A7vs A7R III
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
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.
Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
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
A7R III (2017)
- 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
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the a7 is the most affordable; only the a7r iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 (2013) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £299 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| 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" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
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