a9 vs a7R: Specs Comparison
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| The Rear Screen |
Time in the camera industry, especially in the digital world, is a great divider and you can see that by some standout disparities in things like autofocus points, the video capabilities and the fact that the a7R does not benefit from any image stabilisation on board.
| Features | a9 | a7R |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 24.2 Megapixels | 36.4 Megapixels |
| Continuous Shooting | 20 fps | 4 fps |
| Autofocus | 693-points | 25-points |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100 - 51,200 | ISO 50 - 25,600 |
| Video | 4K 30p/100Mbps (undersampled 6K) | Full HD 1080p 50p/24Mbps |
| Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) | 3,686k-dot Quad-VGA OLED | 2,359-dot XGA OLED |
| LCD Screen | 1,440k-dot Touchscreen LCD | 921k-dot LCD |
| Battery Life | 480 shots (using EVF) 650 shots (LCD screen) | 340 shots |
| Weight | 673g | 465g |
It does also show that this modern tech does require a slightly bulkier body, but there have been internal changes with the stabilisation and some material changes too in order to make the a range more weather and dust resistant.
Sony a9 vs a7S: Specs Comparison
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| Sony's Latest Mirrorless Camera |
| Features | Sony a9 | Sony a7S |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 24.2 Megapixels | 12.2 Megapixels |
| Continuous Shooting | 20 fps | 4 fps |
| Autofocus | 693-points | 25-points |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100 - 51,200 | ISO 100 - 102,400 |
| Video | 4K 30p/100Mbps (undersampled 6K) | Full HD 1080p 50p/24Mbps |
| Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) | 3,686k-dot Quad-VGA OLED | 2,359-dot XGA OLED |
| LCD Screen | 1,440k-dot Touchscreen LCD | 921k-dot LCD |
| Battery Life | 480 shots (using EVF) 650 shots (LCD screen) | 380 shots |
| Weight | 673g | 489g |
Sony a9 vs a7: Specs Comparison
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| The New Camera's Grip |
Little did Sony probably realise what they had on their hands when releasing the a7 - in terms of what an actual game changer it has become, and what it has done to shape the world of photography since it was first released.
Great work Sony.
| Features | Sony a9 | Sony a7 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 24.2 Megapixels | 24.3 Megapixels |
| Continuous Shooting | 20 fps | 5 fps |
| Autofocus | 693-points | 117-points |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100 - 51,200 | ISO 100 - 25,600 |
| Video | 4K 30p/100Mbps (undersampled 6K) | Full HD 1080p 50p/28Mbps |
| Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) | 3,686k-dot Quad-VGA OLED | 2,359-dot XGA OLED |
| LCD Screen | 1,440k-dot Touchscreen LCD | 921k-dot LCD |
| Battery Life | 480 shots (using EVF) 650 shots (LCD screen) | 380 shots |
| Weight | 673g | 474g |
