Side by side

Panasonic LUMIX G9II vs Sony a6700: G9II delivers two eligible copies plus taller crops, a6700 stays with the E-lens kit

Quick verdict

With G9II you get eligible movie copies and a taller source. With a6700 you keep compatible E lenses in a lighter body. Panasonic is the choice for supported two-card recording or the editing room of its 5.8K 4:3 mode, and Sony is the choice when your E lenses and the 165g lighter body suit daily use. Lenses are excluded from both offers. Sony 4K120 comes with extra crop and no internal proxies at 120p. Panasonic’s taller mode tops out at 29.97p, and SSD recording turns off its cards.

Before you buy

Why, and what it costs you

Slow motion and a portrait-ready take can call for different settings

Each camera can record 4K120, but that headline does not decide how you will deliver the film. Cropping a 3840×2160 horizontal file to portrait leaves 1215×2160 before scaling. The G9II’s separate 5760×4320 mode can leave 2430×4320, which is enough for a 2160×3840 portrait edit if you compose with it in mind. That taller mode stops at 29.97p, so for any given moment you must pick between that framing room and higher-rate recording. Sony’s 120p mode narrows the view too. With children or pets in a small room, check the lens and the recording shape before the movement starts. On neither body do the largest headline numbers happen together in one mode.

Where this comes from

Source height×9/16 gives 1215 and 2430. The Panasonic tall-mode rate and the Sony 120p crop are kept. No measured detail or autofocus claim.

The catch

Panasonic LUMIX G9II body

It weighs 165g more before the lens. SSD recording disables card recording, and the taller 5.8K mode does not offer 60p.

The catch

Sony a6700 body

It has one card slot. 4K120 narrows the view, calls for media that suits the mode, and cannot record internal proxies at 120p.

Panasonic LUMIX G9II body

Panasonic LUMIX G9II body

Why pick it
  • Eligible simultaneous SD movie copies are a requirement, and you can pick the cards and mode to suit it.
  • From a single take you need a horizontal edit and a 2160×3840 portrait crop as well, which the 5.8K 4:3 mode provides up to 29.97p.
The catch
It weighs 165g more before the lens. SSD recording disables card recording, and the taller 5.8K mode does not offer 60p.
See price & reviews on Amazon
Sony a6700 body

Sony a6700 body

Why pick it
  • Suitable Sony E lenses are already yours, and keeping that lens kit spares you a larger system change.
  • Daily carry is helped by the 165g lighter body, and you can live with a single card plus the chosen 4K120 crop and media requirements.
The catch
It has one card slot. 4K120 narrows the view, calls for media that suits the mode, and cannot record internal proxies at 120p.
See price & reviews on Amazon

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Comparison updated , Product data updated , Amazon.com / United States

What this page compares

How G9II and Sony a6700 handle pets, family films and everyday carry, compared on portrait edits, movie copies and the lens and card needs behind 4K slow motion.

Both stabilized crop-sensor bodies go after the same buyer, one who mixes stills and video. Each offers 4K120, yet supporting media, framing and lenses already owned can make the complete purchases quite different.

Which one fits

Pick the situations that sound like you

  • Retain your compatible Sony E lenses

    a6700 remains in the same native system.

    Panasonic LUMIX G9II body
    Not suitable
    Sony a6700 body
    Better fit
  • Copy an eligible movie onto two SD cards

    The specified Backup setup works on the G9II.

    Panasonic LUMIX G9II body
    Better fit
    Sony a6700 body
    Not suitable
  • Start from a taller source for a portrait 4K edit

    The G9II has the specified 5.8K 4:3 mode, up to 29.97p.

    Panasonic LUMIX G9II body
    Better fit
    Sony a6700 body
    Caution
  • Cut body weight before a lens goes on

    On the stated basis, Sony saves 165g.

    Panasonic LUMIX G9II body
    Good
    Sony a6700 body
    Better fit

In practice

Differences you will notice

Slow motion and a portrait-ready take can call for different settings

Each camera can record 4K120, but that headline does not decide how you will deliver the film. Cropping a 3840×2160 horizontal file to portrait leaves 1215×2160 before scaling. The G9II’s separate 5760×4320 mode can leave 2430×4320, which is enough for a 2160×3840 portrait edit if you compose with it in mind. That taller mode stops at 29.97p, so for any given moment you must pick between that framing room and higher-rate recording. Sony’s 120p mode narrows the view too. With children or pets in a small room, check the lens and the recording shape before the movement starts. On neither body do the largest headline numbers happen together in one mode.

How we worked this out

Source height×9/16 gives 1215 and 2430. The Panasonic tall-mode rate and the Sony 120p crop are kept. No measured detail or autofocus claim.

No fast card can create a second copy when the camera has no slot for it

When you are the relative trusted to record an important family moment, the G9II can duplicate eligible recordings to two SD cards before you get home. Sony’s single slot cannot make that simultaneous internal copy, whatever the card speed or capacity. On Panasonic, Backup needs suitable cards and a supported mode. Recording to SSD disables the cards. On Sony, a faster card may be needed for the chosen 120p or S&Q format, but that addresses recording throughput and not redundancy. Work out separately how to capture the mode you want and when to make the first verified off-camera copy. These are two purchases and two routines, and they are easy to confuse.

How we worked this out

Covers physical slots, Panasonic Backup and SSD rules, and Sony’s mode-dependent card requirements. It does not claim that expensive media eliminates failure.

A lighter camera helps only when the rest of the kit still does its job

With battery and card, Sony is 165g lighter, and if you keep compatible E lenses, the change stays small. Moving to the G9II instead means choosing a Micro Four Thirds lens deliberately. That matters if your current lens already frames a whole room, reaches a school sports field or stabilizes the way you normally work. Compare the actual lens combinations before calling either system more portable. For Sony slow motion, also try a sample 120p file on the editing computer, because that mode cannot create an internal proxy. A smaller bag helps less if the files add a time-consuming conversion step every evening. The G9II’s supported formats also need an editing workflow that has been tested.

How we worked this out

658-493=165g, plus the different native mounts. Sony’s explicit restriction of no proxies at 120p. No editing speed or total-system weight is assumed.

Option A
Panasonic LUMIX G9II body

Panasonic, DC-G9M2BODY

Panasonic LUMIX G9II body

Eligible simultaneous SD movie copies are a requirement, and you can pick the cards and mode to suit it.

Best for
Eligible simultaneous SD movie copies are a requirement, and you can pick the cards and mode to suit it.

Facts we checked

  • Body with battery and one card: 658g
  • Card slots: Two UHS-II SD
  • Taller internal movie option used here: 5760×4320 at up to 29.97p
  • 4K120 workflow: Supported mode and media required
Option B
Sony a6700 body

Sony, ILCE6700/B

Sony a6700 body

Suitable Sony E lenses are already yours, and keeping that lens kit spares you a larger system change.

Best for
Suitable Sony E lenses are already yours, and keeping that lens kit spares you a larger system change.

Facts we checked

  • Body with battery and one card: 493g
  • Card slots: One UHS-II SD
  • Taller internal movie option used here: 3840×2160 16:9 recording
  • 4K120 workflow: Extra crop, no internal proxies at 120p

Spec by spec

Where they really differ

Where Panasonic LUMIX G9II body and Sony a6700 body differ
SpecPanasonic LUMIX G9II bodySony a6700 bodyIn practice
Body with battery and one card658g493gBefore the lens, Sony saves 165g.
Card slotsTwo UHS-II SDOne UHS-II SDA camera can duplicate only onto the media it really has.
Taller internal movie option used here5760×4320 at up to 29.97p3840×2160 16:9 recordingCropping to portrait leaves a different set of source dimensions.
4K120 workflowSupported mode and media requiredExtra crop, no internal proxies at 120pTest the framing and the editing together ahead of the sports outing.
Native lens mountMicro Four ThirdsSony ELenses you already own can matter more than the gap between bodies alone.

Trade-offs

What each pick costs you

With Panasonic LUMIX G9II body

  • Each offer is body-only. Add suitable matching SD cards for eligible Backup, or a separately supported SSD rig for formats that need one.

With Sony a6700 body

  • Check the exact lens against the 120p crop, and the V60/V90 requirement for ordinary versus S&Q recording. Try the selected files on the editing computer.

Change of plan

When the answer changes

Movie copies or taller framing come first

Go with Panasonic LUMIX G9II body. The G9II offers those specific options, within mode limits.

E lenses you own and everyday carrying come first

Go with Sony a6700 body. a6700 makes that kit smaller with no change of lens system.

Decision guide

Before you buy

One camera has to keep up with fast family activity and be easy to carry every day, and the finished videos may call for both portrait and horizontal edits.

Check these before you buy

  • No lenses come with either offer.
  • Try the exact 120p crop and card first.
  • At 120p Sony offers no internal proxies.
  • G9II SSD recording switches cards off.

What this page can’t tell you

  • Autofocus, stabilization and editing speed are not ranked by measurement.
  • Body weight leaves out the rest of the kit.

By the numbers

What the data shows

What we found across the mirrorless cameras we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.

Show the facts and the math
Models in the comparison
2 models
Sources
9 covering these models
Product data updated
The facts and sources behind each product in this recommendation
ProductNeeds it meetsFacts we checkedSources
Panasonic LUMIX G9II body
  • Eligible simultaneous SD movie copies are a requirement, and you can pick the cards and mode to suit it.
  • From a single take you need a horizontal edit and a 2160×3840 portrait crop as well, which the 5.8K 4:3 mode provides up to 29.97p.
  • Body with battery and one card: 658g
  • Card slots: Two UHS-II SD
  • Taller internal movie option used here: 5760×4320 at up to 29.97p
  • 4K120 workflow: Supported mode and media required
  • Native lens mount: Micro Four Thirds
Sony a6700 body
  • Suitable Sony E lenses are already yours, and keeping that lens kit spares you a larger system change.
  • Daily carry is helped by the 165g lighter body, and you can live with a single card plus the chosen 4K120 crop and media requirements.
  • Body with battery and one card: 493g
  • Card slots: One UHS-II SD
  • Taller internal movie option used here: 3840×2160 16:9 recording
  • 4K120 workflow: Extra crop, no internal proxies at 120p
  • Native lens mount: Sony E

Ready to buy

See today’s price and what owners say

Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.

Panasonic LUMIX G9II body

Panasonic LUMIX G9II body

Eligible simultaneous SD movie copies are a requirement, and you can pick the cards and mode to suit it.

From a single take you need a horizontal edit and a 2160×3840 portrait crop as well, which the 5.8K 4:3 mode provides up to 29.97p.

See price & reviews on Amazon
Sony a6700 body

Sony a6700 body

Suitable Sony E lenses are already yours, and keeping that lens kit spares you a larger system change.

Daily carry is helped by the 165g lighter body, and you can live with a single card plus the chosen 4K120 crop and media requirements.

See price & reviews on Amazon

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