A7vs ZV-1 II
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.
Pocket Vlogging — ZV-1 II (2023): The best pocket vlogging camera — 1-inch sensor, ultrawide zoom, flip screen, and real-time Eye AF in a shirt 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
ZV-1 II (2023)
- Vloggers and content creators who want a pocketable fixed-lens camera
- Travellers who want 4K video and a flip screen in a jacket-pocket size
- ZV-1 owners who want a wider lens and improved subject tracking
- Beginners who want a simple, capable vlogging camera without changing lenses
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) | ZV-1 II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £299 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points | Phase-detect + contrast, 315 points, Real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | None | Optical SteadyShot (OIS) |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 15fps |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 292g |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | 105.5 × 60.0 × 43.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | None |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed zoom — 18–50mm f/1.8–4.0 equiv |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 | ZV-1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Family & Everyday | — |
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