Canon 1DX Mark II vs Sony A9

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Canon 1DX Mark II vs Sony A9

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35mm 864.0mm²
20.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Canon 1DX Mark II Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 1DX Mark II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 1DX Mark II.
Compare Canon 1DX Mark II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 1DX Mark II conclusion.

35mm 847.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Sony A9 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A9 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A9.
Compare Sony A9 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A9 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon 1DX Mark III
Compare 1DX Mark II vs 1DX Mark III

Succeeded by the Sony A9 II
Compare A9 vs A9 II

Compare CANON 1DX MARK III vs SONY A9 II

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Differences

Canon 1DX Mark II advantages over Sony A9

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.80 vs 1.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1210 vs 650 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Less shutter lag
0.09 vs 0.22 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 364 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
Unlimited vs 240 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
409600 vs 204800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A9 advantages over Canon 1DX Mark II

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Thinner
63 mm vs 82 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
673g vs 1544g
Lighter weight
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Faster JPEG shooting
20.0 fps vs 14.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 14.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Slow-motion videos
Both provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

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Adorama
Read A9 User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

Excellent image quality, especially from RAWs; Fantastic high ISO performance; Fast autofocus with great tracking performance; 14fps burst rate; Amazing buffer capacity; 4K 60p video; Robust build quality.
Very heavy, bulky and expensive; Dual memory card slots use different formats; 29:59 continuous video recording limit; Touchscreen feels underutilized.
Read our Canon 1DX Mark II Review

New sensor offers incredible performance; Excellent image quality at low & high ISOs; Very good dynamic range; Phenomenal 20fps burst speed & deep buffer; Very good battery life for a mirrorless; 4K video; Dual card slots.
Slow buffer clearing; Only one card slot is UHS-II compatible; Touchscreen underutilized; No lossless RAW compression option; No 4K/60p option.
Read our Sony A9 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon EOS-1D C

Canon 1DX Mark II

Canon EOS-1D C

$2999
35mm

Touchscreen
Built-in GPS

$6989
35mm

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Canon EOS-1D C

Sony A9

Canon EOS-1D C

$2995
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$6989
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A9 vs Canon EOS-1D C

Compared to Nikon D4S

Canon 1DX Mark II

Nikon D4S

$2999
35mm

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$5399
35mm

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Nikon D4S

Sony A9

Nikon D4S

$2995
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$5399
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A9 vs Nikon D4S

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Canon 1DX Mark II

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$2999
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A9

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$2995
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$3802
35mm

Built-in GPS
Top deck display

Compare Sony A9 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Compared to Nikon D5

Canon 1DX Mark II

Nikon D5

$2999
35mm

Higher effective ISO
Built-in GPS

$4911
35mm

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Nikon D5

Sony A9

Nikon D5

$2995
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$4911
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A9 vs Nikon D5

Compared to Sony A9 II

Canon 1DX Mark II

Sony A9 II

$2999
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

$4498
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Sony A9 II

Sony A9

Sony A9 II

$2995
35mm

Less expensive

$4498
35mm

Newer

Compare Sony A9 vs Sony A9 II

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