A7R IIIvs ZV-1 II
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
VS
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.
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
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
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 a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the zv-1 ii is the most affordable; only the a7r iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R III (2017) | ZV-1 II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,799 | £649 |
| Sensor | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS |
| Resolution | 42.4MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF | Phase-detect + contrast, 315 points, Real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops | Optical SteadyShot (OIS) |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 15fps |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 650g body only | 292g |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 105.5 × 60.0 × 43.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | None |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed zoom — 18–50mm f/1.8–4.0 equiv |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R III | ZV-1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — |
More comparisons with A7R III