A7 IIIvs Sony FE 50mm f/1.8
VS
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.
Portraits & Everyday — Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 (2016): The most affordable full-frame prime in the Sony FE system — f/1.8 subject separation and linear motor AF at an entry-level price.
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
Quick take: The sony fe 50mm f/1.8 is the most affordable; only the a7 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 III (2018) | Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £199 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | f/1.8 (max aperture) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | — |
| Video | 4K/30p (6K oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 45cm minimum focus distance |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF | Linear motor (fast and quiet AF) |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops | None (relies on body IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | — |
| Battery Life | ~710 shots (CIPA) | — |
| Weight | 565g (body, battery, card) | 186g |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 68.6 × 59.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | — |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 921k dots | — |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II slot 1, UHS-I slot 2) | — |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | — |
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