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Home → Comparison

Sony a9 vs Nikon Z7: What Should You Get?

By Jason Polak No Comments
Published On June 26, 2023

Sony a9 vs Nikon Z7 Specifications Comparison

Camera FeatureSony a9Nikon Z7
AnnouncedApril 2017August 2018
Camera TypeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor TypeStacked CMOSBSI CMOS
Image ProcessorBIONZ XEXPEED 6
Resolution24.2 MP45.7 MP
Pixel Dimensions6000×40008256×5504
Sensor Dimensions35.6 x 23.8 mm (Full Frame)35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame)
Sensor Pixel Size5.9µ4.35µ
Low Pass FilterYesNo
IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization)YesYes
Base ISOISO 100ISO 64
Max Native ISOISO 51,200ISO 25,600
Extended ISOsISO 50-204,800ISO 32-102,400
High-Resolution Sensor ShiftNoNo
Focus Stack BracketingNoYes
Pre-Shoot Burst ModeNoNo
Fastest Shutter Speed1/320001/8000
Longest Shutter Speed30 seconds30 seconds
Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter)5 FPS9 FPS
Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter)20 FPS9 FPS
Notes for High FPS ShootingCompressed 12-bit raw at 20 FPS (uncompressed 12-bit raw is available at 12 FPS)12-bit raw at 9 FPS (14-bit raw is available at 8 FPS)
Buffer Size (Raw)241 frames (20 FPS)23 frames (9 FPS)
Autofocus SystemHybrid PDAFHybrid PDAF
Autofocus Points693 493
Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100)-3 EV-4 EV
Standard Flash Sync Speed1/2501/200
Curtain to Protect Sensor at ShutdownNoNo
Video Features
Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal)8 bits8 bits
Maximum Video Bit Depth (External)8 bits10 (12 with paid upgrade)
Raw VideoNoNo (Yes, externally, with paid upgrade)
4K Maximum Framerate30 FPS30 FPS
1080P Maximum Framerate120 FPS120 FPS
Additional Video Crop Factor1.2x crop at 4K 30p (4K 24/25p has no additional crop)No
Chroma Subsampling4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External)4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External)
Video Recording Limit30 min30 min
Physical and Other Features
Card Slots2 1
Slot 1 TypeSD (UHS-II)CFExpress Type B
Slot 2 TypeSD (UHS-I)N/A
Rear LCD Size (Diagonal)3.0 in3.2 in
Rear LCD Resolution1.44 million dots2.1 million dots
Articulating LCDSingle AxisSingle Axis
TouchscreenYesYes
ViewfinderEVFEVF
Viewfinder Magnification0.78x0.8x
Viewfinder Resolution3.69 million dots3.69 million dots
Viewfinder Coverage100%100%
Voice MemoNoYes
Headphone JackYesYes
Microphone JackYesYes
Built-in FlashNoNo
GPSNoNo
BluetoothYesYes
WiFiYesYes
USB TypeType B 2.0Type C 3.1
Battery TypeNP-FZ100EN-EL15b
Battery Life (Viewfinder)480 frames330 frames
Battery Life (Rear LCD)650 frames400 frames
Weather SealedYesYes
Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card)588 g (1.30 lbs.)675 g (1.49 lbs.)
Dimensions (LxHxD)127 x 96 x 73 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9″)1134 x 101 x 83 mm (5.3 x 4.0 x 3.2″)2
Price Comparison
MSRP, Body Only$4500 (Discontinued)$3000 (Discontinued)
Used PricesSony a9 Used PricesNikon Z7 Used Prices
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.
2The Nikon Z7’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match the typical standards today, 15mm were added to the Z7’s depth measurement in this table.


Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!

Disclosures, Terms and Conditions and Support Options
Tagged With: Nikon Z7, Sony A9

About Jason Polak

Jason Polak is a bird and wildlife photographer from Ottawa, Canada. He has been interested in photography ever since he received a disposable film camera as a small child. His career as a mathematician led him to move to Australia in 2016, where he started seeing colorful parrots. A few casual shots with a lens completely unsuitable for birds got him hooked, and now wildlife photography is his biggest passion. Jason loves to show the beauty of animals to the world through photography, and one of his lifelong goals is to photograph five thousand species of birds. You can see more of Jason's work on his website or on his YouTube channel.

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