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A7vs A7 IV

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

Sony A7 Sony A7 (2013) Starting from £299 new Best for Camera history & full-frame introduction View A7
VS
Sony A7 IV Sony A7 IV (2021) Starting from £2299 new Best for Portrait & wedding photography View A7 IV

GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?

Camera History & Full-Frame Introduction — A7 (2013): The camera that changed photography — the world's first compact full-frame mirrorless, the A7 launched a product family that redefined what was possible.

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.

↓ Full specifications below

A7 (2013)

  • Photographers interested in the camera that launched the full-frame mirrorless era
  • Budget-conscious buyers who want to experience full-frame image quality at minimal cost
  • Sony FE system users who want the original A7 for sentimental or historical value
  • Those adapting vintage lenses who want full-frame with phase-detect AF at low cost

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

Quick take: The a7 iv has the highest resolution at 33mp; the a7 is the most affordable; only the a7 iv is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification A7 (2013)A7 IV (2021)
Price £299 £2,299
Sensor 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS
Resolution 24.3MP 33.0MP
Video 1080p/60p 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone
Autofocus 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition
Stabilisation None 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops
Burst Rate 5fps 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic
Battery Life ~340 shots (CIPA) ~580 shots (CIPA)
Weight 474g (with battery and card) 659g body only
Dimensions 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm
Weather Sealed No Yes
Viewfinder EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification
Screen 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen
Mount Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-I slot Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II
Connectivity USB, Wi-Fi, NFC USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Genre A7A7 IV
Portrait
9.0
Landscape
9.0
9.0
Travel
7.0
Street
7.0
Sports & Action
4.0
7.0
Vlogging & Video
4.0
9.0
Studio Portraits
9.0
Outdoor Portraits
9.0
Wedding & Events
9.0

GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →

⚡ Compare specs side by side A7 prices → A7 IV prices →

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