Sony
A7 2013
Best for Camera history & full-frame introduction
£299
list price · used from £150 at eBay
Decision tools · Compare
A7 vs Sony RX1R III
Quick take: The Sony RX1R III has the highest resolution at 61MP; the A7 is the most affordable; only the A7 is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·14 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.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
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.
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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A7Sony · 2013 | Sony RX1R IIISony · 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £299Best | £3,899 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS | 61MP full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 61.0MPBest |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 10-bit |
| Autofocus | 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points | Hybrid phase-detect AF (693 points) with eye detection |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA)Best | 300 shots (CIPA, LCD) |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card)Best | 496g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | — |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) | Tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed 35mm f/2 Zeiss Sonnar lens |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD (UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
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
Sony RX1R III
Portrait
6.6/10
5.9/10
Street
6.2/10
7.6/10
Travel
6.1/10
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
5.3/10
5.7/10
Documentary
5.6/10
5.5/10
Sports & Action
5.8/10
—
Landscape
5.8/10
5.7/10
Wildlife
6.5/10
—
Casual
3.9/10
4.6/10
Food
5.7/10
6.3/10
Macro
5.0/10
4.8/10
Architecture
5.6/10
6.0/10
Astrophotography
5.6/10
6.2/10
Filmmaking
—
5.3/10
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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