How Does the Nikon Z9 Compare to the Sony a1 for Wildlife Photography?

The Nikon Z9 and Sony a1 are two of the most advanced mirrorless cameras on the market right, capable of capturing high-resolution images at blazing burst rates, all backed up by some of the most sophisticated autofocus systems out there. And so, how do they perform against each other in one of the most challenging genres for a camera, wildlife photography? This excellent comparison takes a look. 

Coming to you from Steve Perry, this great video compares the Sony a1 and Nikon Z9 mirrorless cameras for wildlife photography. With often challenging lighting, difficult situations for autofocus systems, and the need for high ISOs to maintain fast shutter speeds, wildlife photography is arguably one of the best genres for testing a high-performance camera, and at least on paper, both the Z9 and a1 are up to the task. Both carry features like 45-plus-megapixel sensors and 30 fps full-resolution bursts, though there are some differences in capabilities and performance that might sway you toward one or the other. For example, the Z9 can shoot 120 fps at 11 megapixels, a fantastic feature for those who need to capture a very precise moment more so than they need lots of resolution. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Perry.

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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3 Comments

I have to admit that I "watched" this video while editing some photos in Photoshop. Was there a comparison on black out time during high speed shooting? I know our DSLRs obviously have a blackout period but on mirrorless it feels so much more pronounced to me especially when tracking something. I wasn't super impressed with the Nikon Z7ii and wound up returning it and sticking to my D850 but the Z9 does look like a beast.

Tell us you don't know crap about flagship mirrorless cameras without telling us you don't know crap about flagship mirrorless cameras....

Patrick the z9 is different mustard . There is no blackout as with the Z6ii/Z7ii as long as you set "View all in continuous mode" in the menu . Compare this to the D850 and you will be very surprised.