A7 IVvs A7R
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.
Studio, Tripod Landscape & Camera History — A7R (2013): The world's first 36MP full-frame mirrorless — a landmark camera that launched the A7R series, despite contrast-detect AF and significant shutter shock limitations.
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 (2013)
- Collectors and photographers interested in the camera that started the A7R lineage
- Studio photographers who work on a tripod and can manage contrast-detect AF
- Landscape photographers who prioritise resolution over autofocus performance
- Sony FE system users who want a historical body at a very low used price
Quick take: The a7r has the highest resolution at 36mp; the a7r is the most affordable; only the a7 iv is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 IV (2021) | A7R (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,299 | £349 |
| Sensor | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) |
| Resolution | 33.0MP | 36.4MP |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | None |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 4fps |
| Battery Life | ~580 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 659g body only | 465g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 IV | A7R |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Portraits | — | |
| Outdoor Portraits | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Portrait | — | |
| Architecture | — | |
| Travel | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history