Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Sony
FX2
Compact full-frame cinema camera with 4K 120p, S-Cinetone, and active cooling.
$2,499
Released Feb 2025
FX2 is 3.3 years newer.
Wins
Z9
Wins
FX2
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BFX2 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)
- BFX2 has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
- AZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
FX2
138 × 98 × 88 mm
720 g (1.59 lb / 25.40 oz)
Z9 is 11mm wider, 52mm taller, and 3mm thicker than FX2.
Z9 is 620 g heavier than FX2.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 88mm FX2
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
FX2
138 × 98 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
FX2
138 × 88 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
FX2
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z9
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
FX2
✓ 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
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 120 frames — higher is better
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only Z9 supports it
Reasons to choose
FX2
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 138, 98, 88
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
AA filter
Only FX2 supports it
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
720 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
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
FX2
Pros
- ✓4K 120p
- ✓S-Cinetone / S-Log3
- ✓Compact cinema body
- ✓Active cooling
Cons
- –No EVF
- –Photo ergonomics limited
- –Premium price
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, Z9 or FX2?
Z9 scores 9.0/10 versus 5.0/10 for FX2 — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and FX2?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and FX2 is 33 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and FX2 have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while fX2 has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the FX2?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. FX2 reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and FX2?
Z9 weighs 1340 g and FX2 weighs 720 g, so the FX2 is 620 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and FX2 record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. FX2: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z9 and FX2 weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. FX2: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 640 shots for the FX2, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,899 and FX2 at $2,499. The FX2 is $3,400 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.