A7R IVvs Sony A9 III
VS
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Landscape, Studio, Commercial — A7R IV (2019): 61MP in a mirrorless body — the resolution benchmark.
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
Who should buy what
A7R IV (2019)
- Landscape photographers who print large
- Studio shooters needing maximum detail
Sony A9 III (2023)
- Professional sports photographers who need zero blackout and 120fps burst
- Wildlife photographers who demand the most advanced Sony AF available
- Photojournalists who need flash sync at any shutter speed
- A9 II owners upgrading to the world's first full-frame global shutter
Quick take: The a7r iv has the highest resolution at 61mp; the a7r iv is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R IV (2019) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS 35mm | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 61.0MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K 30fps | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 567-point phase-detect, real-time tracking | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 10fps | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | 670 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 665g (body only) | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.44M-dot | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-Mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II / CFexpress Type A | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 4.1, USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R IV | Sony A9 III |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with A7R IV
Camera family history