Decision tools · Compare
A7C vs A7R III
Quick take: The A7R III has the highest resolution at 42MP; the A7C is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 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.
Sony
A7R III 2017
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
£1799
list price · used from £668 at Wex Photo Video
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
A7C — Compact Travel & Content Creation: The A7C proves full-frame doesn't have to be bulky. Excellent battery life, reliable Eye AF and a vari-angle screen in a pocketable body is a compelling combination for travel and content creators. The A7C II improved on it, but the original remains a strong value buy.
A7R III — Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography: The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
Who should buy what
A7C (2020)
is the right camera for you if…
- Travel photographers who want full-frame in the smallest possible body
- Content creators who need a flip screen and reliable Eye AF
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want to keep a compact kit
- Vloggers who need 4K and great battery life on the road
A7R III (2017)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A7CSony · 2020 | A7R IIISony · 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699Best | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 42.4MPBest |
| Video | 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion, S-Log2/S-Log3 | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~740 shots (CIPA) — outstanding for a Sony mirrorlessBest | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 509g (with battery and card)Best | 650g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 124.0 × 71.1 × 59.7mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None built-in — use rear screen or accessory EVF | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
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
A7C
A7R III
Portrait
7.5/10
7.8/10
Street
7.5/10
6.1/10
Travel
7.0/10
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
6.5/10
7.5/10
Vlogging & Video
5.7/10
—
Filmmaking
6.6/10
6.3/10
Documentary
7.0/10
6.7/10
Sports & Action
6.9/10
7.3/10
Landscape
6.5/10
7.4/10
Wildlife
7.6/10
7.6/10
Casual
5.4/10
4.7/10
Food
7.1/10
7.0/10
Macro
6.1/10
6.2/10
Architecture
6.3/10
7.5/10
Astrophotography
7.6/10
7.0/10
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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