A potelyt.com – Photography & Imaging Resources
ad

When you use links on apotelyt.com to buy products,
the site may earn a commission.

PW

Sony A9 vs Nikon P900

The Sony Alpha A9 and the Nikon Coolpix P900 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in April 2017 and March 2015. The A9 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the P900 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a full frame (A9) and a 1/2.3-inch (P900) sensor. The Sony has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 15.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Sony A9
versus
Nikon P900
Sony A9   Nikon P900
Mirrorless system camera Fixed lens compact camera
Sony E mount lenses 24-2000mm f/2.8-6.5
24 MP – Full Frame sensor 15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
4K/30p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800) ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 12,800)
Electronic viewfinder (3686k dots) Electronic viewfinder (921k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1440k dots 3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Tilting touchscreen Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
20 shutter flaps per second 7 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationLens-based stabilization
Weathersealed bodynot weather sealed
650 shots per battery charge360 shots per battery charge
127 x 96 x 63 mm, 673 g 140 x 103 x 137 mm, 899 g
logo
Check A9 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check P900 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha A9 and the Nikon Coolpix P900? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

ad

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Sony A9 and the Nikon P900. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Sony A9 vs Nikon P900
Compare A9 versus P900 top
Comparison A9 or P900 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon P900 is notably larger (18 percent) than the Sony A9. It is worth mentioning in this context that the A9 is splash and dust resistant, while the P900 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the P900 has a lens built in, whereas the A9 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the A9 and their specifications in the Sony FE Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the A9 gets 650 shots out of its Sony NP-FZ100 battery, while the P900 can take 360 images on a single charge of its Nikon EN-EL23 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

scroll hint
Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A9 127 mm 96 mm 63 mm 673 g 650 Y Apr 2017 4,499ebay.com
2.
 
Nikon P900 140 mm 103 mm 137 mm 899 g 360 n Mar 2015 599ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon P950 140 mm 110 mm 150 mm 1005 g 290 n Jan 2020 799 amazon.com
4.
 
Nikon P1000 146 mm 119 mm 181 mm 1415 g 250 n Jul 2018 999 amazon.com
5.
 
Nikon Z6 134 mm 101 mm 67 mm 675 g 310 Y Aug 2018 1,999ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon B700 125 mm 85 mm 107 mm 565 g 350 n Feb 2016 499ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon B500 114 mm 78 mm 95 mm 541 g 600 n Jan 2016 299ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon L840 113 mm 78 mm 96 mm 538 g 590 n Feb 2015 299ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A7R V 131 mm 97 mm 82 mm 723 g 530 Y Oct 2022 3,899 amazon.com
10.
 
Sony A7R IIIA 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Apr 2021 3,199 amazon.com
11.
 
Sony A9 II 129 mm 96 mm 76 mm 678 g 690 Y Oct 2019 4,499 amazon.com
12.
 
Sony A7 III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 610 Y Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
13.
 
Sony A7R III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Oct 2017 3,199ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7R II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 625 g 290 Y Jun 2015 3,199ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7S II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 627 g 370 Y Sep 2015 2,999ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A7 II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 599 g 350 Y Nov 2014 1,999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A99 147 mm 111 mm 78 mm 812 g 500 Y Sep 2012 2,799ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
padding

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The P900 was launched at a lower price than the A9, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Sony A9 features a full frame sensor and the Nikon P900 a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the P900 is 97 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 5.6. The sensor in the A9 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the P900 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Sony A9 and Nikon P900 sensor measures

With 24MP, the A9 offers a higher resolution than the P900 (15.9MP), but the A9 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 1.33μm for the P900) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A9 is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 1 month) than the P900, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the P900 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A9 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A9 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon P900 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The A9 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Sony Alpha A9 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 50-204800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon Coolpix P900 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-12800.

In terms of underlying technology, the A9 is build around a Stacked BSI-CMOS sensor, while the P900 uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

A9 versus P900 MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

scroll hint
Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony A9 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.913.3351792
2.
 
Nikon P900 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60p20.211.672747
3.
 
Nikon P950 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34564K/30p20.712.3118952
4.
 
Nikon P1000 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34564K/30p20.612.1104451
5.
 
Nikon Z6 Full Frame 24.3 6048 40244K/30p25.314.3329995
6.
 
Nikon B700 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.411.881848
7.
 
Nikon B500 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60i20.311.781048
8.
 
Nikon L840 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60i20.211.672147
9.
 
Sony A7R V Full Frame 60.2 9504 63368k/24p26.514.83187100
10.
 
Sony A7R IIIA Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
11.
 
Sony A9 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.0343493
12.
 
Sony A7 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7373096
13.
 
Sony A7R III Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
14.
 
Sony A7R II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.013.9343498
15.
 
Sony A7S II Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/30p23.613.3299385
16.
 
Sony A7 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.913.6244990
17.
 
Sony A99 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p25.014.0155589
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
padding

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the A9 provides a higher video resolution than the P900. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Nikon is limited to 1080/60p.

ad

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the A9 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the P900 (3686k vs 921k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Sony A9 and Nikon P900 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

scroll hint
Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Sony A93686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
2.
 
Nikon P900921 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 7.0/s Y Y
3.
 
Nikon P9502359 n3.2 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 7.0/s Y Y
4.
 
Nikon P10002359 n3.2 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 7.0/s Y Y
5.
 
Nikon Z63690 Y3.2 / 2100 tilting Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
6.
 
Nikon B700921 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Nikon B500none n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 7.4/s Y Y
8.
 
Nikon L840none n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 7.4/s Y Y
9.
 
Sony A7R V9440 n3.2 / 2100 full-flex Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
10.
 
Sony A7R IIIA3686 n3.0 / 2340 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
11.
 
Sony A9 II3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
12.
 
Sony A7 III2359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
13.
 
Sony A7R III3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
14.
 
Sony A7R II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
15.
 
Sony A7S II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
16.
 
Sony A7 II2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
17.
 
Sony A992359 Y3.0 / 1229 full-flex n 1/8000s 6.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The A9 has a touchscreen, while the P900 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The P900 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the A9 does not have a selfie-screen.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A9 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon P900 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The A9 writes its imaging data to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, while the P900 uses SDXC cards. The A9 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the P900 only has one slot. The A9 supports UHS-II cards on its first slot and UHS-I on its second one, while the P900 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

ad

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Alpha A9 and Nikon Coolpix P900 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

scroll hint
Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony A9Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YYY
2.
 
Nikon P900-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Nikon P950Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Nikon P1000Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
5.
 
Nikon Z6Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.1Y-Y
6.
 
Nikon B700-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
7.
 
Nikon B500-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
8.
 
Nikon L840-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
9.
 
Sony A7R VYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
10.
 
Sony A7R IIIAYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
11.
 
Sony A9 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
12.
 
Sony A7 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
13.
 
Sony A7R IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
14.
 
Sony A7R IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
15.
 
Sony A7S IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
16.
 
Sony A7 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
17.
 
Sony A99Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0---
padding

It is notable that the A9 has a hotshoe, while the P900 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Sony A9 (unlike the P900) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the P900 has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

Both the A9 and the P900 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The P900 was replaced by the Nikon P950, while the A9 was followed by the Sony A9 II. Further information on the features and operation of the A9 and P900 can be found, respectively, in the Sony A9 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon P900 Manual.

ad

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Sony A9 or the Nikon P900 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

ilogo

Advantages of the Sony Alpha A9:

  • More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 15.9MP) with a 25% higher linear resolution.
  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Better image quality: Features a larger and more technologically advanced imaging sensor.
  • Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (3686k vs 921k dots).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1440k vs 921k dots).
  • Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (20 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • More flexible: Accepts interchangeable lenses, so that lens characteristics can be altered.
  • More compact: Is smaller (127x96mm vs 140x103mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (650 versus 360) on a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II and UHS-I) SDXC cards.
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 1 month of technical progress since the P900 launch.

ilogo

Reasons to prefer the Nikon Coolpix P900:

  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the A9 necessitates an extra lens.
  • Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
  • Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
  • More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in March 2015).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A9 is the clear winner of the match-up (26 : 9 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

A9 26:09 P900

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony A9 and the Nikon P900 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the A9 or the P900 perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

scroll hint
Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A95/5+ +4.8/589/1005/55/5 Apr 2017 4,499ebay.com
2.
 
Nikon P900......77/1004/54/5 Mar 2015 599ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon P950....3/5..4/54/5 Jan 2020 799 amazon.com
4.
 
Nikon P1000..+3.5/573/1003.5/53.5/5 Jul 2018 999 amazon.com
5.
 
Nikon Z65/5..5/589/1004.5/55/5 Aug 2018 1,999ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon B700..+....4/54/5 Feb 2016 499ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon B500..+....4/53.5/5 Jan 2016 299ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon L840..+ +....3.5/54/5 Feb 2015 299ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A7R V5/5+ +4.5/592/100.... Oct 2022 3,899 amazon.com
10.
 
Sony A7R IIIA..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2021 3,199 amazon.com
11.
 
Sony A9 II....5/590/1005/55/5 Oct 2019 4,499 amazon.com
12.
 
Sony A7 III..+ +4.5/589/1005/55/5 Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
13.
 
Sony A7R III..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2017 3,199ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7R II5/5+ +5/590/1005/55/5 Jun 2015 3,199ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7S II5/5+....4.5/55/5 Sep 2015 2,999ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A7 II5/5+4/582/1004.5/55/5 Nov 2014 1,999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A995/5....84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 2,799ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

logo
Check A9 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check P900 offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

~
    loader
    ad

    Specifications: Sony A9 vs Nikon P900

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Sony A9 Nikon P900
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses 24-2000mm f/2.8-6.5
    Launch Date April 2017 March 2015
    Launch Price USD 4,499 USD 599
    Sensor Specs Sony A9 Nikon P900
    Sensor Technology Stacked BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 35.6 x 23.8 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 847.28 mm2 28.0735 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 42.8 mm 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 1.0x 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 15.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 4608 x 3456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.94 μm 1.33 μm
    Pixel Density 2.83 MP/cm2 56.73 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 51,200 ISO 100 - 6,400 ISO
    ISO Boost 50 - 204,800 ISO 100 - 12,800 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ X EXPEED C2
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 92 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 24.9 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.3 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 3517 ..
    Screen Specs Sony A9 Nikon P900
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x
    Viewfinder Resolution 3686k dots 921k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1440k dots 921k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen no Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Sony A9 Nikon P900
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 20 shutter flaps/s 7 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterup to 1/32000sno E-Shutter
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationLens-based stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Single card slot
    UHS card support Single UHS-II no
    Connectivity Specs Sony A9 Nikon P900
    External Flash Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port no MIC socket
    Headphone Socket Headphone port no Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in no Bluetooth
    Geotagging no internal GPS GPS built-in
    Body Specs Sony A9 Nikon P900
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodynot weather sealed
    Battery Type Sony NP-FZ100 Nikon EN-EL23
    Battery Life (CIPA)650 shots per charge360 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 127 x 96 x 63 mm
    (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.5 in)
    140 x 103 x 137 mm
    (5.5 x 4.1 x 5.4 in)
    Camera Weight 673 g (23.7 oz) 899 g (31.7 oz)
    logo
    Check A9 offers at
    ebay.com
    logo
    Check P900 offers at
    ebay.com

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

    You are here Home  »  CAM-parator  »  Sony A9 vs Nikon P900