Sony a6400 vs Sony a9
This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a6400 and Sony a9. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.
Manufacturing
These cameras are both manufactured by Sony.
Sony a6400 were released 2019 and Sony a9 was released 2017. That is a 2 years difference. In tech, this period can be of interest since technology is always improving, etc.Camera | Released |
Sony a6400 | 2019 |
Sony a9 | 2017 |
Type of camera
Both these cameras are Mirrorless cameras. No difference there.
Sensors / crop factor
These cameras have different sensors. Sony a6400 has a "Sony APS-C"-sensor while Sony a9 has a "Sony Full Frame"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.
Camera | Focal length, 50mm f/1.8 ** |
Sony a6400 | 75 mm Sony APS-C sensor Crop factor/focal length multiplier by * 1.5 |
Sony a9 | 50 mm Full-frame sensor No crop factor/focal length multiplier |
** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"
Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)
Resolution
Both these cameras have the exact same resolution. Sony a6400 has a 24 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Sony a9 has 24 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:
Camera | Megapixels |
Sony a6400 |
24 MP
24000000 pixels 6000 x 4000 |
Sony a9 |
24 MP
24000000 pixels 6000 x 4000 |
ISO range
Sony a9 has a larger ISO-range than Sony a6400. Sony a9 has an ISO range that stretches from 100 to 51200 while Sony a6400 has 100 to 32000.
Camera | ISO Range |
Sony a6400 | 100-32000 |
Sony a9 | 100-51200 |
Autofocus and lens compatibility
Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.
Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a6400
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a9
Pictures per second
Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a6400 can shoot up to 11 pictures per seconds and Sony a9 can shoot up to 20 pictures per seconds.
Camera | FPS (Frames per second) |
Sony a6400 | 11 |
Sony a9 | 20 |
Ability to record movies
It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.
In this case, both Sony a6400 and Sony a9 can shoot movies.
Weight
The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.
Sony a9 weighs 673 gr (equal to 1.48 lb) which is 67% heavier than Sony a6400 and its 403 gr (or 0.89 lb).
Camera | Weight |
Sony a6400 | 403 gr 0.89 lb |
Sony a9 | 673 gr 1.48 lb |
Sony a6400 vs Sony a9 Specs
Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a6400 and Sony a9, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.
Product |
Sony a6400 |
Sony a9 |
Name | Sony a6400 | Sony a9 |
Manufacturer | Sony | Sony |
Release Date and Price |
Sony a6400 |
Sony a9 |
Release Year | 2019 | 2017 |
Release Date | 2019-01-15 | 2017-04-19 |
MSRP | 899 USD | 4499 USD |
Buy it today | ||
Camera Type |
Sony a6400 |
Sony a9 |
Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
Sensor |
Sony a6400 |
Sony a9 |
Sensor Size | APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm) | Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm) |
Sensor Type | CMOS | Stacked CMOS |
Resolution | 6000 x 4000 pixels | 6000 x 4000 pixels |
Megapixels | 24 MP | 24 MP |
Image Processor | Bionz X | Bionz X |
Image |
Sony a6400 |
Sony a9 |
ISO Range | 100 - 32000 | 100 - 51200 |
White Balance Presets | 10 | 10 |
Custom White Balance | Yes | Yes |
Image Stabilization | No |
Yes (Sensor-Shift (5-axis)) |
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating | 0 stops | 0 stops |
Uncompressed format | RAW | RAW |
Optics & Focus |
Sony a6400 |
Sony a9 |
Autofocus Motor | Yes | Yes |
Autofocus |
Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Tracking Single Continuous Touch Face Detection LiveView |
Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Tracking Single Continuous Touch Face Detection LiveView |
Focus Points | 425 | 693 |
Lens Mount |
Sony E See Compatible Lenses |
Sony E See Compatible Lenses |
Focal Length Multiplier |
APS-C Sensor (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm |
Full frame No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 mm |
Screen & Viewfinder |
Sony a6400 |
Sony a9 |
Articulated LCD | Tilting | Tilting |
Screen size | 3” | 3” |
Screen dots | 921600 | 1440000 |
Touch screen | Yes | Yes |
Screen type | TFT LCD | TFT LCD |
Live view | Yes | Yes |
Viewfinder Type | Electronic | Electronic |
Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder Magnification | 1.07× (0.71× 35mm equiv.) | 0.78x |
Viewfinder Resolution | 2359296 | 3686400 |
Photography features |
Sony a6400 |
Sony a9 |
Frames per second | 11 fps | 20 fps |
Minimum Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Built-in Flash | Yes | No |
Built-in Flash Range | 6 meters | N/A |
External Flash | Yes | Yes |
Self-Timer | Yes | Yes |
Time-lapse | Yes | No |
Metering modes |
Multi Center Weighted Highlight Weighted Spot Average |
Multi Center Weighted Highlight Weighted Spot Average |
Exposure Compensation | +/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) | +/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
Videography features |
Sony a6400 |
Sony a9 |
Video recording | Yes | Yes |
Video format |
MPEG4 H.264 |
MPEG4 H.264 AVCHD |
Video resolution |
1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160 |
1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160 |
Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
Built-in Speakers | Yes | Yes |
Storage |
Sony a6400 |
Sony a9 |
Memory Card |
Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC |
SD/SDHC |
Connectivity |
Sony a6400 |
Sony a9 |
HDMI Output | Yes | Yes |
Microphone Port | Yes | Yes |
Headphone Port | No | Yes |
Wireless |
Yes Built-in (802.11b/g/n + NFC + Bluetooth 4.1) |
Yes Built-in (802.11/b/g/n with NFC) |
Remote Control | Yes (via smartphone) | Yes (Wired or wireless) |
GPS | No | No |
Body & Dimensions |
Sony a6400 |
Sony a9 |
Enviromentally sealed | Yes | Yes |
Battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery Details |
NP-FW50
|
NP-FZ100
|
Battery Life (CIPA) | 410 shots | 650 shots |
Width | 120 mm | 127 mm |
Height | 67 mm | 96 mm |
Depth | 60 mm | 63 mm |
Weight | 403 gram | 673 gram |