Sony a9 vs Canon EOS R5 Specifications
| Camera Feature | Sony a9 | Canon EOS R5 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | April 2017 | July 2020 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | Stacked CMOS | CMOS |
| Image Processor | BIONZ X | DIGIC X |
| Resolution | 24.2 MP | 45.0 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 6000×4000 | 8192×5464 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 35.6 x 23.8 mm (Full Frame) | 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 5.9µ | 4.4µ |
| Low Pass Filter | Yes | Yes |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | Yes | Yes |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 51,200 | ISO 51,200 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-204,800 | ISO 50-102,400 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | No | Yes (JPEG only) |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | No | Yes |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | No | No |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/32000 | 1/8000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 5 FPS | 12 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 20 FPS | 20 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | Compressed 12-bit raw at 20 FPS (uncompressed 12-bit raw is available at 12 FPS) | None |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 241 frames (20 FPS) | 83 frames (20 FPS), 180 frames (12 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF | Hybrid PDAF |
| Autofocus Points | 693 | 1053 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -3 EV | -4.5 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 | 1/250 |
| Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | No | Yes |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 8 bits | 12 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 8 bits | 12 bits |
| Raw Video | No | Yes |
| 8K Maximum Framerate | N/A | 30 FPS |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 30 FPS | 120 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | 1.2x crop at 4K 30p (4K 24/25p has no additional crop) | No |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) | 4:2:2 |
| Video Recording Limit | 30 min | 30 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-II) | CFExpress Type B |
| Slot 2 Type | SD (UHS-I) | SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.0 in | 3.2 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 1.44 million dots | 2.1 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Single Axis | Fully Articulating |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.78x | 0.76x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 3.69 million dots | 5.76 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | No | Yes |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| GPS | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Type B 2.0 | Type C 3.1 |
| Battery Type | NP-FZ100 | LP-E6NH |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 480 frames | 220 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 650 frames | 320 frames |
| Battery Life (Eco Mode) | N/A | 490 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 588 g (1.30 lbs.) | 738 g (1.63 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 127 x 96 x 73 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9″)1 | 138 x 98 x 88 mm (5.4 x 3.8 x 3.5″) |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $4500 (Discontinued) | $3900 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Sony a9 Used Prices (eBay Partner Program affiliate link) | Canon EOS R5 Used Prices (eBay Partner Program affiliate link) |
| 1The Sony a9’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match typical standards today, 10mm were added to the a9’s depth measurement in this table. | ||
Summary and Recommendations
What does the Sony a9 offer over the Canon EOS R5?
- Better battery life when using the viewfinder, with approximately 260 more shots according to CIPA measurements
- Lighter weight (150g lighter or about 1.3 times lighter)
What does the Canon EOS R5 offer over the Sony a9?
- 1.86 times more megapixels (24.2MP vs 45.0MP)
- Higher resolution rear display and electronic viewfinder
- Significantly better video features
Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!
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