Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,499
Launch priceReleased Oct 2021
Sony
FX3
Compact full-frame cinema line camera with S-Cinetone and pro video ergonomics.
$3,899
Launch priceReleased Feb 2021
Z9 is 8 months newer.
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Wins
Z9
Wins
FX3
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BFX3 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)
- BFX3 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
1160 g (2.56 lb / 40.92 oz)
FX3
130 × 78 × 85 mm
715 g (1.58 lb / 25.22 oz)
Z9 is 19mm wider, 72mm taller, and 6mm thicker than FX3.
Z9 is 445 g heavier than FX3.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 85mm FX3
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
FX3
130 × 78 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
FX3
130 × 85 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
FX3
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z9
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
FX3
✓ 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
FX3
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 129.7, 77.8, 84.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better
AA filter
Only FX3 supports it
Weight
715 g vs 1160 g — lower is better
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
FX3
Pros
- ✓Cinema form factor
- ✓S-Log3 / S-Cinetone
- ✓Compact for gimbals
- ✓Full-frame sensor
Cons
- –No EVF
- –Still photo ergonomics limited
- –Single card slot
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Z9 and FX3 at major authorized retailers.
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, Z9 or FX3?
Z9 scores 9.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for FX3 — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and FX3?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and FX3 is 12.1 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and FX3 have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while fX3 has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the FX3?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. FX3 reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and FX3?
Z9 weighs 1160 g and FX3 weighs 715 g, so the FX3 is 445 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and FX3 record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. FX3: 4K up to 120p.
Are the Z9 and FX3 weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. FX3: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 580 shots for the FX3, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,499 and FX3 at $3,899. The FX3 is $1,600 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.