A7vs Sony RX100 VII
Sony
Sony RX100 VII (2019)
Starting from £1099 new
Best for Travel & versatility
View Sony RX100 VII
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.
Travel & Versatility — Sony RX100 VII (2019): The most versatile compact camera ever made — 24-200mm zoom, 20fps burst, and 960fps slow-motion in a jacket pocket.
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
Sony RX100 VII (2019)
- Travel photographers who want the most capable 1-inch compact available
- Vloggers who need fast AF and a flip screen in a jacket-pocket body
- Photographers who want a high-quality compact backup to a mirrorless system
- Anyone who wants professional AF performance without carrying a large camera
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) | Sony RX100 VII (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £299 | £1,099 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS BSI CMOS (stacked) |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p HLG, FHD/960fps super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points | 357-point phase-detect + 425 contrast, Eye AF, tracking |
| Stabilisation | None | 3-stop Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 20fps AF/AE tracking (90fps short burst) |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 302g with battery and card |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | 101.6 × 58.1 × 42.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | Pop-up EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 | Sony RX100 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
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