Z7 IIvs A7 IV
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Landscape & Studio / High-Resolution — Z7 II (2020): The Z7 II is a landscape and studio camera first, everything else second. 45.7MP with weather sealing and dual card slots is a compelling package. If you need resolution, it delivers. If you don't, the Z6 II is the smarter buy.
Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
Who should buy what
Z7 II (2020)
- Landscape photographers who print large or need to crop significantly
- Studio and commercial photographers requiring maximum resolution
- Architecture photographers where detail is non-negotiable
- Fine-art photographers who shoot primarily from a tripod
A7 IV (2021)
- 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
Quick take: The z7 ii has the highest resolution at 46mp; the a7 iv is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z7 II (2020) | A7 IV (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,699 | £2,299 |
| Sensor | 45.7MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 45.7MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 4K/60p, 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 493 points, Eye AF, subject tracking | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops (up to 6 stops with VR lenses) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~420 shots (CIPA) | ~580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 705g (body, battery, card) | 659g body only |
| Dimensions | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.1M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual card: 1× CFexpress Type B / XQD + 1× SD UHS-II | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z7 II | A7 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Studio Portraits | — | |
| Outdoor Portraits | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
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