Canon G5X vs Sony A9

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon G5X vs Sony A9

Leave Feedback

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.2 megapixels
24.00mm - 100.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon G5X Review.
How does it shoot? Canon G5X in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the G5X.
Compare Canon G5X image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon G5X 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 G5X Mark II
Compare G5X vs G5X Mark II

Succeeded by the Sony A9 II
Compare A9 vs A9 II

Compare CANON G5X MARK II vs SONY A9 II

Buy From

Differences

Canon G5X advantages over Sony A9

Less expensive
$700 vs $2995
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Thinner
44 mm vs 63 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/250 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Lighter weight
377g vs 673g
Lighter weight
Bigger RAW buffer
Unlimited vs 240 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Sony A9 advantages over Canon G5X

Larger sensor
35mm vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.93 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Fast startup
~1.20 vs 2.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Longer video battery life
105 vs 40 minutes
Capture more video
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

650 vs 215 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Faster JPEG shooting
20.0 fps vs 7.6 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
364 vs 8 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 0.8 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
204800 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read G5X User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A9 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon G5X

Canon G5X

All G5X Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A9

Body Only

All A9 Deals

Review Excerpt

Photographer-friendly controls; Good OLED viewfinder; Good image quality with sharp detail especially with RAW; Vari-angle touchscreen display.
Only 31 autofocus points; Subpar continuous shooting performance; Soft corners at wide-angle; Flare issues and fringing shooting wide-open; No 4K video; Poor battery life.
Read our Canon G5X 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 G16

Canon G5X

Canon G16

$700
1 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$499
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon G5X vs Canon G16

Sony A9

Canon G16

$2997
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$499
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

Compare Sony A9 vs Canon G16

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Canon G5X

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$700
1 inch

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$3802
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon G5X vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A9

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$2997
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 Canon G7X Mark II

Canon G5X

Canon G7X Mark II

$700
1 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$700
1 inch

Longer stills battery life
Shoots 24p video

Compare Canon G5X vs Canon G7X Mark II

Sony A9

Canon G7X Mark II

$2997
35mm

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$700
1 inch

Less expensive
Internal flash

Compare Sony A9 vs Canon G7X Mark II

Compared to Canon G5X Mark II

Canon G5X

Canon G5X Mark II

$700
1 inch

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$899
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon G5X vs Canon G5X Mark II

Sony A9

Canon G5X Mark II

$2997
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$899
1 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A9 vs Canon G5X Mark II

Compared to Sony A9 II

Canon G5X

Sony A9 II

$700
1 inch

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$4498
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon G5X vs Sony A9 II

Sony A9

Sony A9 II

$2997
35mm

Less expensive

$4498
35mm

Newer

Compare Sony A9 vs Sony A9 II

Compare Other Cameras?