A7 IIIvs ZV-E1
GearScore™ Verdict — 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.
Video Creators, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
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
ZV-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The a7 iii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7 iii is the most affordable; only the a7 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 III (2018) | ZV-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (6K oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~710 shots (CIPA) | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | 565g (body, battery, card) | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | None — screen only |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II slot 1, UHS-I slot 2) | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 III | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | — |
More comparisons with A7 III
Camera family history