Sony
Alpha 9 III
Global shutter sports flagship with 120fps and zero rolling shutter for pro action.
$5,999
Launch priceReleased Jan 2024
Sony
PXW-Z90
Palm-sized XDCAM with 1-inch Exmor RS sensor, 12x Zeiss zoom, Fast Hybrid AF, 3G-SDI, dual XLR, and XAVC 4K up to 30p.
$2,799
Launch priceReleased Dec 2017
Alpha 9 III is 6.2 years newer.
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Wins
Alpha 9 III
Wins
PXW-Z90
4 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BPXW-Z90 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)
- BPXW-Z90 has lower ISO min (native) (100 vs 250)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to shareAlpha 9 III
136 × 97 × 83 mm
703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
PXW-Z90
134 × 91 × 72 mm
580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)
Alpha 9 III is 2mm wider, 6mm taller, and 11mm thicker than PXW-Z90.
Alpha 9 III is 123 g heavier than PXW-Z90.
Depth (front-to-back): 83mm Alpha 9 III · 72mm PXW-Z90
Sensor size, to scale
Alpha 9 III
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
PXW-Z90
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 lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
PXW-Z90: 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
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
PXW-Z90
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 filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
- ✓AF points / zones — Both 759
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 94 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both 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
PXW-Z90
Pros
- ✓1-inch stacked Exmor RS (14.2MP)
- ✓273-point Fast Hybrid AF
- ✓Built-in ND (1/4, 1/16, 1/64)
- ✓3G-SDI + dual XLR handle
- ✓S-Log3 / HLG / S-Cinetone
Cons
- –4K limited to 30p
- –Small palm body ergonomics
- –XAVC 100Mbps max in 4K
- –Superseded by newer NX800/Z200 line
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Alpha 9 III and PXW-Z90 at major authorized retailers.
Sony Alpha 9 III
Sony PXW-Z90
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for portraits, Alpha 9 III or PXW-Z90?
Alpha 9 III scores 7.5/10 versus 4.0/10 for PXW-Z90 — 24.6MP — solid resolution.
What's the resolution difference between the Alpha 9 III and PXW-Z90?
Alpha 9 III is 24.6 MP and PXW-Z90 is 14.2 MP, so the Alpha 9 III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Alpha 9 III and PXW-Z90 have in-body image stabilization?
Alpha 9 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while PXW-Z90 has 7-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Alpha 9 III or the PXW-Z90?
Alpha 9 III reaches 120 fps electronic. PXW-Z90 reaches 20 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Alpha 9 III and PXW-Z90?
Alpha 9 III weighs 703 g and PXW-Z90 weighs 580 g, so the PXW-Z90 is 123 g lighter.
Do the Alpha 9 III and PXW-Z90 record 4K video?
Alpha 9 III: 4K up to 120p. PXW-Z90: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Alpha 9 III and PXW-Z90 weather sealed?
Alpha 9 III: Yes. PXW-Z90: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 400 shots (CIPA) for the Alpha 9 III and 640 shots for the PXW-Z90, giving the PXW-Z90 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Alpha 9 III launched at $5,999 and PXW-Z90 at $2,799. The PXW-Z90 is $3,200 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way Alpha 9 III vs PXW-Z90 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.