A6400vs A7R III
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Content Creation & Vlogging — A6400 (2019): The best value APS-C Sony you can buy — especially used. Real-time Eye AF at this price point was transformative when it launched and still makes it one of the most reliable autofocus systems in the lineup.
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
A6400 (2019)
- Vloggers and content creators who need a flip screen and reliable AF
- Photographers upgrading from a compact or smartphone
- Beginners who want room to grow into a full E-mount lens ecosystem
- Anyone prioritising autofocus performance at an accessible price
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; the a6400 is the most affordable; only the a7r iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A6400 (2019) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS BSI | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (6K oversampled, no crop), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 425 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 11fps mechanical, 8fps with AF tracking | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 403g (body, battery, card) | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 120.0 × 66.9 × 59.7mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 180° flip for selfie/vlog, 921k dots | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | Micro-USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A6400 | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with A6400
Camera family history