Upgrade Guide
Sony A7R→Sony A7 IV
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A7R. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the A7 IV
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic vs 4fps
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Battery life~580 shots (CIPA) vs ~340 shots (CIPA)
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Generation8 years newer (2021 vs 2013)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution33MP (down from 36MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R | A7 IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Sports & Action | +3.0 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +5.0 | ||
| Studio Portraits | — | ||
| Outdoor Portraits | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7R | A7 IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £349 | £2,299 | |
| Released | 2013 | 2021 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | |
| Resolution | 36MP | 33MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition | |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | ~580 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 465g (with battery and card) | 659g body only | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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