Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Sony
Alpha 1 II
50MP stacked flagship with 30fps RAW, 8K video, and Sony's fastest hybrid performance.
$6,499
Released Nov 2024
Alpha 1 II is 3.1 years newer.
Wins
Z9
Wins
Alpha 1 II
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 1 II has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 200 frames)
- AZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 3,690,000)
- BAlpha 1 II has lower Weight (743 g vs 1340 g)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
Alpha 1 II
136 × 97 × 83 mm
743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)
Z9 is 13mm wider, 53mm taller, and 8mm thicker than Alpha 1 II.
Z9 is 597 g heavier than Alpha 1 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 83mm Alpha 1 II
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Alpha 1 II
136 × 97 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Alpha 1 II
136 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Alpha 1 II
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z9
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Alpha 1 II
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 200 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
ISO min (native)
64 vs 100 — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 1 II
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Burst (mechanical)
10 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 3,690,000 — higher is better
AA filter
Only Alpha 1 II supports it
Weight
743 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 120 fps
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Alpha 1 II
Pros
- ✓50MP stacked sensor
- ✓30fps blackout-free burst
- ✓8K 30p video
- ✓Best Sony AF
Cons
- –Very expensive
- –Complex menus
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, Z9 or Alpha 1 II?
Alpha 1 II scores 9.5/10 versus 5.5/10 for Z9 — 30fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and Alpha 1 II?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP, so the Alpha 1 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and Alpha 1 II have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the Alpha 1 II?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and Alpha 1 II?
Z9 weighs 1340 g and Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g, so the Alpha 1 II is 597 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and Alpha 1 II record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the Z9 and Alpha 1 II weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. Alpha 1 II: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 520 shots for the Alpha 1 II, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,899 and Alpha 1 II at $6,499. The Z9 is $600 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.