Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Sony
Alpha 7S III
12MP low-light video specialist with 4K 120p, 16-bit RAW HDMI, and excellent autofocus.
$3,499
Released Sep 2020
Z9 is 1.2 years newer.
Wins
Z9
Wins
Alpha 7S III
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7S III has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 10 fps)
- AZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 120 frames)
- BAlpha 7S III has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
- AZ9 has higher Resolution (45.7 MP vs 12.1 MP)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
Alpha 7S III
129 × 97 × 81 mm
699 g (1.54 lb / 24.66 oz)
Z9 is 20mm wider, 53mm taller, and 10mm thicker than Alpha 7S III.
Z9 is 641 g heavier than Alpha 7S III.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 81mm Alpha 7S III
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Alpha 7S III
129 × 97 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Alpha 7S III
129 × 81 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Alpha 7S III
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z9
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Alpha 7S III
✓ 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 -6 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
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 120 frames — higher is better
Resolution
45.7 MP vs 12.1 MP — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7S III
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal
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 128.9, 96.9, 80.8
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 3,690,000 — higher is better
AA filter
Only Alpha 7S III supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 120 fps
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
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 7S III
Pros
- ✓Best-in-class low light
- ✓4K 120p
- ✓Full-size HDMI
- ✓Strong IBIS
Cons
- –12MP stills limit
- –Older generation now
- –No 8K
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, Z9 or Alpha 7S III?
Z9 scores 9.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for Alpha 7S III — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and Alpha 7S III?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and Alpha 7S III is 12.1 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and Alpha 7S III have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 7S III has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the Alpha 7S III?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. Alpha 7S III reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and Alpha 7S III?
Z9 weighs 1340 g and Alpha 7S III weighs 699 g, so the Alpha 7S III is 641 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and Alpha 7S III record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 7S III: 4K up to 120p.
Are the Z9 and Alpha 7S III weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. Alpha 7S III: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 600 shots for the Alpha 7S III, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,899 and Alpha 7S III at $3,499. The Alpha 7S III is $2,400 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.