Nikon D3300 vs Sony A9

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Nikon D3300 vs Sony A9

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APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3300 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D3300 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D3300.
Compare Nikon D3300 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D3300 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 Nikon D3400
Compare D3300 vs D3400

Succeeded by the Sony A9 II
Compare A9 vs A9 II

Compare NIKON D3400 vs SONY A9 II

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Differences

Nikon D3300 advantages over Sony A9

Less expensive
$16 vs $2995*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos

Sony A9 advantages over Nikon D3300

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Bigger pixels
~ 5.93 vs 3.92 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
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
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A9 test data on DxO Mark D3300 test data on DxO Mark

3,517 vs 1,385 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer video battery life
105 vs 55 minutes
Capture more video
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Newer
8 years vs 11 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.57x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
20.0 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
364 vs 100 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
240 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
204800 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
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
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
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 D3300 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A9 User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon D3300

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Buy the Sony A9

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Review Excerpt

Excellent image quality with lots of fine detail; Very good high ISO performance; Good dynamic range; Good print quality; Deep buffers with JPEGs; 1080/60p video; Uncompressed HDMI output.
AF struggles in low-light; Contrast-detect AF in live view is slow; Buffer depth is shallow with RAW files; No AE bracketing; No built-in Wi-Fi.
Read our Nikon D3300 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 Sony A58

Nikon D3300

Sony A58

$367
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Sony A58

Sony A9

Sony A58

$2995
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$598
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Internal flash

Compare Sony A9 vs Sony A58

Compared to Canon T5

Nikon D3300

Canon T5

$367
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$399
APS-C

Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Canon T5

Sony A9

Canon T5

$2995
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$399
APS-C

Less expensive
Lens selection

Compare Sony A9 vs Canon T5

Compared to Nikon D5500

Nikon D3300

Nikon D5500

$367
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Nikon D5500

Sony A9

Nikon D5500

$2995
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$697
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A9 vs Nikon D5500

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Nikon D3300

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$367
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$3999
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D3300 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A9

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$2995
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$3999
35mm

Built-in GPS
Top deck display

Compare Sony A9 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Compared to Sony A9 II

Nikon D3300

Sony A9 II

$367
APS-C

Less expensive
Lens selection

$4498
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D3300 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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