GH7vs A7R
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Video & Documentary — GH7 (2024): The GH7 is the GH series at its peak — phase-detect AF finally arrived, alongside 5.7K/60p open-gate, C4K/60p 10-bit 4:2:2, and ProRes RAW. A landmark video camera in the Micro Four Thirds format, and the most complete GH Panasonic has ever built.
Studio, Tripod Landscape & Camera History — A7R (2013): The world's first 36MP full-frame mirrorless — a landmark camera that launched the A7R series, despite contrast-detect AF and significant shutter shock limitations.
Who should buy what
GH7 (2024)
- Video professionals who want the best MFT camera ever made
- Documentary and event videographers who need reliable AF and great stabilisation
- Hybrid photographers who want high burst rates and serious video in one body
- GH5/GH6 owners ready for a major upgrade
A7R (2013)
- Collectors and photographers interested in the camera that started the A7R lineage
- Studio photographers who work on a tripod and can manage contrast-detect AF
- Landscape photographers who prioritise resolution over autofocus performance
- Sony FE system users who want a historical body at a very low used price
Quick take: The a7r has the highest resolution at 36mp; the a7r is the most affordable; only the gh7 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | GH7 (2024) | A7R (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,700 | £349 |
| Sensor | 25.2MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) |
| Resolution | 25.2MP | 36.4MP |
| Video | 5.7K/60p (open gate), C4K/60p 10-bit 4:2:2, ProRes RAW via HDMI | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect + contrast-detect AF with subject recognition | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | None |
| Burst Rate | 75fps (electronic), 14fps (mechanical) | 4fps |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 535g (body only) | 465g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 138.4 × 102.3 × 91.6mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.76× | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | GH7 | A7R |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Architecture | — |
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