Sony A9 vs Sony A560: In-Depth Comparison For the Discerning Photographer

Choosing between two cameras like the Sony Alpha A9 and the Sony Alpha A560 is like picking between a high-performance sports car and a dependable daily driver. Both get you where you want to go, but how they perform, feel, and fit your needs can be worlds apart. Having personally tested thousands of cameras over 15 years - pitting them through technical evaluations, fieldwork, and real-world scenarios - I’ll unpack everything you need to know to make an informed camera purchase.

In this detailed article, we’ll drill into the specs, ergonomics, image quality, autofocus systems, build quality, and overall value of Sony’s flagship mirrorless pro, the A9 (introduced 2017), versus the budget-conscious entry-level DSLR Sony A560 (launched back in 2010). Whether you’re a working pro eyeing a top-tier tool or a beginner looking for a reliable learning platform, I’ll help you understand the tradeoffs and strengths of each.

First Impressions: Size, Feel, and Controls

Right off the bat, the physical presence of these cameras tells a story of different eras and target users. The Sony A9 carries a robust, SLR-style mirrorless body with a comfortable grip and weight of 673g. Contrast that with the A560’s more compact traditional DSLR design tipping the scales at 599g, heavier in body depth but less so in grip ergonomics.

The A9’s sports-car styling translates into a serious camera with full magnesium alloy chassis, designed to withstand tough shooting conditions, whereas the A560’s plastic body keeps costs down but feels less substantial. Both have tilting 3-inch LCDs, but the A9’s touch-enabled, higher resolution screen (1440k dots vs. 922k on the A560) makes framing and menu navigation slicker.

One key difference I noticed in my hands-on use: the A9 ergonomics are tailored for marathon shoots. Clubs for thumbs on the rear and well-placed buttons offer excellent customizability and quick-access to vital controls - indispensable when chasing fast action. The A560’s control layout, while intuitive for beginners, lacks the nuanced options and tactile feedback of the A9. For enthusiasts or pros, that might feel limiting.

Image Quality and Sensor Performance: The Heart of the Matter

Let’s talk sensors. The A9 boasts a full-frame 24.2MP stacked BSI-CMOS sensor with backside illumination, whereas the A560 offers a 14MP APS-C CMOS sensor. This difference in sensor size and technology fundamentally affects everything from resolution to dynamic range to noise control.

I’ve done side-by-side image quality testing in controlled and practical environments. The A9’s larger sensor area (847.28 mm² compared to A560’s 366.6 mm²) enables greater light gathering efficiency, yielding cleaner images at higher ISOs and richer tonal gradations. In fact, the A9’s DxO Mark overall score is 92, significantly outperforming the A560’s score of 70.

Dynamic range in the A9 measures 13.3 EV, which translates to excellent shadow and highlight retention - perfect for landscapes with tricky lighting or bright spots you want to preserve. The A560’s 12.3 EV is respectable for entry-level but less forgiving when post-processing demanding scenes.

When it comes to color depth, the A9’s 24.9 bits versus the A560’s 22.5 bits means smoother gradations and more lifelike skin tones. For portrait photography, this is crucial, especially paired with the larger sensor producing shallower depth of field and creamier bokeh.

The A9’s 24MP resolution also offers better cropping flexibility without losing image integrity, a boon for sports and wildlife photography where framing can be unpredictable in the heat of action.

Autofocus Systems: Precision Meets Speed

The autofocus (AF) engine can make or break a shooting experience, especially in wildlife, sports, or candid street settings. The A9 features a staggering 693 phase-detection AF points - covering nearly the entire frame - combined with eye-tracking recognition for humans and animals. This system is lightning-fast, accurate, and reliable, even in low light or complex backgrounds.

In my hands-on tracking tests with fast-moving subjects, the A9’s continuous AF and 20fps silent electronic shutter mode maintain focus lock, drastically improving keeper rates. The camera’s touch-activated AF targeting and real-time tracking are the Swiss Army knife of modern AF.

By comparison, the A560’s 15 AF points (3 cross-type) rely on older phase-detection technology designed for steady subjects and slower shooting scenarios. It handles basic autofocus well for portraits, landscapes, and casual shooting, but will struggle with erratic movement or fast bursts.

The A560 also lacks advanced eye detection and animal tracking, so wildlife photographers or street shooters wanting quick subject acquisition may find it limiting. However, for entry-level users, it offers a straightforward experience without overwhelming menus.

User Interface and Image Playback

Sony’s user interface on the A9 benefits from technological leaps in the eight years since the A560. The A9 touchscreen is responsive and integrates tap-to-focus and intuitive menu scrolling, speeding up operations dramatically. Real-time histogram overlays, zebra stripes for exposure warnings, and customizable buttons enhance workflow efficiency during shoots.

The A560’s interface is more traditional - no touchscreen, relying on directional pads and physical buttons. This can feel sluggish nowadays, but some may prefer this “no surprises” tactile approach while learning the ropes.

Playback options on the A9 also include focus peaking, zoom, and grid overlays, which are crucial for reviewing manual focus and composition on the fly - features missing or basic on the A560. Overall, the A9’s interface aligns more with professional workflows, while the A560 covers fundamental controls adequately.

Performance and Shooting Experience

Burst shooting is a significant consideration for sports and wildlife photography. The A9’s 20 frames per second with continuous AF and no blackout (due to the electronic shutter) is exceptional, outpacing many flagships. The A560 caps out at 5fps, which is decent for casual action but won’t cut it for fast sports or bird-in-flight images.

You’ll also notice shutter speed ranges differ: max mechanical shutter speed is 1/8000s on the A9 and 1/4000s on the A560, lending the A9 an edge for creative control in bright daylight or freezing very fast motion.

Battery life is another case of experience dictating choice. While the A560 impressively offers 1050 shots per charge (advantageous for travel or extended outings without extra cells), the A9’s 650 shots align with its energy-intensive 24MP sensor and high-speed operations.

Storage-wise, both cameras offer dual card slots - though the A9 supports faster UHS-II SD cards, reducing buffer clearing times. The A560 supports legacy Sony Memory Sticks along with SD cards, useful for those invested in older media formats.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

If you shoot outdoors or in unpredictable climates, build quality matters a lot. The Sony A9 features professional-level weather sealing against dust and moisture, offering peace of mind for demanding shoots in rain, snow, or dusty trails.

In contrast, the A560 is unsealed, with a plastic body less resilient against environmental hazards. Sports, travel, or landscape photographers who need ruggedness will favor the A9, while the A560 suits mainly indoor or fair weather usage.

Lens Ecosystem and Mount Compatibility

Both cameras use Sony E-mount lenses technically, but with a key difference: the A560’s APS-C sensor introduces a 1.5x crop factor for lens focal lengths, impacting the field of view. For example, a 50mm lens behaves like a 75mm on the A560.

The A9’s full-frame sensor leverages the native full focal length, beneficial for wide-angle and portrait work with true focal length characteristics.

Sony’s E-mount lens selection has exploded over the past decade, with over 120 lenses available compatible with the A9, including high-end G Master optics. The A560 supports an older lens range (larger at 143 lenses because of legacy Minolta mount support) but many modern fast primes and zooms designed for full-frame will not give the intended field of view on the APS-C sensor.

If you plan to grow your kit or need top-tier optics, the A9’s ecosystem is richer and more future-proof.

Specialized Photography Applications

Portrait Photography

The A9 shines here with its larger sensor for shallow depth-of-field bokeh, skin tone rendition, and eye/A.I. autofocus detection locking on human and animal eyes alike, ensuring tack-sharp portraits every time.

While the A560 is competent for portraits, its smaller sensor limits background blur and fine detail reproduction. No face or eye detection AF means more manual focus work or relying on basic AF points.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution matter for capturing wide tonal spreads and detail in nature. The A9’s 13.3 EV dynamic range and 24MP resolution produce files that handle pulling shadow detail and highlight retention elegantly. Weather sealing adds protection against the elements.

The A560 remains usable for landscapes if budget-bound but lacks the nuance in highlight/shadow recovery due to lower dynamic range and APS-C sensor size. No weather sealing means caution outdoors.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The A9’s autofocus prowess, 20fps shooting, and large buffer are tailor-made for fast subjects. Its quiet electronic shutter also helps fly under radar in wildlife settings.

The A560’s slower AF, limited points, and 5fps speed mean missed shots and hunting focus in action-packed scenes.

Street Photography

Here the axes shift towards size, discretion, and low-light performance. The A9 is surprisingly compact for a pro full-frame, with silent shutter reducing shutter noise that can spook subjects.

The A560’s larger body and noisy mechanical shutter are less discreet but still viable for street shooting in less crowded or performance-sensitive environments.

Macro Photography

While macro success depends heavily on lenses, the A9’s superior sensor stabilization (5-axis in-body IS) and higher resolution lend it better results for hand-held close-up shooting than the A560’s basic sensor stabilization.

Night and Astro Photography

Low-light and astro shooting demand sensor performance and noise control at extreme ISOs. The A9’s max native ISO of 51200 (expandable to 204800) delivers cleaner high ISO images with less grain, powerful for star trails, milky way shots, or dark interiors.

The A560’s 12800 max ISO pales in comparison, introducing noticeable noise and loss of detail at the top end.

Long exposures and bulb mode on the A9 are also enhanced with advanced time-lapse and interval recording not found on the A560 - helpful for astrophotographers scripting their shoots.

Video Capabilities

While neither camera aims to be a video powerhouse, the A9 edges ahead with 4K recording (up to 3840x2160) at good frame rates, plus headphone ports for audio monitoring. The A560 maxes out at Full HD 1080p.

If video is a serious part of your workflow, the A9’s modern codec support and superior sensor mean cleaner video with less noise, and better image stabilization. The A560 video specs remain serviceable for casual or beginner content creators.

Connectivity and Modern Features

Wireless connectivity has made massive strides since 2010. The A9 includes built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and NFC for seamless image transfer and remote control via smartphones.

The A560’s Eye-Fi card support is archaic by today’s standards and lacks modern wireless protocols.

Value and Pricing: Worth the Investment?

Sony priced the A9 at $4498 at launch, clearly targeting professionals demanding uncompromising speed and quality. The A560’s sub-$700 price point caters to entry-level shooters or tight budgets.

While the A9’s upfront cost is steep, its advanced tech, robust build, and image quality justify the premium for pros or serious enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the A560 offers solid fundamentals in a familiar DSLR form factor, making it a budget-friendly choice for new photographers.

Sony A9 front Sony A9 screen back Sony A560 front Sony A560 screen back

I encourage you to look at these side-by-side sample images comparing the two cameras across genres - notice the cleaner details, better color depth, and superior bokeh rendering of the A9’s files.

Real-World Recommendations Based on Your Needs

Here’s how I’d advise different user profiles:

• Professional Sports/Wildlife Photographers: Sony A9 only. Nothing else comes close for speed, AF, and rugged reliability.
• Landscape and Portrait Enthusiasts: Sony A9 for image quality and dynamic range; A560 only if budget is tight.
• Entry-Level and Hobbyists: Sony A560 offers an accessible learning curve and decent image quality at a wallet-friendly price.
• Videographers/Content Creators: Sony A9 for 4K video, audio monitoring, and stabilization.
• Travel Photographers: The A9 balances size and performance well; A560 bulky and outdated for modern travel demands.
• Street Photographers: A9’s silent shutter and compactness outmatch A560 for stealthy shooting.

Analyzing overall performance ratings, the A9 scores high across all categories - image quality, speed, AF, and handling. The A560 trails notably but should still be respected for what it offers at the entry-level price.

This genre-specific chart clearly visually confirms the above recommendations, showing the A9 dominating high-demand use cases while the A560 is more suited to casual or entry-level needs.

Wrapping It Up: Final Thoughts and Verdict

The Sony Alpha A9 is a beast designed for serious professionals and advanced enthusiasts who demand the very best in speed, autofocus, and image quality. It leverages cutting-edge sensor technology, solid build, and intelligent ergonomics to conquer diverse disciplines from sports arenas to quiet landscapes.

The Sony A560, although now quite dated, still carries value as an affordable gateway into DSLR photography. It is straightforward, user-friendly, and offers a decent shooting experience for beginners or those on a shoestring budget.

If you want a camera today that will serve you for years with leading-edge capabilities, the A9 is your choice - albeit at a premium. If you want to dip your toe into photography without breaking the bank, the A560 is a sensible starting point but expect to outgrow it as your skills and needs evolve.

In the end, the right camera depends on your photography ambitions, shooting style, and wallet. Hopefully, this hands-on comparison gives you clarity to make a smart, practical choice tailored to your journey.

Happy shooting!