A7 IVvs A7R III
VS
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
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 IV (2021)
- Working photographers who want a reliable full-frame all-rounder
- Portrait, wedding, and event photographers needing 33MP and fast AF
- A7 III owners ready for a major upgrade in resolution, AF, and video
- Hybrid shooters who want 4K/60p and 33MP stills in one dependable body
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 a7r iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 IV (2021) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,299 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 33.0MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~580 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 659g body only | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 IV | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Portraits | — | |
| Outdoor Portraits | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with A7 IV
Camera family history