Sigma
sd Quattro
Foveon APS-C body delivering exceptional per-pixel detail for stills purists.
$999
Launch priceReleased Feb 2016
Sony
Alpha 9 III
Global shutter sports flagship with 120fps and zero rolling shutter for pro action.
$5,999
Launch priceReleased Jan 2024
Alpha 9 III is 7.9 years newer.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.
Wins
sd Quattro
Wins
Alpha 9 III
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- Asd Quattro has higher Burst (mechanical) (6 fps vs 0 fps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 9)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 15 fps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher ISO max (native) (25,600 vs 6,400)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
sd Quattro
147 × 95 × 91 mm
625 g (1.38 lb / 22.05 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 9 III
136 × 97 × 83 mm
703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)
sd Quattro is 2mm shorter than Alpha 9 III but it is also 11mm wider and 8mm thicker.
sd Quattro is 78 g lighter than Alpha 9 III.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm sd Quattro · 83mm Alpha 9 III
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
sd Quattro
147 × 95 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 9 III
136 × 97 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
sd Quattro
147 × 91 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 9 III
136 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
sd Quattro
23.5 × 15.5 mm · APS-C
364 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: 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
Burst (mechanical)
6 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 147, 95.1, 90.8
Card types
Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC
ISO min (native)
100 vs 250 — lower is better
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 400 shots — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Vehicle
EVF magnification
1.09 × vs 0.9 × — higher is better
Resolution
29 MP vs 24.6 MP — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 9 III
AF low-light limit
-5 EV vs -1 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
AF points / zones
759 vs 9 — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
ISO max (native)
25,600 vs 6,400 — 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
Both cameras share
- ✓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 (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
sd Quattro
Pros
- ✓Unique Foveon color
- ✓High acutance
- ✓Distinct rendering
Cons
- –Slow
- –Poor high ISO
- –SA mount limited
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
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the sd Quattro and Alpha 9 III at major authorized retailers.
Sigma sd Quattro
Sony Alpha 9 III
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, sd Quattro or Alpha 9 III?
Alpha 9 III scores 10.0/10 versus 6.5/10 for sd Quattro — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the sd Quattro and Alpha 9 III?
sd Quattro is 29 MP and Alpha 9 III is 24.6 MP, so the sd Quattro captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the sd Quattro and Alpha 9 III have in-body image stabilization?
sd Quattro 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 or the Alpha 9 III?
sd Quattro reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 9 III reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the sd Quattro and Alpha 9 III?
sd Quattro weighs 625 g and Alpha 9 III weighs 703 g, so the sd Quattro is 78 g lighter.
Do the sd Quattro and Alpha 9 III record 4K video?
sd Quattro: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 9 III: 4K up to 120p.
Are the sd Quattro and Alpha 9 III weather sealed?
sd Quattro: Yes. Alpha 9 III: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the sd Quattro and 400 shots for the Alpha 9 III, giving the sd Quattro the edge.
How much does each cost?
sd Quattro launched at $999 and Alpha 9 III at $5,999. The sd Quattro is $5,000 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way sd Quattro vs Alpha 9 III vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.
Product images courtesy of Sigma and Sony press materials.