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A7 vs A7R
Quick take: The A7R has the highest resolution at 36MP; the A7 is the most affordable.
Where the A7 wins
- Cheaper new: £151 vs £1,999
- Burst Rate: 5fps
- Portrait: 6.6 vs 5.8
- Street: 6.2 vs 5.7
- Wedding & Events: 5.3 vs 4.4
Where the A7R wins
- Resolution: 36.4MP
- Weight: 465g (with battery and card)
- Landscape: 6.3 vs 5.8
- Architecture: 6.1 vs 5.6
16 specs side by side·13 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
A7 — Camera History & Full-Frame Introduction: The camera that changed photography — the world's first compact full-frame mirrorless, the A7 launched a product family that redefined what was possible.
A7R — Studio, Tripod Landscape & Camera History: 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 (2013)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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 (2013)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A7Sony · 2013 | A7RSony · 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £151 usedBest | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 36.4MPBest |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 5fpsBest | 4fps |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 465g (with battery and card)Best |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
A7
A7R
Portrait
6.6/10
5.8/10
Street
6.2/10
5.7/10
Travel
6.0/10
5.7/10
Wedding & Events
5.3/10
4.4/10
Documentary
5.6/10
4.9/10
Sports & Action
5.8/10
4.5/10
Landscape
5.8/10
6.3/10
Wildlife
6.5/10
5.4/10
Casual
3.9/10
3.7/10
Food
5.7/10
5.6/10
Macro
5.0/10
5.0/10
Architecture
5.6/10
6.1/10
Astrophotography
5.6/10
5.4/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history