A7vs A7C
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.
Compact Travel & Content Creation — A7C (2020): The A7C proves full-frame doesn't have to be bulky. Excellent battery life, reliable Eye AF and a vari-angle screen in a pocketable body is a compelling combination for travel and content creators. The A7C II improved on it, but the original remains a strong value buy.
Who should buy what
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
A7C (2020)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame in the smallest possible body
- Content creators who need a flip screen and reliable Eye AF
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want to keep a compact kit
- Vloggers who need 4K and great battery life on the road
Quick take: The a7 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 (2013) | A7C (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £299 | £1,299 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | ~740 shots (CIPA) — outstanding for a Sony mirrorless |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 509g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | 124.0 × 71.1 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | None built-in — use rear screen or accessory EVF |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 | A7C |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with A7
Camera family history