Z5vs 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?
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible 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 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
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 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z5 (2020) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 590g (with battery) | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | — |
More comparisons with Z5
Camera family history