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Sony

Alpha 9 III

Global shutter sports flagship with 120fps and zero rolling shutter for pro action.

$5,999

Launch price

Released Jan 2024

vs

Sony

HXR-NX800

AI-powered NXCAM with 1-inch Exmor RS sensor, 20x zoom, 4K60/120p HLG, variable ND, RTMP/SRT streaming, and Cinema Line color match.

$3,299

Launch price

Released Sep 2024

HXR-NX800 is 8 months newer.

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Wins

10categories

Alpha 9 III

Sports & ActionWildlife

Wins

4categories

HXR-NX800

WildlifeSports & Action

4 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

Alpha 9 III wins 3 categories·HXR-NX800 wins 2 categories
  • BHXR-NX800 has higher Burst (mechanical) (8 fps vs 0 fps)
  • AAlpha 9 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 20 fps)
  • AAlpha 9 III has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 200 Mbps)
  • AAlpha 9 III has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 3,690,000)
  • BHXR-NX800 has lower ISO min (native) (100 vs 250)

Key specs at a glance

Alpha 9 IIIHXR-NX800
Resolution24.6 MP14 MP
SensorFull FrameMFT
ISO max25,60025,600
Burst120 fps20 fps
4K120 fps60 fps
IBIS8-stop7-stop
Weight703 g580 g
Battery400 shots640 shots

Size and weight, to scale

Alpha 9 III

136 × 97 × 83 mm

703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

HXR-NX800

134 × 91 × 72 mm

580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)

Alpha 9 III is 2mm wider, 6mm taller, and 11mm thicker than HXR-NX800.

Alpha 9 III is 123 g heavier than HXR-NX800.

Depth (front-to-back): 83mm Alpha 9 III · 72mm HXR-NX800

Sensor size, to scale

Alpha 9 III

35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame

847 mm² area

HXR-NX800

17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds

225 mm² area

3.8× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

Alpha 9 III

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

HXR-NX800: mount data unavailable

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

Use caseAlpha 9 IIIHXR-NX800
Portrait
7.5Good✓ wins
4.0Fair
Sports & Action
10.0Excellent✓ wins
8.0Excellent
Video & Hybrid
8.0Excellent✓ wins
7.5Good
Landscape
7.0Good✓ wins
3.5Limited
Travel
7.0Good
7.5Good✓ wins
Wildlife
9.5Excellent✓ wins
9.0Excellent
Vlogging
5.5Fair
7.0Good✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

Alpha 9 III

  • AF low-light limit

    -5 EV vs -4 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

  • Max video bit rate

    600 Mbps vs 200 Mbps — higher is better

  • EVF resolution

    9,437,184 vs 3,690,000 — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Insect, Car/Train, Airplane

  • 4K max frame rate

    120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better

Reasons to choose

HXR-NX800

  • Burst (mechanical)

    8 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 134, 91, 72

  • ISO min (native)

    100 vs 250 — lower is better

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    640 shots vs 400 shots — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds ProRes

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Vehicle

  • Weight

    580 g vs 703 g — lower is better

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • ISO max (native)Both 25,600
  • AF points / zonesBoth 759
  • AF frame coverageBoth 94 %
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af

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

HXR-NX800

Pros

  • AI subject recognition AF + auto framing
  • 4K up to 60p / 120p slow motion
  • 20x 24–480mm f/2.8–4.5 zoom
  • Variable electronic ND filter
  • 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi + RTMP/SRT streaming

Cons

  • No SDI (HDMI only on NX800)
  • Heavier than palm-cam Z90
  • Premium over FDR-AX700
  • Requires learning AI AF settings

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the Alpha 9 III and HXR-NX800 at major authorized retailers.

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

Alpha 9 III
HXR-NX800
Resolution
24.6 MP+76%
14 MP
Sensor type
Full Frame Global Shutter Exmor RS CMOS
Four Thirds Live MOS
Sensor size
35.6 × 23.8 mm
17.3 × 13.0 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
Alpha 9 III
HXR-NX800
Processor
BIONZ XR + AI processing unit
BIONZ XR + AI processing unit
Alpha 9 III
HXR-NX800
ISO min (native)
250
100−150 less
ISO max (native)
25,600
25,600
ISO max (expanded)
51,200
102,400
Alpha 9 III
HXR-NX800
Shutter type
Global electronic shutter
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/80000 sec
1/16000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for portraits, Alpha 9 III or HXR-NX800?

Alpha 9 III scores 7.5/10 versus 4.0/10 for HXR-NX800 — 24.6MP — solid resolution.

What's the resolution difference between the Alpha 9 III and HXR-NX800?

Alpha 9 III is 24.6 MP and HXR-NX800 is 14 MP, so the Alpha 9 III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the Alpha 9 III and HXR-NX800 have in-body image stabilization?

Alpha 9 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while HXR-NX800 has 7-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the Alpha 9 III or the HXR-NX800?

Alpha 9 III reaches 120 fps electronic. HXR-NX800 reaches 20 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the Alpha 9 III and HXR-NX800?

Alpha 9 III weighs 703 g and HXR-NX800 weighs 580 g, so the HXR-NX800 is 123 g lighter.

Do the Alpha 9 III and HXR-NX800 record 4K video?

Alpha 9 III: 4K up to 120p. HXR-NX800: 4K up to 60p.

Are the Alpha 9 III and HXR-NX800 weather sealed?

Alpha 9 III: Yes. HXR-NX800: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 400 shots (CIPA) for the Alpha 9 III and 640 shots for the HXR-NX800, giving the HXR-NX800 the edge.

How much does each cost?

Alpha 9 III launched at $5,999 and HXR-NX800 at $3,299. The HXR-NX800 is $2,700 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way Alpha 9 III vs HXR-NX800 vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.