Sony
A7R III 2017
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
£704
used today at Wex Photo Video
Decision tools · Compare
A7R III vs A9
Quick take: The A7R III has the highest resolution at 42MP; the A7R III is the most affordable.
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?
A7R III — Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography: The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
A9 — Professional Sports, Wildlife & Action Photography: The camera that changed professional photography — the A9's 20fps blackout-free burst and silent shutter proved mirrorless had definitively surpassed the DSLR.
Who should buy what
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
A9 (2017)
is the right camera for you if…
- Sports photographers who want the original 20fps mirrorless at a lower used price than the A9 II
- Wildlife photographers who need blackout-free burst with fast, reliable tracking
- Sony FE system users who want a professional sports body
- Photographers interested in the camera that changed the industry
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A7R IIISony · 2017 | A9Sony · 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £704 usedBest | £1,026 used |
| Sensor | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 42.4MPBest | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE)Best |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 650g (body only)Best | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
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
A7R III
A9
Portrait
7.8/10
7.5/10
Street
6.1/10
6.0/10
Travel
6.1/10
5.9/10
Wedding & Events
7.5/10
7.5/10
Filmmaking
6.3/10
6.7/10
Documentary
6.7/10
6.8/10
Sports & Action
7.3/10
8.2/10
Landscape
7.4/10
6.1/10
Wildlife
7.6/10
8.2/10
Casual
4.7/10
4.6/10
Food
7.0/10
6.5/10
Macro
6.2/10
5.8/10
Architecture
7.5/10
6.0/10
Astrophotography
7.0/10
7.3/10
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 →
Next
More comparisons with A7R III
Camera family history