Upgrade Guide
Sony A7R→Sony Sony A9 III
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 Sony A9 III
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate120fps blackout-free electronic vs 4fps
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Battery life530 shots (CIPA) vs ~340 shots (CIPA)
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Generation10 years newer (2023 vs 2013)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution25MP (down from 36MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R | Sony A9 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | ||
| Portrait | +2.0 | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Sports & Action | +5.0 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +3.0 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7R | Sony A9 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £349 | £5,999 | |
| Released | 2013 | 2023 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) | |
| Resolution | 36MP | 25MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect | |
| Stabilisation | None | 8-stop IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 120fps blackout-free electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 465g (with battery and card) | 703g body only | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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See A7R and Sony A9 III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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Other upgrades from the A7R
Camera family history