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A5000 vs A7

Quick take: The A7 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5000 is the most affordable; only the A7 is weather sealed.

16 specs side by side·13 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

A7 — Camera History & Full-Frame Introduction: 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
A7 (2013)
is the right camera for you if…
  • 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification A5000Sony · 2014A7Sony · 2013
Price £154Best£299
Sensor 20.1MP APS-C CMOS24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS
Resolution 20.1MP24.3MPBest
Video Full HD 1080 (60i / 25p AVCHD), 1440×1080/30p MP41080p/60p
Autofocus 25-point contrast AF with face detection117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points
Stabilisation No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)No stabilisation
Burst Rate 3.5fps5fpsBest
Battery Life ~420 shots (CIPA)Best~340 shots (CIPA)
Weight 269g (with battery)Best474g (with battery and card)
Dimensions 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm
Weather Sealed Not weather sealedYesBest
Viewfinder None (rear screen only)EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification
Screen 3.0" 180° flip-up LCD, 460k dots3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch)
Mount Sony E-mountSony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards Single SD slotSingle SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity Micro USB (Multi Terminal), micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFCUSB, Wi-Fi, NFC

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
A5000
A7
Portrait
4.3/10
6.6/10
Street
6.5/10
6.2/10
Travel
6.1/10
6.0/10
Wedding & Events
2.6/10
5.3/10
Documentary
3.5/10
5.6/10
Sports & Action
3.1/10
5.8/10
Landscape
4.7/10
5.8/10
Wildlife
4.2/10
6.5/10
Casual
4.2/10
3.9/10
Food
5.2/10
5.7/10
Macro
4.7/10
5.0/10
Architecture
4.8/10
5.6/10
Astrophotography
4.8/10
5.6/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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