Decision tools · Compare
1 J5 vs A7 IV
Quick take: The A7 IV has the highest resolution at 33MP; the 1 J5 is the most affordable; only the A7 IV is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
A7 IV — Portrait & Wedding Photography: The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
Who should buy what
A7 IV (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Working photographers who want a reliable full-frame all-rounder
- Portrait, wedding, and event photographers needing 33MP and fast AF
- A7 III owners ready for a major upgrade in resolution, AF, and video
- Hybrid shooters who want 4K/60p and 33MP stills in one dependable body
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | 1 J5Nikon · 2015 | A7 IVSony · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 20.8MP 1-inch (CX) BSI CMOS | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.8MP | 33.0MPBest |
| Video | 4K UHD/15p, 1080p/60 | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF: 171 areas, 105 with phase detection; face detection, subject tracking | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fpsBest | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ~580 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 265g (with battery)Best | 659g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 98.3 × 59.7 × 31.5mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | None (rear screen only) | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon 1 | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single microSD slot | Slot 1 CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II, slot 2 SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB, micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
1 J5
A7 IV
Portrait
4.3/10
8.2/10
Street
6.7/10
6.5/10
Travel
6.1/10
6.3/10
Wedding & Events
2.9/10
7.9/10
Filmmaking
3.2/10
7.2/10
Documentary
4.1/10
7.4/10
Sports & Action
4.9/10
7.5/10
Landscape
3.9/10
6.7/10
Wildlife
5.1/10
7.8/10
Casual
5.0/10
5.3/10
Food
4.8/10
7.6/10
Macro
3.4/10
7.3/10
Architecture
3.9/10
6.8/10
Astrophotography
3.0/10
7.3/10
Vlogging & Video
—
6.1/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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