Z7 IIvs A7
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.
Camera History & Full-Frame Introduction — A7 (2013): The camera that changed photography — the world's first compact full-frame mirrorless, the A7 launched a product family that redefined what was possible.
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 (2013)
- Photographers interested in the camera that launched the full-frame mirrorless era
- Budget-conscious buyers who want to experience full-frame image quality at minimal cost
- Sony FE system users who want the original A7 for sentimental or historical value
- Those adapting vintage lenses who want full-frame with phase-detect AF at low cost
Quick take: The z7 ii has the highest resolution at 46mp; the a7 is the most affordable; only the z7 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z7 II (2020) | A7 (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,699 | £299 |
| Sensor | 45.7MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS |
| Resolution | 45.7MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K/60p, 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 493 points, Eye AF, subject tracking | 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops (up to 6 stops with VR lenses) | None |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~420 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 705g (body, battery, card) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.1M dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual card: 1× CFexpress Type B / XQD + 1× SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z7 II | A7 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
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