Upgrade Guide
Sony A7 II→Sony A7R III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A7 II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the A7R III
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Resolution42MP vs 24MP (+18MP)
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Burst rate10fps with AF/AE tracking vs 5fps
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Battery life~650 shots (CIPA) vs 350 shots (CIPA)
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Generation3 years newer (2017 vs 2014)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 II | A7R III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | ||
| Street | -1.0 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Landscape | +1.0 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +2.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Wedding | — | ||
| Sports | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7 II | A7R III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £1,799 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2017 | ↑ |
| Sensor | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 42MP | ↑ |
| Video | 1080p 60fps | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 350 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 599g (body only) | 650g body only | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.23M-dot | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting | |
| Mount | Sony E-Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
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