A7Rvs A7R IV
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Studio, Tripod Landscape & Camera History — A7R (2013): The world's first 36MP full-frame mirrorless — a landmark camera that launched the A7R series, despite contrast-detect AF and significant shutter shock limitations.
Landscape, Studio, Commercial — A7R IV (2019): 61MP in a mirrorless body — the resolution benchmark.
Who should buy what
A7R (2013)
- Collectors and photographers interested in the camera that started the A7R lineage
- Studio photographers who work on a tripod and can manage contrast-detect AF
- Landscape photographers who prioritise resolution over autofocus performance
- Sony FE system users who want a historical body at a very low used price
A7R IV (2019)
- Landscape photographers who print large
- Studio shooters needing maximum detail
Quick take: The a7r iv has the highest resolution at 61mp; the a7r is the most affordable; only the a7r iv is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R (2013) | A7R IV (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £349 | £2,199 |
| Sensor | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) | Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS 35mm |
| Resolution | 36.4MP | 61.0MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K 30fps |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) | 567-point phase-detect, real-time tracking |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | 670 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 465g (with battery and card) | 665g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | 128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.44M-dot |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-Mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | 2× SD UHS-II / CFexpress Type A |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 4.1, USB-C 3.2 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R | A7R IV |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Architecture | ||
| Travel | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history