Sony
Alpha 9 III
Global shutter sports flagship with 120fps and zero rolling shutter for pro action.
$5,999
Released Jan 2024
Sony
FX30
Super 35 cinema camera with 4K 120p and affordable entry to Sony Cinema Line.
$1,799
Released Sep 2022
Alpha 9 III is 1.3 years newer.
Wins
Alpha 9 III
Wins
FX30
4 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BFX30 has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 0 fps)
- AAlpha 9 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 10 fps)
- AAlpha 9 III has higher RAW buffer depth (200 frames vs 60 frames)
- BFX30 has lower ISO min (native) (100 vs 250)
- AAlpha 9 III has higher IBIS effectiveness (8 stops vs 5 stops)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Alpha 9 III
136 × 97 × 83 mm
703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)
FX30
130 × 78 × 85 mm
646 g (1.42 lb / 22.79 oz)
Alpha 9 III is 2mm thinner than FX30 but it is also 6mm wider and 19mm taller.
Alpha 9 III is 57 g heavier than FX30.
Depth (front-to-back): 83mm Alpha 9 III · 85mm FX30
Sensor size, to scale
Alpha 9 III
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
FX30
23.3 × 15.5 mm · APS-C
361 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Alpha 9 III
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
FX30
✓ 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 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 10 fps — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
200 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Bird, Insect, Car/Train…
AA filter
Only Alpha 9 III supports it
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only Alpha 9 III supports it
IBIS effectiveness
8 stops vs 5 stops — higher is better
Reasons to choose
FX30
Burst (mechanical)
10 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 129.7, 77.8, 84.5
ISO min (native)
100 vs 250 — lower is better
Battery life (CIPA)
570 shots vs 400 shots — higher is better
ISO max (native)
32,000 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
646 g vs 703 g — lower is better
Resolution
26 MP vs 24.6 MP — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 94 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 120 fps
- ✓Max video bit rate — Both 600 Mbps
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
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
FX30
Pros
- ✓4K 120p
- ✓Affordable cinema
- ✓Active cooling
- ✓Log profiles
Cons
- –Super 35 crop
- –26MP stills crop
- –No full-frame
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, Alpha 9 III or FX30?
Alpha 9 III scores 9.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for FX30 — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Alpha 9 III and FX30?
Alpha 9 III is 24.6 MP and FX30 is 26 MP, so the FX30 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Alpha 9 III and FX30 have in-body image stabilization?
Alpha 9 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while fX30 has 5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Alpha 9 III or the FX30?
Alpha 9 III reaches 120 fps electronic. FX30 reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Alpha 9 III and FX30?
Alpha 9 III weighs 703 g and FX30 weighs 646 g, so the FX30 is 57 g lighter.
Do the Alpha 9 III and FX30 record 4K video?
Alpha 9 III: 4K up to 120p. FX30: 4K up to 120p.
Are the Alpha 9 III and FX30 weather sealed?
Alpha 9 III: Yes. FX30: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 400 shots (CIPA) for the Alpha 9 III and 570 shots for the FX30, giving the FX30 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Alpha 9 III launched at $5,999 and FX30 at $1,799. The FX30 is $4,200 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.