The announcement of Sony A9 III set the stage for a fascinating battle between technology and performance. A direct comparison between the Sony A9 III and A9 II shows more than a generational change; it represents a significant leap forward in camera innovation. This guide examines the differences between these two cameras and provides a detailed Sony A9 III Vs A9 II comparison across various specifications. Understanding these differences will help you decide if upgrading aligns with your artistic ambitions, whether you are a professional or a passionate enthusiast.
See our guide on the top Sony cameras that you can purchase today or browse our buying guides.
Sensor
- A9 III: This model features a full-frame 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, with an ISO range from 100-51200. It can be expanded to 50-204800.
- A9 II: Features a 24.6-megapixel full frame global shutter CMOS with a native ISO range of 250-25600. This can be expanded to 125-511200. Global shutters are a major advancement, as they read the entire sensor all at once. This eliminates rolling shutter effects while allowing shutter speeds of up to 1/80000th second.
Sony A9 III’s 24.6-megapixel global shutter sensor offers distortion-free photos and a maximum shutter speed of 1/80000sec. The A9 III’s 24.6-megapixel full-frame global shutter sensor is a significant improvement over the A9 II, which had a 24.2-megapixel CMOS. It can capture crisp images with moving subjects.
Global Shutter
It’s worth taking a minute to examine the Sony A9 III and its groundbreaking global shutter full-frame sensor. This is a major innovation for professional photography. This is the biggest difference between Sony A9 III and A9 II in our comparison. This feature is innovative because it allows the entire sensor be read at once, eliminating any rolling shutter distortions that may occur when shooting fast-moving objects. This feature allows for an incredible shutter speed up to 1/80000th second. It provides unprecedented flexibility when capturing movement. It also allows flash sync to be performed at any speed. This gives you more creative control of lighting. The global shutter on the A9 III is a game changer for photographers who want the best in terms of image quality and speed. It’s also becoming a trademark for Sony.
Video
- A9 III: 4K recording without pixel binning, 6K information is collected for detailed footage.
- A9 II: Supports 10-bit 4:2;2 S-Log3/S Cinetone and 6K oversampling. This means better color grading and higher resolution video.
Sony’s A9 III is superior to its predecessor thanks to 6K oversampling, which provides better detail and color grading. The A9 III’s 4K video capabilities are enhanced by 10-bit 4:2;2 S-Log3/S Cinetone. This offers videographers an upgrade in quality and flexibility in post-production.
Autofocus
- A9 III: Features Sony’s Real Time AF Tracking with newly optimized AF algorithm for high precision.
- A9 II: Features the latest AI-based Real Time Recognition AF system. This is likely to offer an improvement over A9 II’s already robust autofocus capability.