Upgrade Guide

Sony A7 IV→Sony A7R

Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.

You own

Sony

A7 IV

£2299

2021

→

Upgrade to

Sony

A7R

£349 (-£1,950)

2013

⚖️

Situational

One clear hardware improvement over the A7 IV. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.

What's new in the A7R

Unchanged or similar

Suitability by genre

Full spec comparison

Spec	A7 IV	A7R
Price	£2,299	£349
Released	2021	2013	↓
Sensor	33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS	36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF)
Resolution	33MP	36MP	↑
Video	4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone	1080p/60p
Autofocus	759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition	Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor)
Stabilisation	5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops	None
Burst Rate	10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic	4fps	↓
Battery Life	~580 shots (CIPA)	~340 shots (CIPA)	↓
Weight	659g body only	465g (with battery and card)	↑
Weather Sealed	Yes	No	↓
Viewfinder	EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification	EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification
Screen	3.0" vari-angle touchscreen	3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch)
Mount	Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)	Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards	Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II	Single SD UHS-I slot

Compare side-by-side

See A7 IV and A7R next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

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Other upgrades from the A7 IV

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Camera family history