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Panasonic G9 vs Sony a1

Portability
62
Imaging
60
Features
90
Overall
72
Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Panasonic G9 vs Sony a1 Key Specs

Panasonic G9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 658g - 137 x 97 x 92mm
  • Announced November 2017
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Expand to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Introduced January 2021
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Panasonic G9 vs Sony a1 Overview

Here is a in-depth assessment of the Panasonic G9 versus Sony a1, both Pro Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the G9 (20MP) and a1 (50MP) and the G9 (Four Thirds) and a1 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The G9 was unveiled 4 years before the a1 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the G9 matches up against the a1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G9 over the Sony a1

 G9 a1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Panasonic G9

 a1 G9 
IntroducedJanuary 2021November 2017Fresher by 39 months
Screen resolution1440k1040kClearer screen (+400k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G9 and Sony a1

 G9 a1 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic G9 vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic G9 comes with exterior dimensions of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") with a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs) whilst the Sony a1 has sizing of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

See the Panasonic G9 versus Sony a1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the G9 vs the a1.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony a1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G9 and a1 is 62 and 61 respectively.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G9 vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to envision the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over a spec sheet. The graphic here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G9 and a1.

Clearly, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The G9 with its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Sony a1 will offer more detail having an extra 30 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older G9 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G9 vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G9 vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G9 Portrait photography details
Sony a1 Portrait photography details
76
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
88
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/400s)
amazing megapixels (50MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G9 Street photography features
Sony a1 Street photography features
75
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports touch focus
environment sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
79
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
provides touch to focus
environment sealing
great ISO range (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic G9
Sports photography with Sony a1
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
terrible battery pack (400 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
90
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high fps (30.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing megapixels (50MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
good battery life (530 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G9 Travel photography factors
Sony a1 Travel photography factors
70
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
supports touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery pack (400 per charge)
73
good battery life (530 per charge)
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
provides touch to focus
amazing megapixels (50 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G9 Landscape photography information
Sony a1 Landscape photography information
76
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
2 card slots
terrible battery pack (400 per charge)
88
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing megapixels (50MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
great ISO range (32,000)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
good battery life (530 CIPA)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G9 as a Vlogging camera
Sony a1 as a Vlogging camera
76
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external mic support
36
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
video res high (7680 x 4320 pxls)
does have external mic support
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic G9 vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G9 and Sony a1
 Panasonic Lumix DC-G9Sony Alpha a1
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 Sony Alpha a1
Class Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2017-11-08 2021-01-26
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 50 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 8640 x 5760
Highest native ISO 25600 32000
Highest enhanced ISO - 102400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 225 759
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 133
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 3,680 thousand dots 9,437 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.83x 0.9x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames/s 30.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/400 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 7680x4320
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 658 gr (1.45 pounds) 737 gr (1.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 137 x 97 x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 400 photographs 530 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLF19 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported) Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Card slots Two Two
Retail pricing $1,500 $6,498