A7 IVvs ZV-1 II
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.
Pocket Vlogging — ZV-1 II (2023): The best pocket vlogging camera — 1-inch sensor, ultrawide zoom, flip screen, and real-time Eye AF in a shirt pocket.
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
ZV-1 II (2023)
- Vloggers and content creators who want a pocketable fixed-lens camera
- Travellers who want 4K video and a flip screen in a jacket-pocket size
- ZV-1 owners who want a wider lens and improved subject tracking
- Beginners who want a simple, capable vlogging camera without changing lenses
Quick take: The a7 iv has the highest resolution at 33mp; the zv-1 ii is the most affordable; only the a7 iv is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 IV (2021) | ZV-1 II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,299 | £649 |
| Sensor | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS |
| Resolution | 33.0MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition | Phase-detect + contrast, 315 points, Real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | Optical SteadyShot (OIS) |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 15fps |
| Battery Life | ~580 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 659g body only | 292g |
| Dimensions | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm | 105.5 × 60.0 × 43.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | None |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed zoom — 18–50mm f/1.8–4.0 equiv |
| 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-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 IV | ZV-1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Portraits | — | |
| Outdoor Portraits | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | — |
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