A7R IIIvs FX3
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
VS
Sony
FX3 (2021)
Starting from £3799 new
Best for Professional video, documentary & cinematic filmmaking
View FX3
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
Professional Video, Documentary & Cinematic Filmmaking — FX3 (2021): The definitive run-and-gun cinema camera — A7S III sensor quality in a body built specifically for video professionals.
Who should buy what
A7R III (2017)
- 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
FX3 (2021)
- Professional videographers and filmmakers who need cinema-quality colour science in a compact body
- Documentary and run-and-gun shooters who need 4K/120p and built-in XLR audio
- Sony A7S III owners who want a purpose-built video body alongside their stills camera
- Gimbal and drone operators who need a compact full-frame cinema camera
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the a7r iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R III (2017) | FX3 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,799 | £3,799 |
| Sensor | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS (same as A7S III) |
| Resolution | 42.4MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p 10-bit, 12-bit RAW output, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF | Real-time tracking with subject recognition (human, animal) |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~640 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 650g body only | 715g body only (with XLR handle) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 129.7 × 78.0 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | None — monitor/external EVF use only |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack | USB-C (10Gbps), full-size HDMI, XLR via handle, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R III | FX3 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with A7R III
Camera family history