Sigma
sd Quattro H
Foveon sensor APS-H body with unique color rendering for stills purists.
$1,299
Released Mar 2016
Sony
Alpha 9 III
Global shutter sports flagship with 120fps and zero rolling shutter for pro action.
$5,999
Released Jan 2024
Alpha 9 III is 7.9 years newer.
Wins
sd Quattro H
Wins
Alpha 9 III
3 categories tied
Check current prices
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TL;DR — Key differences
- Asd Quattro H has higher Burst (mechanical) (6 fps vs 0 fps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 49)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 15 fps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 2,360,000)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
sd Quattro H
138 × 98 × 88 mm
520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)
Alpha 9 III
136 × 97 × 83 mm
703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)
sd Quattro H is 2mm wider, 1mm taller, and 5mm thicker than Alpha 9 III.
sd Quattro H is 183 g lighter than Alpha 9 III.
Depth (front-to-back): 88mm sd Quattro H · 83mm Alpha 9 III
Sensor size, to scale
sd Quattro H
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
Alpha 9 III
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
sd Quattro H: mount data unavailable
Alpha 9 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
sd Quattro H
Burst (mechanical)
6 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
ISO min (native)
100 vs 250 — lower is better
Resolution
44.8 MP vs 24.6 MP — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 400 shots — higher is better
Weight
520 g vs 703 g — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds Vehicle
Reasons to choose
Alpha 9 III
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
AF points / zones
759 vs 49 — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
200 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
AA filter
Only Alpha 9 III supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓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.
sd Quattro H
Pros
- ✓Unique Foveon color
- ✓High detail per pixel
- ✓Distinct look
Cons
- –Slow operation
- –Poor low light
- –Limited lens range
Alpha 9 III
Pros
- ✓Global shutter 120fps
- ✓Zero rolling shutter
- ✓Pro sports AF
- ✓Pre-capture buffer
Cons
- –24.6MP only
- –Premium price
- –Battery drain at max speed
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, sd Quattro H or Alpha 9 III?
Alpha 9 III scores 9.0/10 versus 6.0/10 for sd Quattro H — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the sd Quattro H and Alpha 9 III?
sd Quattro H is 44.8 MP and Alpha 9 III is 24.6 MP, so the sd Quattro H captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the sd Quattro H and Alpha 9 III have in-body image stabilization?
sd Quattro H has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 9 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the sd Quattro H or the Alpha 9 III?
sd Quattro H reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 9 III reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the sd Quattro H and Alpha 9 III?
sd Quattro H weighs 520 g and Alpha 9 III weighs 703 g, so the sd Quattro H is 183 g lighter.
Do the sd Quattro H and Alpha 9 III record 4K video?
sd Quattro H: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 9 III: 4K up to 120p.
Are the sd Quattro H and Alpha 9 III weather sealed?
sd Quattro H: Yes. Alpha 9 III: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the sd Quattro H and 400 shots for the Alpha 9 III, giving the sd Quattro H the edge.
How much does each cost?
sd Quattro H launched at $1,299 and Alpha 9 III at $5,999. The sd Quattro H is $4,700 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.