A7 IIIvs A7R III
Which should you buy?
All-Round Photography & Video — A7 III (2018): Still one of the best all-round cameras money can buy — particularly strong used. The A7 III proved that full-frame doesn't have to mean compromises, and nothing at this price point has meaningfully beaten it.
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
A7 III (2018)
- Enthusiast photographers upgrading from APS-C for the first time
- Working photographers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Anyone who shoots in low light regularly
- Hybrid shooters needing both stills and video performance
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 a7 iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 III (2018) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (6K oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~710 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 565g (body, battery, card) | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II slot 1, UHS-I slot 2) | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 III | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Street | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with A7 III
Camera family history