Sony
Alpha 9 II
24MP sports body with 20fps and proven pro workflow.
$4,499
Released Oct 2019
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 4.3 years newer.
Wins
Alpha 9 II
Wins
Alpha 9 III
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AAlpha 9 II has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 0 fps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 20 fps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 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 3,686,400)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Alpha 9 II
129 × 96 × 78 mm
678 g (1.49 lb / 23.92 oz)
Alpha 9 III
136 × 97 × 83 mm
703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)
Alpha 9 II is 7mm narrower, 1mm shorter, and 5mm thinner than Alpha 9 III.
Alpha 9 II is 25 g lighter than Alpha 9 III.
Depth (front-to-back): 78mm Alpha 9 II · 83mm Alpha 9 III
Sensor size, to scale
Alpha 9 II
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
Alpha 9 III
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Alpha 9 II
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
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
Alpha 9 II
Burst (mechanical)
10 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 128.9, 96.4, 77.5
ISO min (native)
100 vs 250 — lower is better
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
690 shots vs 400 shots — higher is better
Codecs
Adds AVCHD
Weight
678 g vs 703 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 9 III
AF low-light limit
-5 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 20 fps — higher is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Bird, Insect, Car/Train…
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 3,686,400 — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S-I, H.265
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 94 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓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.
Alpha 9 II
Pros
- ✓20fps silent burst
- ✓Sports AF
- ✓Dual slots
Cons
- –24MP resolution
- –Older than A9 III
- –No global shutter
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, Alpha 9 II or Alpha 9 III?
Alpha 9 III scores 9.0/10 versus 5.0/10 for Alpha 9 II — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Alpha 9 II and Alpha 9 III?
Alpha 9 II is 24.2 MP and Alpha 9 III is 24.6 MP, so the Alpha 9 III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Alpha 9 II and Alpha 9 III have in-body image stabilization?
Alpha 9 II has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 9 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Alpha 9 II or the Alpha 9 III?
Alpha 9 II reaches 20 fps electronic. Alpha 9 III reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Alpha 9 II and Alpha 9 III?
Alpha 9 II weighs 678 g and Alpha 9 III weighs 703 g, so the Alpha 9 II is 25 g lighter.
Do the Alpha 9 II and Alpha 9 III record 4K video?
Alpha 9 II: 4K up to 30p. Alpha 9 III: 4K up to 120p.
Are the Alpha 9 II and Alpha 9 III weather sealed?
Alpha 9 II: Yes. Alpha 9 III: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 690 shots (CIPA) for the Alpha 9 II and 400 shots for the Alpha 9 III, giving the Alpha 9 II the edge.
How much does each cost?
Alpha 9 II launched at $4,499 and Alpha 9 III at $5,999. The Alpha 9 II is $1,500 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.