Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,499
Launch priceReleased Oct 2021
Sony
Alpha 6400
Popular APS-C body with fast AF and 11fps burst for enthusiasts.
$899
Launch priceReleased Feb 2019
Z9 is 2.7 years newer.
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Wins
Z9
Wins
Alpha 6400
1 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 6400 has higher Burst (mechanical) (11 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZ9 has higher IBIS effectiveness (6 stops vs 0 stops)
- AZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 46 frames)
- AZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 11 fps)
- AZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 29.97 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1160 g (2.56 lb / 40.92 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 6400
120 × 67 × 60 mm
403 g (0.89 lb / 14.22 oz)
Z9 is 29mm wider, 83mm taller, and 31mm thicker than Alpha 6400.
Z9 is 757 g heavier than Alpha 6400.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 60mm Alpha 6400
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 6400
120 × 67 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 6400
120 × 60 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Alpha 6400
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z9
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Alpha 6400
✓ 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 -2 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
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 46 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 11 fps — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 6400
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal
Burst (mechanical)
11 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC S, AVCHD
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 120, 66.9, 59.7
Card types
Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC…
Weight
403 g vs 1160 g — lower is better
EVF magnification
1.07 × vs 0.8 × — higher is better
ISO max (native)
32,000 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓1080p max frame rate — Both 120 fps
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
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 6400
Pros
- ✓Fast AF
- ✓Compact
- ✓Great value
Cons
- –No IBIS
- –Older design
- –No headphone jack
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Z9 and Alpha 6400 at major authorized retailers.
Sony Alpha 6400
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, Z9 or Alpha 6400?
Z9 scores 9.5/10 versus 2.0/10 for Alpha 6400 — 8K recording for future-proof footage.
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and Alpha 6400?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and Alpha 6400 is 24.2 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and Alpha 6400 have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 6400 does not have IBIS.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the Alpha 6400?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. Alpha 6400 reaches 11 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and Alpha 6400?
Z9 weighs 1160 g and Alpha 6400 weighs 403 g, so the Alpha 6400 is 757 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and Alpha 6400 record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 6400: 4K up to 29.97p.
Are the Z9 and Alpha 6400 weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. Alpha 6400: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 360 shots for the Alpha 6400, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,499 and Alpha 6400 at $899. The Alpha 6400 is $4,600 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way Z9 vs Alpha 6400 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.