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Sony

Sony A7

The original Sony A7 launched in late 2013 alongside the A7R as the world's first compact system camera with a full-frame sensor — an achievement that changed the camera industry permanently. Its 24.3MP CMOS sensor with 117 on-sensor phase-detect AF points delivered far more practical autofocus performance than the A7R, making it the more versatile of the two originals. At roughly half the price of a comparable DSLR and significantly smaller, the A7 proved that full-frame quality did not require a large body — and launched a product family that would redefine professional photography.

GearFrame's Take

The camera that changed photography — the world's first compact full-frame mirrorless, the A7 launched a product family that redefined what was possible.

Used from
£336
Available at 3 retailers
✓ Available at 3 retailers 🔒 No signup needed 📦 UK stock only
RetailerPrice
Wex Photo Video
Wex Photo Video used
£336
Check on Wex Photo Video →
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£150
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Prices are synced live from UK retailers. Not every product will be stocked by every retailer; older models may only be available second hand.
Core
Released
2013
Sensor
24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS
Resolution
24.3 MP
Mount
Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Dimensions
126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm
Weight
474g (with battery and card)
Weather Sealed
No
Performance
Autofocus
117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points
Stabilisation
None
Burst Rate
5fps
Battery Life
~340 shots (CIPA)
Features
Video
1080p/60p
Viewfinder
EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification
Screen
3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch)
Memory Cards
Single SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity
USB, Wi-Fi, NFC

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17 lenses compatible with the Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) mount.

Who should buy this
  • Photographers interested in the camera that launched the full-frame mirrorless era
  • Budget-conscious buyers who want to experience full-frame image quality at minimal cost
  • Sony FE system users who want the original A7 for sentimental or historical value
  • Those adapting vintage lenses who want full-frame with phase-detect AF at low cost
GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre
Portrait
9.0
Landscape
9.0
Travel
7.0
Street
7.0
Sports & Action
4.0
Vlogging & Video
4.0
Great For
👤
Portrait Full-frame sensor produces beautiful subject rendering at a very accessible used price.
🏔️
Landscape Full-frame dynamic range and 24MP make this a capable and affordable landscape camera.
✈️
Travel Compact full-frame body. No IBIS and fixed screen are limitations for modern travel shooting.
🏙️
Street Full-frame rendering gives street images a distinctive look. No weather sealing and limited AF speed.
⚠️ Not Ideal For
🏅
Sports & Action 5fps and basic AF tracking are insufficient for most action photography.
🎬
Vlogging & Video No 4K, no IBIS, and a fixed non-touch screen make this a poor video choice by any modern standard.
📝 How suitability scores are calculated Scores reflect the aggregated consensus from verified purchaser reviews across tracked UK retailers, weighted by photography genre tags applied by reviewers. This is community opinion — not GearFrame editorial assessment. See our full methodology →
Price History — A7

Video reviews and hands-on coverage for the Sony A7 from across YouTube.

Video results sourced from YouTube. GearFrame is not affiliated with these channels.

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📸
Series history
Sony A7 Series
Sony's core full-frame mirrorless line — six generations from 2013 to today.