A7R IIIvs ZV-E1
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.
Video Creators, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
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-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the a7r iii 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-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,799 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 42.4MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | 650g body only | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | None — screen only |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R III | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Travel | — |
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Camera family history