Z5 IIvs A7R III
VS
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Full-Frame Value — Z5 II (2024): The most accessible full-frame mirrorless — dual card slots, weather sealing, and Nikon colour at a sensible price.
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
Z5 II (2024)
- DSLR photographers making the switch to full-frame mirrorless
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame Z quality at the most accessible price
- Z5 owners wanting significantly improved autofocus and uncropped 4K
- Landscape and portrait photographers stepping up from APS-C
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 z5 ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z5 II (2024) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 700g body only | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 II | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Z5 II
Camera family history