BFvs A7R III
Sigma
BF (2025)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Photographers who want to strip back every distraction
View BF
VS
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Photographers Who Want To Strip Back Every Distraction — BF (2025): The most radical camera in years — no dials, no buttons, just a flat aluminium body and total creative minimalism.
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
BF (2025)
- Photographers who find camera menus and dials a distraction from the creative process
- L-mount system users who want the lightest, most minimal full-frame body available
- Design enthusiasts who value the object quality and philosophy as much as the output
- Sigma fp/fp L users ready for a more radical step toward minimal photography
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. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | BF (2025) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,799 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.0MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF — face and eye detection | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 7 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 9fps electronic | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 427g body only | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 127.0 × 75.0 × 45.0mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.75× 3.68M-dot | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.15" fully articulating touchscreen — primary interface | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single UHS-II SD slot | 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 | BF | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding | — |
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