G85vs A7R III
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel & Video — G85 (2016): The G85 is the definitive enthusiast MFT package — combining 4K/30p, Dual I.S. 2 stabilisation, and weather sealing in an affordable, well-built body. It lacks phase-detect AF (contrast-detect only) but covers travel, landscape, and casual video effectively. One of the best-value used-market MFT cameras available — a practical, capable companion for photographers who want reliability over cutting-edge specs.
Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
Who should buy what
G85 (2016)
- Travel photographers who want weather sealing on a budget
- Vloggers and hybrid shooters
- MFT system users stepping up from entry-level
A7R III (2017)
- Landscape and studio photographers who need 42MP resolution at a used-price discount vs A7R IV
- Canon/Nikon DSLR professionals considering a mirrorless switch at a lower investment
- Commercial and product photographers who want full-frame resolution with IBIS for handheld work
- Portrait photographers who want the sharpest possible full-frame files for large print work
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the g85 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | G85 (2016) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 16.0MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 426g (body only) | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 128.4 × 89.2 × 74.3mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | G85 | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history