Decision tools · Compare
A7 IV vs A7R III
Quick take: The A7R III has the highest resolution at 42MP; the A7R III is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 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.
Sony
A7R III 2017
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
£1799
list price · used from £668 at Wex Photo Video
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
A7 IV — Portrait & Wedding Photography: The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
A7R III — Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography: 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)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A7 IVSony · 2021 | A7R IIISony · 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,799Best | £1,799Best |
| Sensor | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 33.0MP | 42.4MPBest |
| 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)Best |
| Weight | 659g (body only) | 650g (body only)Best |
| 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 | Slot 1 CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II, slot 2 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 |
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 IV
A7R III
Portrait
8.2/10
7.8/10
Street
6.5/10
6.1/10
Travel
6.3/10
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
7.9/10
7.5/10
Vlogging & Video
6.1/10
—
Filmmaking
7.2/10
6.3/10
Documentary
7.4/10
6.7/10
Sports & Action
7.5/10
7.3/10
Landscape
6.7/10
7.4/10
Wildlife
7.8/10
7.6/10
Casual
5.3/10
4.7/10
Food
7.6/10
7.0/10
Macro
7.3/10
6.2/10
Architecture
6.8/10
7.5/10
Astrophotography
7.3/10
7.0/10
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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