Upgrade Guide
Sony A7R→Sony A7R IV
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The A7R IV improves across 5 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most A7R owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the A7R IV
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Resolution61MP vs 36MP (+25MP)
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate10fps vs 4fps
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Battery life670 shots (CIPA) vs ~340 shots (CIPA)
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Generation6 years newer (2019 vs 2013)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | A7R | A7R IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +2.3 | ||
| Street | +0.5 | ||
| Travel | +0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +3.4 | ||
| Documentary | +2.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.9 | ||
| Landscape | +1.6 | ||
| Wildlife | +2.3 | ||
| Casual | +1.1 | ||
| Food | +1.8 | ||
| Macro | +1.5 | ||
| Architecture | +2.0 | ||
| Astrophotography | +1.5 | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7R | A7R IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £1,078 used | |
| Released | 2013 | 2019 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) | Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS 35mm | |
| Resolution | 36MP | 61MP | ↑ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K 30fps | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) | 567-point phase-detect, real-time tracking | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 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) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (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 | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A7R and A7R IV next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the A7R IV against your specific genres — not just specs.
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Camera family history