Sony Alpha 9

    84
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    Highlights

    • 24.2 MP Full Frame Stacked CMOS Sensor
    • 100 - 51,200 Native ISO
    • 693 Focus Points
    • 5-Axis Image Stabilization
    • 3.0" 1,440k dot Tilting Screen
    • 0.5" 3,686k dot Electronic (OLED) Viewfinder with 120 fps Refresh Rate
    • 20.0 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 3840 x 2160 Video Shooting
    • 30 min Video Recording Limit
    • Built-In Wi-Fi
    • Wheather Sealed Body
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Sony Alpha 9 was announced in 2017 and is a Full Frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) Mirrorless camera with 24.2 Megapixel Stacked CMOS sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 100 to 51,200 and expands to 50 - 204,800 in boosted mode. The camera has a Tilting 3.0" screen with 1,440k dot resolution and built-in 0.5" Electronic (OLED) viewfinder with 3,686k dot resolution. It has a built-in 5-Axis Sensor Shift in body image stabilization.

    Sony Alpha 9 can capture video up to 3840 x 2160 resolution.


    Here is the Sony Alpha 9 series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Sony Alpha 9 series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Sony a9 III November
    2023
    24.6 MP
    Full Frame
    250 - 25,600 Articulated 3.2"
    2,360k dots
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Sony a9 II October
    2019
    24.2 MP
    Full Frame
    100 - 51,200 Tilting 3.0"
    1,440k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Sony a9 April
    2017
    24.2 MP
    Full Frame
    100 - 51,200 Tilting 3.0"
    1,440k dot
    Touchscreen

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Sony Alpha 9 III vs Alpha 9 II vs Alpha 9.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Sony Alpha 9.

    PROS

    •   Video Capture
    •   Stacked CMOS Sensor
    •   Large Sensor
    •   51,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   693 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Animal Eye Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Large Viewfinder - 0.5"
    •   No Blackout Viewfinder
    •   120 fps Viewfinder Refresh Rate
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Electronic) - 1/32000 sec
    •   High Max Continuous Shooting - 20.0 fps
    •   High DxO Overall Score - 92
    •   High Video Resolution - 3840 x 2160
    •   Webcam Functionality
    •   HDMI Output
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   Built-In Bluetooth
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   USB Charging
    •   2 Storage Slots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Built-in GPS

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Price
    •   Sensor Resolution - 24.2 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   -3 EV Min AF Detection
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,440k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 3,686k dot
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/250 sec
    •   Weight - 673 g (1.48 lb / 23.74 oz)
    •   Battery Life - 650 shots

    Successor

    In 2019 Sony Alpha 9 was replaced by Sony Alpha 9 II. Let us now have a look at some important differences between Sony Alpha 9 and its successor.

    UPGRADES Sony Alpha 9 II vs Sony Alpha 9
    Higher DxO Color Depth 25.0 vs 24.9
    Higher DxO Dynamic Range 14.0 vs 13.3
    Higher DxO Overall Score 93 vs 92
    Higher Video Recording Limit 13 hours vs 30 min
    Higher USB Speed USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Wi-Fi Version Wi-Fi 5, 802.11ac/b/g/n, 2.4/5 GHz vs 802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz
    Longer Battery Life 690 shots vs 650 shots
    DOWNGRADES Sony Alpha 9 II vs Sony Alpha 9
    Lower DxO Low Light ISO 3434 vs 3517
    Heavier 678 g (1.49 lb / 23.92 oz) vs 673 g (1.48 lb / 23.74 oz)

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Sony Alpha 9 vs Alpha 9 II.

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Tilting Touchscreen

    Sony Alpha 9 has a 3.0" Tilting touchscreen with 1,440k dot resolution. Tilting screen makes this camera very useful for photography purposes but not so useful for video shooting.

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    Sony Alpha 9 with Tilting screen


    Electronic (OLED) Viewfinder

    Camera has a built-in 0.5" Electronic (OLED) viewfinder with 3,686k dot resolution. It has a 100% coverage and 0.78x magnification.

    Sensor

    Stacked CMOS Sensor

    Sony Alpha 9 features a 24.2 megapixel Full Frame Stacked CMOS sensor with dimensions of 35.6 x 23.8 mm and a total area of 847.3 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 51,200 and expands to 50 - 204,800 in boosted mode.

    The camera has Stacked CMOS sensor. The key feature of such sensor is its three-dimensional structure, which consists of multiple layers of semiconductor material and circuitry stacked on top of each other. This allows the sensor to have dedicated layers for image capture and signal processing. This separation allows for faster data readout, reducing rolling shutter effects and enabling high-speed shooting and video recording. It is also more power-efficient.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Sony Alpha 9's Full Frame sensor compares with other types of sensors:

    Sensor size chart
    Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
    Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
    Image cannot be displayedFull Frame35.6 x 23.8 mm847.3 mm23:21x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.6 x 15.6 mm368.2 mm23:21.5x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
    Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
    Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

    Photography Features

    Camera is equipped with BIONZ X processor and can take pictures up to 6000 x 4000 resolution.


    Lens Mount

    Sony Alpha 9 has Sony E lens mount. Due to Full Frame sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 1x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length.


    In-Body Image Stabilization

    The camera has a built-in 5-Axis Sensor Shift in-body image stabilization (IBIS). This means that you are still getting vibration reduction when camera is paired with non-image stabilizied lenses. It also works with lenses with optical image stabilization and in combination can achieve even better compensation.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Sony Alpha 9.

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    Built-in Wi-Fi

    Camera has a built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz) which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
      Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.


    Bluetooth

    Camera has a built-in Bluetooth (version 4.1) which lets you to connect the camera to a smartphone or a dedicated remote control device. This allows you to remotely trigger the camera, adjust settings and controls remotely through a paired mobile app. While Wi-Fi is generally faster for transferring larger files, Bluetooth can be used for small, selective transfers, it can provide real-time information about your camera's battery status, memory card capacity, and other key settings directly on your paired smartphone or smartwatch.
      Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in Bluetooth.


    NFC

    Sony Alpha 9 has Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which simplifies the process of pairing it with other NFC-enabled devices like smartphones or tablets. It allows to quickly transfer photos and videos or remotely control the camera from compatible device. NFC can also be used for authentication and security purposes. It can verify your identity before accessing certain features or transferring sensitive data. It can be used with NFC-enabled accessories as well, such as lenses, flashes and GPS devices.


    USB Input and HDMI Output

    Sony Alpha 9 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Type-C input for data transfer and battery charging. There is a Micro HDMI connector for video signal output.


    Battery

    Sony Alpha 9 comes with NP-FZ100 battery pack with battery life of 650 shots.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) card slots.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Sony Alpha 9 has Electronic shutter and Mechanical Focal Plane shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/32000 sec with electronic shutter and up to 1/8000 sec with mechanical shutter. Camera can shoot continuously up to 20.0 fps.


    Focusing

    Sony Alpha 9 has Fast Hybrid AF (Phase-detection / Contrast-detection) system with 693 focusing points and from -3 to +20 EV detection range. Touch-to-Focus allows users to select a specific point on the screen where they want the camera to focus. This feature can be helpful for achieving precise focus in both photo and video recording. There is also face detection feature which automatically finds and focuses on faces and additional eye detection further locks the focus on one of the eyes and tracks it down during the motion.


    Exposure

    Camera's exposure metering ranges from -3 to +20 EV and you can set the exposure compensation within the ±5 EV range. You can also do exposure lock, exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment.


    Flash

    Sony Alpha 9 has no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected via Intelligent Hot Shoe or PC Terminal. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/250 sec. Flash compensation can be set from -3 to +3 EV with 1/3 or 1/2 EV step increments.

    Physical Parameters

    Sony Alpha 9 has dimensions of 127 x 96 x 63 mm (5 x 3.78 x 2.48"). It weighs 673 g (1.48 lb / 23.74 oz) which is neither heavy nor lightweight.

    127 mm (5")

    96 mm (3.78")

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    96 mm (3.78")

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    63 mm (2.48")

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    Sony Alpha 9 dimensions

    Sony Alpha 9 for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Sony Alpha 9 is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    EXCELLENT
    88

    Sony Alpha 9 gets a score of 88 and is EXCELLENT choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,440k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    GOOD
    84

    Sony Alpha 9 gets a score of 84 and is GOOD choice for Sports photography.

    •   51,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   693 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,440k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 3,686k dot
    •   No Blackout Viewfinder
    •   High Max Continuous Shooting - 20.0 fps
    •   Battery Life - 650 shots
    •   2 Storage Slots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    GOOD
    83

    Sony Alpha 9 gets a score of 83 and is GOOD choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   51,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   693 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Animal Eye Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,440k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 3,686k dot
    •   No Blackout Viewfinder
    •   High Max Continuous Shooting - 20.0 fps
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Battery Life - 650 shots
    •   2 Storage Slots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    EXCELLENT
    90

    Sony Alpha 9 gets a score of 90 and is EXCELLENT choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   693 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,440k dot
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/250 sec
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    EXCELLENT
    89

    Sony Alpha 9 gets a score of 89 and is EXCELLENT choice for Street photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   693 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,440k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 673 g (1.48 lb / 23.74 oz)

    Travel Photography

    EXCELLENT
    85

    Sony Alpha 9 gets a score of 85 and is EXCELLENT choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,440k dot
    •   High Video Resolution - 3840 x 2160
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 673 g (1.48 lb / 23.74 oz)
    •   Battery Life - 650 shots

    Sony Alpha 9 Evaluation

    We evaluate Sony Alpha 9 and give score of 84 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    84

    Sensor

    EXCELLENT
    85

    We give Sony Alpha 9 a score of 85 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Stacked CMOS Sensor
    •   Large Sensor
    •   Sensor Resolution - 24.2 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   51,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   High DxO Overall Score - 92

    Photo

    GOOD
    81

    We give Sony Alpha 9 a score of 81 for Photo parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Electronic) - 1/32000 sec
    •   High Max Continuous Shooting - 20.0 fps
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/250 sec

    Video

    AVERAGE
    62

    We give Sony Alpha 9 a score of 62 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   High Video Resolution - 3840 x 2160
    •   Webcam Functionality
    •   Low Video Recording Limit

    Focusing

    EXCELLENT
    92

    We give Sony Alpha 9 a score of 92 for Focusing parameters.

    •   -3 EV Min AF Detection
    •   693 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Animal Eye Detection

    Screen and Viewfinder

    EXCELLENT
    85

    We give Sony Alpha 9 a score of 85 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,440k dot
    •   Large Viewfinder - 0.5"
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 3,686k dot

    Connectivity

    EXCELLENT
    94

    We give Sony Alpha 9 a score of 94 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   HDMI Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    GOOD
    73

    We give Sony Alpha 9 a score of 73 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 673 g (1.48 lb / 23.74 oz)
    •   Battery Life - 650 shots
    •   2 Storage Slots


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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