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Sony A7R III vs Canon 1D Comparison

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Sony A7R III

42 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony A7R III
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Canon 1D

4 MP | APS-H (28.7 x 19.1 mm) CCD Sensor

Canon 1D
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Sony A7R III vs Canon 1D Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Sony A7R III, which was introduced in October 2017 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 42.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Canon 1D, which was introduced in December 2001 is a Pro DSLR camera with a 4.0MP APS-H sensor. As you can see, 1D is 16 years older than A7R III. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Despite some fundamental differences of these two body types, Mirrorless cameras are becoming serious alternatives to DSLR cameras thanks to their size/weight advantages and recent improvements in their focus speeds , which makes this comparison even more interesting.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Sony A7R III and Canon 1D before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony A7R III Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-10-25
  • 42MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 32000 ( expands to 50 - 102400)
  • Sony E Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 3686k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 657g. 127 x 96 x 74 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body
  • Replaced Sony Alpha A7R II Compare

Canon 1D Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2001-12-13
  • 4MP - APS-H CCD Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 2.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 8.0fps continuous shooting
  • No Video Mode
  • 1585g. 156 x 158 x 80 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body

Sony A7R III was replaced by Sony Alpha A7R IV. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha A7R IV vs Sony Alpha A7R III
Sony Alpha A7R IV vs Canon EOS-1D

Canon 1D was replaced by Canon EOS 1D Mark II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon EOS 1D Mark II vs Canon EOS-1D
Canon EOS 1D Mark II vs Sony Alpha A7R III

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Sony A7R III and Canon 1D compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7R III over Canon EOS-1D
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder Magnif.
0.78x vs 0.72x Larger Viewfinder
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution
42 MP vs 4 MP 950% more pixels
Max ISO
32.000 vs 3.200 900% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
425 vs 45 380 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3″ vs 2" 1 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
1.440k dots vs 120k dots 1100% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 8.0fps 2 fps faster
Weight
657 g vs 1585 g 928 g lighter
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs None Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Shutter Life Expectancy
500000 cycles vs 150000 cycles Longer use without changing the shutter mechanism
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes (169. 6) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Autofocus at f/8 aperture
425 point vs 1 point Autofocus with teleconverters
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
Animal Eye AF Tracking
Yes vs No Easily lock and track focus on animals
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Eye Tracking Focus
Yes vs No Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject
CHECK A7R III PRICE


Reasons to choose Canon EOS-1D over Sony Alpha A7R III
Max Mech. Shutter
1/16000s vs 1/8000s faster mechanical shutter
Sensor Pixel Area
135.02µm2 vs 20.43µm2 560% larger pixel area
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily
CHECK 1D PRICE

Common Strengths of Sony Alpha A7R III and Canon EOS-1D
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Max Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 8.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs Yes Connect off-camera flash
Shutter Life Expectancy
500000 cycles vs 150000 cycles High Shutter Rating
Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha A7R III and Canon EOS-1D
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
LCD Screen Size
2.00" vs 2.00" Small display
Sony A7R III vs Canon 1D: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Sony A7R III and Canon 1D side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony A7R III has external dimensions of 127 x 96 x 74 mm (5 x 3.78 x 2.91″) and weighs 657 g (1.45 lb / 23.17 oz) (including batteries). Canon 1D has external dimensions of 156 x 158 x 80 mm (6.14 x 6.22 x 3.15″) and weighs 1585 g (3.49 lb / 55.91 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Sony A7R III and the Canon 1D. Sony A7R III is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 29mm narrower, 62mm shorter and 6mm thinner than Canon 1D.

Sony A7R III vs Canon 1D Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Sony A7R III and the Canon 1D Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony A7R III is significantly lighter (928g ) than the Canon 1D which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since Sony A7R III has a Full frame sensor and Canon 1D has a smaller APS-H sensor, Canon 1D's lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will generally be lighter and smaller than the Sony A7R III lenses.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

A7R III
1D
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

A7R III
1D
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both the A7R III and the 1D have weather sealings in their bodies, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony A7R III's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon 1D's 2" screen.

In addition to the size advantage, Sony A7R III LCD screen also has a Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels. On the other hand, Canon 1D has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to A7R III.


Sony A7R III vs Canon 1D: Sensor Comparison

Sony A7R III has a 42.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. On the other hand, Canon 1D has a 4.0MP APS-H (28.7 x 19.1 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Sony A7R III's sensor provides 38MP more than Canon 1D's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Sony A7R III's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moiré occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the A7R III and 1D sensor size comparison.

Sony A7R III vs Canon 1D Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A7R III and Canon 1D Cameras


As seen above, Sony A7R III has a 1.6x Larger sensor area than Canon 1D. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Sony A7R III vs Canon 1D Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that the Canon 1D has an advantage over the Sony A7R III There are 257 lenses for the Canon 1D's Canon EF mount, but on the other hand, there are only 194 lenses for the Sony A7R III's Sony E lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Sony A7R III has a big advantage in this regard because it has a sensor based image stabilization (IS) which means that all the lenses mounted to this body will be stabilized. A7R III's built-in Image stabilization system is effective for compensating vibration up to 5.0-stops according to CIPA standards.
On the other hand, Canon 1D doesn't have this feature so you have to buy a lens with optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 77 lenses for Canon EF mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type # of Sony A7R III Lenses # of Canon 1D Lenses
Standard Zoom 19 (14 Full Frame) 22
Standard Prime 34 (21 Full Frame) 19
Wideangle Zoom 14 (11 Full Frame) 20
Wideangle Prime 59 (40 Full Frame) 48
Telephoto Zoom 18 (16 Full Frame) 51
Telephoto Prime 26 (20 Full Frame) 44
SuperZoom 10 (2 Full Frame) 9
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 2 (0 Full Frame) 3
Macro Prime 9 (8 Full Frame) 24
Perspective Control Prime 2 (2 Full Frame) 16
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 194 (134 Full Frame) 257

What types of Photography are Sony A7R III and Canon 1D Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony A7R III and Canon 1D for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony A7R III for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Canon 1D for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography
Large APS-H (28.7 x 19.1 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 4.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography

Sony A7R III for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Canon 1D for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Street Photography
Large APS-H (28.7 x 19.1 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
No Live-view
Large Body
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF Mount Lenses for Street Photography

Sony A7R III for Sports Photography

GOOD

Canon 1D for Sports Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
425 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 650 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Sports Photography
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 8.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/16000s
45 Focus Points
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF Mount Lenses for Sports Photography

Sony A7R III for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Canon 1D for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
657g
Body Thickness 74mm
Read the details
Large APS-H (28.7 x 19.1 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1585g
Body Thickness 80mm
Read the details

Sony A7R III for Landscape Photography

GOOD

Canon 1D for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography
Large APS-H (28.7 x 19.1 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 4.0MP
No Live-view
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography

Sony A7R III vs Canon 1D: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Sony A7R III and Canon 1D, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony A7R III and Canon 1D scores compare:

Sony A7R III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #10 out of 114 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #11 out of 1268 in all Cameras
Canon 1D
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #27 out of 36 in Large SLR cameras
Ranked #738 out of 1268 in all Cameras

Sony A7R III is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon 1D in all criteria. It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Sony A7R III
Sony A7R III
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Canon 1D
Canon 1D
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Canon 1D vs Sony A7R III Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Alpha A7R III Canon EOS-1D
Brand Sony Canon
Announced 2017-10-25 2001-12-13
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CCD
Size Full frame APS-H
Dimensions 35.9 x 24 mm 28.7 x 19.1 mm
Area 861.60mm2 548.17mm2
Megapixels 42 megapixels 4 megapixels
Max Resolution 7952 x 5304 2464 x 1648
Max Native Light sensitivity 32,000 ISO 3,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 102400 ISO -
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 50 ISO -
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 425 45
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Sony E Canon EF
Number of Available Lenses 194 257
Screen
Type Tilting Fixed type
Size 3.00" 2.00"
Resolution 1,440k dots 120k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Resolution 3,686k dots no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x 0.72x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/16000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift No
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/500s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 8.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 None
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S n/a
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 657g 1585g
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 74mm 156 x 158 x 80mm
Battery Life 650 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 100 not tested
DxO Color Depth 26.0 not tested
DxO Dynamic Range 14.7 not tested
DxO Low Light ISO 3523 not tested
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