Now Gen 3vs A7CR
Polaroid
Now Gen 3 (2024)
Starting from £120 new
Best for Classic Polaroid fans & square-print lovers
View Now Gen 3
Sony
A7CR (2023)
Starting from £3099 new
Best for Travel, landscape & portrait photography with minimal kit
View A7CR
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Classic Polaroid Fans & Square-Print Lovers — Now Gen 3 (2024): The definitive modern Polaroid. Autofocus, USB-C, and full-sized square prints — classic Polaroid experience, updated for today.
Travel, Landscape & Portrait Photography With Minimal Kit — A7CR (2023): The world's smallest 61MP full-frame camera — A7R V quality in a pocketable A7C body.
Who should buy what
Now Gen 3 (2024)
- Anyone who wants the classic full-sized square Polaroid print experience
- Instax users who prefer Polaroid's dreamy colour palette and white border
- Party hosts and event photographers who want iconic-looking keepsakes
- Previous Polaroid Now owners upgrading to the Gen 3's improved autofocus
A7CR (2023)
- Landscape photographers who want 61MP resolution without carrying a large body
- Travel photographers who need professional image quality in the smallest possible package
- Portrait shooters who want A7R V sensor quality with the ease of the A7C form factor
- A7C owners ready for a major resolution upgrade without changing bodies
Quick take: The now gen 3 is the most affordable; only the a7cr is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Now Gen 3 (2024) | A7CR (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £120 | £3,099 |
| Sensor | i-Type / 600 Polaroid film (79 × 79mm / image area 62 × 62mm) | 61.0MP full-frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 61.0MP |
| Video | N/A — instant film camera | 4K/60p 10-bit, 1080p/120p — S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Autofocus (0.4m–2m close; 2m–∞ landscape) | AI subject recognition — phase-detect with human, animal, bird detection |
| Stabilisation | N/A | 7-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 8fps mechanical, 15fps electronic |
| Battery Life | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~15 packs) | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~445g | 514g body only |
| Dimensions | 138.2 × 112.6 × 62.7mm | 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical viewfinder | EVF 0.70× 2.36M-dot |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.03M dots |
| Mount | i-Type or 600 film (8 shots per pack) | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | N/A — instant film only | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C (charging) | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Now Gen 3 | A7CR |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Creative | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with Now Gen 3
Camera family history