Nikon Z f vs Sony Alpha 7CR
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| NikonZ f | SonyAlpha 7CR | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | October 2023 | September 2023 |
| Image and sensor | ||
| Camera type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor format | Full frame | Full frame |
| Sensor type | Back-illuminated CMOS | Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS |
| Sensor dimensions | 35.9 × 23.9 mm | 35.7 × 23.8 mm |
| Effective resolution | 24.5 MP | 61 MP |
| Largest image | 6048 × 4032 | 9504 × 6336 |
| RAW recording | Yes | Yes |
| Standard ISO range | 100–64000 | 100–32000 |
| Sensor detail | 25.28 million total pixels; sensor cleaning and image-dust-off data for NX Studio. Pixel-shift frames require software combination and a static camera/subject; no composite resolution is substituted for the single-frame main figure. | Approximately 62.5 million total pixels; maker maximum movie effective resolution 50.8 MP; four- or sixteen-image pixel-shift capture requires assembly in dedicated computer software |
| Image formats | 14-bit NEF RAW with lossless or high-efficiency compression; JPEG and HEIF; RAW plus JPEG or HEIF. Firmware 3.00 adds adjustable Film Grain for stills/video with movie restrictions. | JPEG, HEIF and RAW (Sony ARW 5.0); 14-bit RAW output; compressed, lossless-compressed and uncompressed RAW options; XAVC S, XAVC S-I and XAVC HS movies |
| ISO detail | Standard still-image ISO 100–64000, expandable to equivalent ISO 50–204800; HLG starts at ISO 400. Movie ISO 100–51200 with format-dependent expansion; physical dial and command-dial ranges differ. | Standard still-image and movie ISO 100–32000; still-image extension ISO 50–102400 |
| Image processor | EXPEED 7 | BIONZ XR and dedicated AI processing unit |
| Lens and shooting | ||
| Lens mount | Nikon Z mount | Sony E-mount |
| Stabilisation | Sensor shift | Sensor shift |
| Maximum continuous burst | 30 fps | 8 fps |
| Lens detail | NIKKOR Z lenses; NIKKOR F lenses require an adapter and retain model-dependent restrictions. Manual-focus subject detection and focus confirmation available with compatible setups. | Interchangeable E-mount; ILCE-7CR is supplied without a lens. The photo shows both body colours. |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase/contrast detection; 273 single-point or 299 auto-area positions in FX stills; subject detection and 3D tracking. Nikon's −10 EV sensitivity uses AF-S, ISO 100, f/1.2 and 20°C. | Fast Hybrid AF; up to 693 phase-detection points for stills or movies; EV -4 to 20 at ISO 100 with an f/2 lens; current maker subjects include automatic selection, humans, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and aircraft |
| Shutter | Mechanical, electronic front-curtain and electronic; 1/8000 to 30 seconds using command dial, with Bulb/Time and manual extension to 900 seconds. Physical dial covers 1/8000 to 4 seconds plus special settings. Flash sync 1/200 and Auto FP support; threaded shutter button accepts a cable release. | Electronic first-curtain mechanical shutter up to 1/4000 second; silent electronic shutter up to 1/8000 second; 30-second exposures and Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second full-frame or 1/200 second APS-C with Sony flash |
| Burst detail | Ordinary high approximately 7.8 fps and extended high up to 14 fps, subject to format restrictions. C15/C30 high-speed capture reaches 30 fps with pre-release capture for JPEG normal; it is not a 30 fps RAW mode. | Up to 8 fps Hi+; maker buffer approximately 36 compressed RAW, 16 lossless-compressed RAW or 14 uncompressed RAW images; up to 320 Fine JPEGs. Amateur Photographer found 8 fps requires compressed RAW without live view, and 6 fps with live view or lossless-compressed RAW. |
| Stabilisation detail | Five-axis sensor shift; Nikon claims 8 stops under CIPA with NIKKOR Z 24–120mm f/4 S at the telephoto end in NORMAL mode. Focus Point VR has compatible-lens and AF-area restrictions; electronic video VR available. | Five-axis sensor shift; maker claim 7 stops under CIPA pitch/yaw testing with the FE 50 mm f/1.2 GM lens and long-exposure noise reduction off; current maker movie modes include Dynamic Active and Active electronic correction |
| Flash | No built-in flash; ISO 518 accessory shoe and compatible external i-TTL Speedlights | No built-in flash; Multi Interface Shoe supports compatible external flash |
| Exposure controls | Auto and P/S/A/M; physical compensation dial ±3 EV, command control ±5 EV in C setting; dedicated black-and-white switch | 1200-zone evaluative metering; exposure compensation ±5 EV |
| Video | ||
| Highest video resolution | 3840 × 2160 at 60 fps | 3840 × 2160 at 60 fps |
| Video detail | UHD 3840 × 2160 up to 60p in cropped DX mode; full-frame UHD up to 30p oversampled from 6K. Full HD up to 120p. H.265 8/10-bit and H.264, N-Log, HLG, waveform and timecode; current maker table lists Hi-Res Zoom. Maximum recording time 125 minutes, subject to temperature, power and media conditions; no internal RAW video listed. | Internal 3840 × 2160 up to 60p NTSC or 50p PAL, with 10-bit 4:2:2 options; 60p/50p narrows the angle of view by approximately 1.2×. Photography Blog identifies oversampled 4K 30p from approximately 6.2K in Super 35 mode. XAVC S-I 4K reaches 600 Mbps at 60p; Full HD up to 120p NTSC or 100p PAL. HDMI can output 3848 × 2168 16-bit RAW at up to 60p to a compatible external recorder. S-Log3, S-Cinetone, user LUT display and AI Auto Framing. |
| Audio | Built-in stereo microphones; PCM 48 kHz/24-bit for MOV or AAC 48 kHz/16-bit for MP4; external microphone input and headphone monitoring | Built-in stereo microphone; 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets; digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe; compatible accessories support four-channel 24-bit LPCM |
| Screen and viewfinder | ||
| Viewfinder | Electronic | Electronic |
| Screen size | 3.2″ | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 2,100,000 | 1,036,800 |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Tilting screen | Yes | Yes |
| Display detail | Vari-angle TFT with approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; Touch Fn supports settings and focus-point adjustment while using the viewfinder; dots count subpixels | Side-opening vari-angle touchscreen; opens approximately 176° and rotates approximately 270°; touch menu operation |
| Viewfinder detail | 0.5-inch Quad-VGA OLED, approximately 3.69 million dots, 100% coverage, 0.8× magnification and 21 mm eyepoint | 0.39-type XGA OLED; 2,359,296 dots; approximately 0.70× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; 60 or 120 fps refresh |
| Connections and design | ||
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life (maker's claim) | 430 photographs | 530 photographs |
| Body weight | 630 g | 430 g (better) |
| Release detail | Nikon US states first availability in mid-October 2023; main retains month precision. The later silver exterior is the same camera hardware, and Nikon explicitly states firmware 3.00 supports both original and silver editions. | Sony Australia specifies retail availability from September 2023. Alpha 7CR is a higher-resolution compact model alongside Alpha 7C II. Current maker specifications include later-supported subject recognition and movie-stabilisation features. |
| Recording media | Primary UHS-II SD/SDHC/SDXC slot and secondary UHS-I microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC slot; overflow, backup and separate format recording | One SD slot supporting UHS-I and UHS-II; no CFexpress support |
| Ports | USB-C SuperSpeed USB, Micro HDMI Type D, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets | USB-C (USB 3.2 at 5 Gbps), Micro HDMI Type D, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets and digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe |
| Wireless connections | Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 5.0; SnapBridge. Nikon Imaging Cloud and automatic firmware updates supported by current firmware. | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4 and 5 GHz; Bluetooth 4.2; no NFC; Creators’ App remote operation and image transfer |
| Battery life detail | EN-EL15c; CIPA approximately 430 monitor shots with power saving enabled or 380 without; EVF 410 with power saving or 360 without. Tested with NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2. Movie battery-life claim approximately 90 minutes; EN-EL15b/15a compatibility gives shorter endurance. | NP-FZ100; current Sony CIPA claim approximately 530 photographs with LCD or 490 with viewfinder; actual movie claim approximately 100 minutes with LCD or 95 with viewfinder. Both launch-period reviews give lower 520/470-shot figures. |
| Charging | USB charging and power delivery with compatible equipment; optional EH-8P/EH-7P; EN-EL15c/15b rechargeable in camera. Nikon UK states no charger included. | USB-C in-camera charging and power supply with USB Power Delivery; maker specifies an 18 W or higher USB PD source and 3 A cable |
| Dimensions | Approximately 144 × 103 × 49 mm | Approximately 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4 mm; depth from grip to monitor 58.6 mm |
| Weight detail | Approximately 630 g body only or 710 g with battery/card, excluding body cap and shoe cover; TechRadar's body-only narrative uses the battery/card figure, so main follows Nikon. | Approximately 430 g body only; 515 g with battery and memory card; both exclude lens. Photography Blog gives 525 g labelled body only and Amateur Photographer gives 524 g; maker’s explicit figures are used. |
| Materials | Magnesium-alloy front and top covers, brass control dials and embossed artificial leather; dust- and drip-resistant construction | Maker specifies recycled materials including SORPLAS in the body, depending on production timing |
| Colours | Original black and later silver finishes with maker-specific exterior colour options; cosmetic variants remain one hardware product. Photograph shows the current silver/black finish. | Silver/black or black |
| In the box | EN-EL15c battery, UC-E25 USB cable, BF-N1 body cap, AN-DC27 strap, BS-1 shoe cover and DK-33 eyepiece | Sony Australia confirms the GP-X2 extension grip is included; no lens |
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