Sony a9 vs Canon EOS 1D X

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a9 and Canon EOS 1D X. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Sony a9 is manufacturered by Sony but Canon EOS 1D X is from Canon. Both Sony and Canon are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Sony a9 is a Mirrorless camera while Canon EOS 1D X is a DSLR camera. More information about their differences will come soon.

Sensors / crop factor

Even though the camera sensors might be called differently they are both considered Full frame which means that the focal length of the lenses is not affected. There is no crop factor on any of these cameras and sensors.

** 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)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Canon)

Resolution

Sony a9 has a 24 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Canon EOS 1D X has 18,1 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Sony a9 has a 34 % larger resolution than Canon EOS 1D X. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.

ISO range

Both of these cameras offer the exact same ISO range. They both have 100 to 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 a9
Lens compatibility chart for Canon EOS 1D X

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a9 can shoot up to 20 pictures per seconds and Canon EOS 1D X can shoot up to 12 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

In this case, both Sony a9 and Canon EOS 1D X 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.

Canon EOS 1D X weighs 1340 gr (equal to 2.95 lb) which is 99% heavier than Sony a9 and its 673 gr (or 1.48 lb).

Sony a9 vs Canon EOS 1D X Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a9 and Canon EOS 1D X, 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 a9	Canon EOS 1D X
Name	Sony a9	Canon EOS 1D X
Manufacturer	Sony	Canon
Release Date and Price	Sony a9	Canon EOS 1D X
Release Year	2017	2011
Release Date	2017-04-19	2011-10-18
MSRP	4499 USD	6799 USD
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Camera Type	Sony a9	Canon EOS 1D X
Camera Type	Mirrorless	DSLR
Sensor	Sony a9	Canon EOS 1D X
Sensor Size	Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm)	Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm)
Sensor Type	Stacked CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	6000 x 4000 pixels	5184 x 3456 pixels
Megapixels	24 MP	18,1 MP
Image Processor	Bionz X	DUAL DIGIC 5+
Image	Sony a9	Canon EOS 1D X
ISO Range	100 - 51200	100 - 51200
White Balance Presets	10	6
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	Yes (Sensor-Shift (5-axis))	No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Sony a9	Canon EOS 1D X
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 Selective Single Point Tracking Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView
Focus Points	693	61
Lens Mount	Sony E See Compatible Lenses	Canon EF See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	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	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 a9	Canon EOS 1D X
Articulated LCD	Tilting	Fixed
Screen size	3”	3.2”
Screen dots	1440000	1040000
Touch screen	Yes	No
Screen type	TFT LCD	Clear View II TFT LCD
Live view	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder Type	Electronic	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.78x	0.76×
Viewfinder Resolution	3686400	N/A
Photography features	Sony a9	Canon EOS 1D X
Frames per second	20 fps	12 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/8000 seconds	1/8000 seconds
Built-in Flash	No	No
Built-in Flash Range	N/A	N/A
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	No	Yes
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Highlight Weighted Spot Average	Multi Center 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 a9	Canon EOS 1D X
Video recording	Yes	Yes
Video format	MPEG4 H.264 AVCHD	MPEG4 H.264
Video resolution	1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160	1280 x 720 1920 x 1080
Built-in Microphone	Yes	Yes
Built-in Speakers	Yes	No
Storage	Sony a9	Canon EOS 1D X
Memory Card	SD/SDHC	Compact Flash
Connectivity	Sony a9	Canon EOS 1D X
HDMI Output	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	Yes	No
Headphone Port	Yes	No
Wireless	Yes Built-in (802.11/b/g/n with NFC)	Yes Optional with LC-5
Remote Control	Yes (Wired or wireless)	Yes (N3 connector)
GPS	No	Yes Optional with GP-E1 and GP-E2
Body & Dimensions	Sony a9	Canon EOS 1D X
Enviromentally sealed	Yes	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	NP-FZ100	Lithium-Ion LP-E4N rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	650 shots	1120 shots
Width	127 mm	158 mm
Height	96 mm	164 mm
Depth	63 mm	83 mm
Weight	673 gram	1340 gram