Sony A7 Comparison Review
The Sony Alpha A7 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was announced in October 2013 and is equipped with a full frame sensor. It offers a resolution of 24 megapixel.
Is the Sony A7 a good camera? The A7 has a Camera Elo of 1872. This rating puts the A7 below average of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (full frame cameras), the A7 also ranks below average. – Well, the Sony A7 is more than 6 years old, and there have been many other good digital cameras released since 2013.
| Sony A7 |
|---|
| Mirrorless system camera |
| Sony E mount lenses |
| 24 MP, Full Frame Sensor |
| 1080/60p Video |
| ISO 100 - 25 600 (50 - 51 200) |
| Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots) |
| 3.0 LCD, 1230k dots |
| Tilting screen (no touchscreen) |
| 5 shutter flaps per second |
| Weathersealed body |
| 340 shots per battery charge |
| 127 x 94 x 48 mm, 474 g |
Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.
Body comparison with a credit card
The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size of the Sony A7 vis-à-vis a credit card. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Sony A7 alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life 1 |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch 2 |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A7 | 127 mm | 94 mm | 48 mm | 474 g | 340 | Y | Oct 2013 | 1,699 |  | |
| Nikon D610 | 141 mm | 113 mm | 82 mm | 850 g | 900 | Y | Oct 2013 | 1,999 | | |
| Panasonic GH4 | 133 mm | 93 mm | 84 mm | 560 g | 500 | Y | Feb 2014 | 1,499 | | |
| Samsung NX1 | 139 mm | 102 mm | 66 mm | 550 g | 500 | Y | Sep 2014 | 1,499 | | |
| Sony A7 III | 127 mm | 96 mm | 74 mm | 650 g | 610 | Y | Feb 2018 | 1,999 | | |
| Sony A6300 | 120 mm | 67 mm | 49 mm | 404 g | 400 | Y | Feb 2016 | 999 | | |
| Sony A6500 | 120 mm | 67 mm | 53 mm | 453 g | 350 | Y | Oct 2016 | 1,399 | | |
| Sony A7 II | 127 mm | 96 mm | 60 mm | 599 g | 350 | Y | Nov 2014 | 1,999 | | |
| Sony A7S | 127 mm | 94 mm | 48 mm | 489 g | 380 | Y | Apr 2014 | 2,499 | | |
| Sony A7R | 127 mm | 94 mm | 48 mm | 465 g | 340 | Y | Oct 2013 | 2,299 | | |
| Sony RX1R | 113 mm | 65 mm | 70 mm | 482 g | 270 | n | Jun 2013 | 2,799 | | |
|
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement. |
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Sony A7 was launched in the US market at a price of $1,699. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Check Ebay offers
Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
The Sony A7 features a full frame sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Sony A7 among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality.
Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.
| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A7 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.8 | 14.2 | 2248 | 90 | |
| Nikon D610 | Full Frame | 24.2 | 6016 | 4016 | 1080/30p | 25.1 | 14.4 | 2925 | 94 | |
| Panasonic GH4 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 23.2 | 12.8 | 791 | 74 | |
| Samsung NX1 | APS-C | 28.0 | 6480 | 4320 | 4K/30p | 24.2 | 13.2 | 1363 | 83 | |
| Sony A7 III | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 14.7 | 3730 | 96 | |
| Sony A6300 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 24.4 | 13.7 | 1437 | 85 | |
| Sony A6500 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 24.5 | 13.7 | 1405 | 85 | |
| Sony A7 II | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.9 | 13.6 | 2449 | 90 | |
| Sony A7S | Full Frame | 12.0 | 4240 | 2832 | 1080/60p | 23.9 | 13.2 | 3702 | 87 | |
| Sony A7R | Full Frame | 36.2 | 7360 | 4912 | 1080/60p | 25.6 | 14.1 | 2746 | 95 | |
| Sony RX1R | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 25.0 | 13.6 | 2537 | 91 |
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The A7 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the A7 can use is 1080/60p.
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A7 has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 2400k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.71x. The adjacent tables list some of the other core features of the Sony A7 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution (000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Mech Shutter Speed |
Shutter Flaps (1/sec) | Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A7 | 2400 | n | 3.0 | 1230 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0 | n | n | |
| Nikon D610 | optical | Y | 3.2 | 921 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 6.0 | Y | n | |
| Panasonic GH4 | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 1036 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 12.0 | Y | n | |
| Samsung NX1 | 2360 | Y | 3.0 | 1036 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 15.0 | Y | n | |
| Sony A7 III | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 922 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0 | n | Y | |
| Sony A6300 | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 922 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 11.0 | Y | n | |
| Sony A6500 | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 922 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 11.0 | Y | Y | |
| Sony A7 II | 2400 | n | 3.0 | 1230 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0 | n | Y | |
| Sony A7S | 2400 | n | 3.0 | 921 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0 | n | n | |
| Sony A7R | 2400 | n | 3.0 | 1230 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 4.0 | n | n | |
| Sony RX1R | optional | n | 3.0 | 1229 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 5.0 | Y | n |
Connection comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Alpha A7 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support | NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A7 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Nikon D610 | Y | mono | mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic GH4 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Samsung NX1 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Sony A7 III | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Sony A6300 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Sony A6500 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Sony A7 II | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Sony A7S | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Sony A7R | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Sony RX1R | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - |
It is notable that the A7 has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.
Expert reviews
While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the A7 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog).
| Camera Model |
camera labs |
dp review |
ephoto zine |
imaging resource |
photography blog |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A7 | + + | 80/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2013 | 1,699 | |
|
| Nikon D610 | + + | 87/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2013 | 1,999 | |
|
| Panasonic GH4 | + + | 85/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2014 | 1,499 | |
|
| Samsung NX1 | .. | 87/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Sep 2014 | 1,499 | |
|
| Sony A7 III | + + | 89/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2018 | 1,999 | |
|
| Sony A6300 | + | 85/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2016 | 999 | |
|
| Sony A6500 | + + | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2016 | 1,399 | |
|
| Sony A7 II | + | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Nov 2014 | 1,999 | |
|
| Sony A7S | .. | 86/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2014 | 2,499 | |
|
| Sony A7R | + + | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2013 | 2,299 | |
|
| Sony RX1R | .. | .. | 4/5 | o | 4.5/5 | Jun 2013 | 2,799 | |
|
| Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||
The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.
Sony A7 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the A7.
What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the A7?
The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Sony equipped the A7 with the BIONZ X image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the A7?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 50-51200.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Sony Alpha A7?
Sony does not publish a shutter rating for the A7. Yet, shutters in comparable cameras from other manufacturers are said to be good for at least 200 000 actuations. It should be noted, though, that this number represents a Mean Time before Failure. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust an expected shutter life of 200 000 shots over, say, three years, one would have to take about 200 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Sony A7?
Sony embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your A7 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the online shutter count app.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Sony A7?
The A7 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Sony A7 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with flash?
The A7's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.
Does the Sony A7 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the A7 use?
The camera gets its power from the NP-FW50 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the A7?
Yes, Sony offers the VG-C1EM as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Camera to camera comparisons
In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
| Camera Model | Sony A7 | |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
| Camera Lens | Sony E mount lenses | |
| Launch Date | October 2013 | |
| Launch Price | USD 1 699 | |
| Sensor Specs | ||
| Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
| Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | |
| Sensor Size | 35.8 x 23.9 mm | |
| Sensor Area | 856 mm2 | |
| Sensor Diagonal | 43 mm | |
| Crop Factor | 1.0x | |
| Sensor Resolution | 24 Megapixels | |
| Image Resolution | 6 000 x 4 000 pixels | |
| Pixel Pitch | 5.97 μm | |
| Pixel Density | 2.80 MP/cm2 | |
| Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
| Movie Capability | 1080/60p Video | |
| ISO Setting | 100 - 25 600 ISO | |
| ISO Boost | 50 - 51 200 ISO | |
| Image Processor | BIONZ X | |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 90 | |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 24.8 | |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 14.2 | |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 2248 | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.71x | |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2400k dots | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | |
| LCD Size | 1230k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 5 shutter flaps/s | |
| Shutter Life Expectancy | 200 000 actuations | |
| Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
| Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
| Storage Medium | MS or SDXC cards | |
| Second Storage Option | Single card slot | |
| UHS card support | UHS-I | |
| Connectivity Specs | ||
| External Flash | Hotshoe | |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
| HDMI Port | micro HDMI | |
| Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
| Headphone Socket | Headphone port | |
| Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
| Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
| Body Specs | ||
| Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
| Battery Type | NP-FW50 power pack | |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 340 shots per charge | |
| In-Camera Charging | USB charging | |
| Body Dimensions |
127 x 94 x 48 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 1.9 in) |
|
| Camera Weight | 474 g (16.7 oz) |
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