Upgrade Guide
Sony A7R→Sony Sony FX5
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 FX5
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate10fps vs 4fps
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Generation13 years newer (2026 vs 2013)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution17MP (down from 36MP — optimised for low light)
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 | Sony FX5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.1 | ||
| Street | -0.4 | ||
| Travel | +0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.6 | ||
| Documentary | +3.4 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.3 | ||
| Landscape | -1.2 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.4 | ||
| Casual | +1.6 | ||
| Food | +1.8 | ||
| Macro | +0.2 | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Astrophotography | +1.3 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7R | Sony FX5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £349 | £4,699 | |
| Released | 2013 | 2026 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) | 16.6MP full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS | |
| Resolution | 36MP | 17MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 5K/60p open-gate, 4K/120p, internal RAW/X-OCN, 10-bit Log, triple base ISO | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) | AI-powered hybrid phase-detect AF (759 points) with subject tracking | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | IBIS with Dynamic Active Mode | |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 10fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | ~105 min actual recording, ~170 min continuous (LCD) | ↓ |
| Weight | 465g (with battery and card) | 734g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | Optional detachable EVF (DVF-EL1), OLED | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) | Fully articulating touchscreen (4-axis arm) | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | CFexpress Type A + SDXC (dual) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A7R and Sony FX5 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Sony FX5 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the A7R
Camera family history