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Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 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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Sony A7

24 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony A7
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Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing A7R III and A7, two Pro Mirrorless cameras by Sony. Both cameras have Full frame sensors but Sony A7R III has a 42.0 MP and Sony A7 has a 24.0 MP resolution. Sony A7R III was introduced to market in October 2017 and Sony A7 was launched in January 2014. As you can see, A7 is 3 years older than A7R III. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony A7R III and Sony A7 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 Tilting Screen
  • 3686k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0 fps 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 7R II Compare

Sony A7 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-01-22
  • 24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • Sony E Mount
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 474g. 127 x 94 x 48 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 Sony Alpha A7

Sony A7 was replaced by Sony Alpha 7 II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha 7 II vs Sony Alpha A7
Sony Alpha 7 II vs Sony Alpha A7R III

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony A7R III and Sony A7 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7R III over Sony Alpha A7
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder Magnification
0.78x vs 0.71x Larger Viewfinder
Max Sensor Resolution
42 MP vs 24 MP 75% more pixels
Max ISO
32.000 vs 25.600 25% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
425 vs 117 308 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution
1.440k dots vs 1.230k dots 17% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 5.0fps 5 fps faster
Battery Life
650 shots vs 340 shots 310 more frames with a single charge
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs With optional app creative shooting
Viewfinder Resolution
3686.4k dot vs 2359k dot 56% higher resolution
Color Depth
26.0 vs 24.8 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
14.7 vs 14.2 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
3523 vs 2248 better High ISO performance
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Autofocus at f/8 aperture
425 points vs none Autofocus with teleconverters
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Animal Eye AF Tracking
Yes vs No Easily lock and track focus on animals
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


Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7 over Sony Alpha A7R III
Weight
474 g vs 657 g 183 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area
35.65µm2 vs 20.43µm2 74% larger pixel area

Common Strengths of Sony Alpha A7R III and Sony Alpha A7
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Adjustable LCD Screen
Tilting vs Tilting Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
42 MP vs 24 MP Bigger prints and more details
Microphone Port
Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs Yes better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs Yes Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Dual-axis Electronic Level
Yes vs Yes Level the camera easily in two axis
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha A7R III and Sony Alpha A7
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
Sony A7R III vs Sony A7: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Sony A7R III and Sony A7 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). Sony A7 has external dimensions of 127 x 94 x 48 mm (5 x 3.7 x 1.89″) and weighs 474 g (1.04 lb / 16.72 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony A7R III and Sony A7.

Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sony A7R III and Sony A7 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Sony A7R III and Sony A7.

Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Sony A7R III and Sony A7 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony A7R III and Sony A7.
Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Sony A7R III and Sony A7 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony A7 is significantly lighter (183g ) than the Sony A7R III 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 have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Sony A7R III and Sony A7 have the same Sony E lens mount and Full frame sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

A7R III
A7
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

A7R III
A7
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both A7R III and A7 have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony A7R III and Sony A7's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.

Both cameras feature Tilting screens where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels.
Sony A7R III vs Sony A7: 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, Sony A7 has a 24.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor.

Sony A7R III's sensor provides 18MP more than Sony A7'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 moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the A7R III and A7 sensor size comparison.

Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A7R III and Sony A7 Cameras


Sony A7R III and Sony A7 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Sony A7R III and Sony A7 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, A7R III has scored 100, 10 points higher than A7.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Sony A7R III 100 26.0 bits 14.7 Evs 3523 ISO
Sony A7 90 24.8 bits 14.2 Evs 2248 ISO
Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. In this case, both Sony A7R III and Sony A7 have the same Sony E lens mount so have 128 native lenses available. All of these lenses cover Full frame sensor.

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 to compensate vibration up to 5.0-stops according to CIPA standards.
31 lenses for Sony E mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type # of Sony A7R III Lenses # of Sony A7 Lenses
Standard Zoom 12 (9 Full Frame) 12 (9 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 18 (9 Full Frame) 18 (9 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 7 (6 Full Frame) 7 (6 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 42 (26 Full Frame) 42 (26 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 9 (7 Full Frame) 9 (7 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 18 (14 Full Frame) 18 (14 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 8 (1 Full Frame) 8 (1 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 2 (0 Full Frame) 2 (0 Full Frame)
Macro Prime 8 (7 Full Frame) 8 (7 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime 2 (2 Full Frame) 2 (2 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 128 (81 Full Frame) 128 (81 Full Frame)

Here are some of the most popular Sony E Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Sony E Mount Lenses for A7R III and A7
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS Lens Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS
35mm FF 780gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T Lens Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T
35mm FF 426gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS Lens Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
APS-C / DX 345gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS Lens Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS
35mm FF 840gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T Lens Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T
35mm FF 120gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS Lens Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
35mm FF 854gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Lens Sony FE 50mm F1.8
35mm FF 186gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS Lens Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS
APS-C / DX 116gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Sony A7R III and Sony A7 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony A7R III and Sony A7 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

EXCELLENT

Sony A7 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
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
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Sony A7R III for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A7 for Street Photography

GOOD
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
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Sony A7R III for Sports Photography

GOOD

Sony A7 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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
25 Cross Type Focus sensors
117 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Sony A7R III for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A7 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
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 Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
474g
Body Thickness 48mm
Read the details

Sony A7R III for Landscape Photography

GOOD

Sony A7 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Sony A7R III vs Sony A7: 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 Sony A7, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 Sony A7 scores compare:

Sony A7R III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #4 out of 86 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #4 out of 1220 in all Cameras
Sony A7
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #43 out of 86 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #81 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Sony A7R III is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony A7 in all criteria except one: Portability. But the size difference between these cameras are negligible in real world so it is not a big disadvantage for Sony A7R III.

Sony A7R III
Sony A7R III
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Sony A7
Sony A7
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Sony A7 vs Sony A7R III Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Alpha A7R III Sony Alpha A7
Brand Sony Sony
Announced 2017-10-25 2014-01-22
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.9 x 24 mm 35.8 x 23.9 mm
Area 861.60mm2 855.62mm2
Megapixels 42 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 7952 x 5304 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 32,000 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 102400 ISO -
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 50 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 425 117
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Sony E Sony E
Number of Available Lenses 128 128
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3 3"
Resolution 1,440k dots 1,230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 3,686k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x 0.71x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift No
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 657g 474g
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 74mm 127 x 94 x 48mm
Battery Life 650 shots 340 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 100 90
DxO Color Depth 26.0 24.8
DxO Dynamic Range 14.7 14.2
DxO Low Light ISO 3523 2248
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