Decision tools · Compare
A7 III vs A7R IV
Quick take: The A7R IV has the highest resolution at 61MP; the A7 III is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·14 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.
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
A7 III — All-Round Photography & Video: 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.
A7R IV — Landscape, Studio, Commercial: 61MP in a mirrorless body — the resolution benchmark.
Who should buy what
A7 III (2018)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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 IV (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- Landscape photographers who print large
- Studio shooters needing maximum detail
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A7 IIISony · 2018 | A7R IVSony · 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,099Best | £2,199 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS 35mm |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 61.0MPBest |
| Video | 4K/30p (6K oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 4K 30fps |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF | 567-point phase-detect, real-time tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~710 shots (CIPA)Best | 670 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 565g (body only)Best | 665g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.44M-dot |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-Mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II slot 1, UHS-I slot 2) | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 4.1, USB-C 3.2 |
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
A7 III
A7R IV
Portrait
7.6/10
8.1/10
Street
6.2/10
6.2/10
Travel
6.3/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
7.5/10
7.8/10
Filmmaking
6.4/10
6.4/10
Documentary
6.8/10
6.9/10
Sports & Action
7.3/10
7.4/10
Landscape
6.2/10
7.9/10
Wildlife
7.5/10
7.7/10
Casual
5.4/10
4.8/10
Food
6.6/10
7.4/10
Macro
5.8/10
6.5/10
Architecture
6.1/10
8.1/10
Astrophotography
7.4/10
6.9/10
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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