A7Cvs A7R
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Compact Travel & Content Creation — A7C (2020): 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.
Studio, Tripod Landscape & Camera History — A7R (2013): 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
A7C (2020)
- 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 (2013)
- 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
Quick take: The a7r has the highest resolution at 36mp; the a7r is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7C (2020) | A7R (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £349 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 36.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion, S-Log2/S-Log3 | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops | None |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 4fps |
| Battery Life | ~740 shots (CIPA) — outstanding for a Sony mirrorless | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 509g (body, battery, card) | 465g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 124.0 × 71.1 × 59.7mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None built-in — use rear screen or accessory EVF | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7C | A7R |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Video | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Architecture | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with A7C
Camera family history