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Nikon Z 9 vs Sony Alpha 7R III (ILCE-7RM3A)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonZ 9SonyAlpha 7R III (ILCE-7RM3A)
Overview
ReleasedDecember 2021June 2021
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor typeStacked backside-illuminated CMOSBack-illuminated Exmor R CMOS
Sensor dimensions35.9 × 23.9 mm35.9 × 24 mm
Effective resolution45.7 MP42.4 MP
Largest image8256 × 55047952 × 5304
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range64–25600100–32000
Sensor detail52.37 million total pixels; sensor cleaning, dust-off reference data, protective sensor shield and electro-conductive/fluorine coatingsApproximately 43.6 million total pixels; 3:2 sensor. Pixel Shift Multi Shooting combines four shifted exposures, requiring a static camera/subject and computer processing.
Image formats14-bit NEF RAW with lossless or high-efficiency compression; JPEG and RAW plus JPEGJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.3, including uncompressed RAW.
ISO detailExpandable to equivalent ISO 32–102400; auto ISO availableStandard still-image ISO 100–32000; expanded ISO 50–102400.
Image processorEXPEED 7BIONZ X and front-end LSI.
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon Z mountSony E-mount
StabilisationSensor shiftSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst20 fps10 fps
Lens detailNIKKOR Z lenses; NIKKOR F lenses require a mount adapter and retain model-dependent restrictions–
AutofocusHybrid phase/contrast detection with 493 single-point FX still positions; 3D tracking and subject detection for people, animals and vehicles. Maker sensitivity −6.5 EV or −8.5 EV with Starlight View, measured in AF-S at ISO 100, 20°C and f/1.2.Fast Hybrid AF with 399 full-frame phase-detection points and 425 contrast points. Human and animal Eye AF for stills; phase-point coverage differs with APS-C lenses and crop modes.
ShutterElectronic shutter only, with selectable sound and protective sensor shield; 1/32000 to 30 seconds, Bulb/Time and manual-mode extension to 900 seconds. Flash sync 1/200 or 1/250 second with reduced guide number at higher speeds; compatible Auto FP up to 1/8000 may produce horizontal lines.Focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/8000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second. Electronic first curtain and silent shooting supported.
Burst detailContinuous high-speed RAW/JPEG up to 20 fps. High-speed C30 provides large full-resolution FX or DX JPEGs and C120 small FX JPEGs (4128 × 2752), with approximately four-second bursts in the linked manual. Firmware 3.00 adds C60 large DX JPEGs, also approximately four seconds; current Japan specs additionally list C15. Pre-release capture supported. These restricted high-speed modes are qualified separately from the main continuous-shooting figure.Up to approximately 10 fps with AF/AE tracking, or approximately 8 fps with live view; Sony claims up to 76 compressed RAW/JPEG or 28 uncompressed RAW frames under its test conditions. Settings and shooting conditions affect actual performance.
Stabilisation detailFive-axis sensor shift; Synchro VR up to 6 stops with supported VR lenses under Nikon CIPA conditions, including NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S with required lens firmware; electronic movie VR availableFive-axis sensor shift; Sony claims 5.5 stops under CIPA pitch/yaw conditions with Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA and long-exposure noise reduction off. Correction depends on lens compatibility.
FlashNo built-in flash; ISO 518 hot shoe, ISO 519 threaded sync terminal and compatible external i-TTL Speedlights–
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M; ±5 EV still-image or ±3 EV movie compensation; matrix, centre-weighted, spot and highlight-weighted metering–
Video
Highest video resolution8256 × 4644 at 59.94 fps3840 × 2160 at 30 fps
Video detailWith firmware 2.0 or later, internal N-RAW 12-bit 8256 × 4644 up to 59.94p, 5392 × 3032 up to 59.94p and 4128 × 2322 up to 119.88p. Conventional UHD 7680 × 4320 up to 29.97p; UHD 4K and Full HD up to 119.88p. ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ, H.265 8/10-bit and H.264 have format-dependent limits. N-Log/HLG, waveform, timecode and RAW proxies. Nikon's UHD 8K/30p recording-time claim is 125 minutes under specified conditions; launch firmware and the early reviews predate internal RAW video support.4K 3840 × 2160 recording up to 30p in NTSC mode or 25p in PAL mode; Super 35mm mode provides full-pixel readout without binning, while full-frame 4K is a separate mode. HLG, S-Log2 and S-Log3 supported.
AudioBuilt-in stereo microphones; 24-bit PCM recording, external microphone with attenuator and headphone monitoring; AAC used for MP4Stereo microphone; 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets.
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicElectronic
Screen size3.2″3″
Screen dots2,100,0002,359,296
TouchscreenYesYes
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailFour-axis horizontal/vertical tilt, approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixelsThis separately marketed ILCE-7RM3A revision has a 2,359,296-dot LCD, compared with 1,440,000 dots on the original ILCE-7RM3. Screen tilts approximately 107° up and 41° down; touch focus and touchpad operation supported.
Viewfinder detail0.5-inch Quad-VGA OLED, approximately 3.69 million dots, 100% coverage, 0.8× magnification and 23 mm eyepoint; blackout-free display with high-frame-rate option0.5-inch Quad-VGA OLED electronic viewfinder with 3,686,400 dots, 100% coverage and approximately 0.78× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity.
Connections and design
Wi-FiYesYes
BluetoothYesYes
Battery life (maker's claim)770 photographs640 photographs
Body weight1160 g572 g
Release detailNikon Japan explicitly records first sale on 24 December 2021; US announcement on 28 October specified availability within 2021. TechRadar's later regional delivery-delay wording does not override the confirmed Japanese first sale.Sony Japan's discontinued-model archive lists June 2021 for ILCE-7RM3A; no precise sale day is claimed. This is a Japanese release month, not a UK date.
Recording mediaTwo CFexpress Type B/XQD slots; overflow, backup, RAW/JPEG separation, duplicate JPEG recording and card copyingTwo media slots; one UHS-II-compatible SD slot and one SD/Memory Stick slot. Simultaneous and relay recording supported.
PortsUSB-C SuperSpeed USB, full-size HDMI Type A, 3.5 mm microphone/headphone sockets, ten-pin remote terminal and threaded flash-sync socket; RJ-45 Ethernet 1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-TUSB Type-C with SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps, Multi/Micro USB, Micro HDMI, microphone and headphone sockets, sync terminal and Multi Interface Shoe.
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 5.0; built-in GNSS supports GPS, GLONASS and QZSS with location/time recording and track logsWi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz, NFC and Bluetooth 4.1.
Battery life detailEN-EL18d; CIPA monitor approximately 770 shots with power saving or 740 without; EVF 740 with power saving or 700 without. Nikon's separate continuous-shooting test gives approximately 5310 shots; movie battery claim approximately 170 minutes. Earlier EN-EL18-series batteries give fewer shots.NP-FZ100; CIPA approximately 640 photographs using the LCD or 530 using the viewfinder. In-camera charging and power via USB Type-C or Multi/Micro USB.
ChargingUSB charging/power delivery and MH-33 external charger; optional EH-7P charging supports EN-EL18d/18c/18b, while earlier battery revisions retain restrictions; optional EH-6d with EP-6a power connector–
DimensionsApproximately 149 × 149.5 × 90.5 mmApproximately 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7 mm (width × height × maximum depth); grip-to-monitor depth 62.7 mm.
Weight detailApproximately 1160 g body only or 1340 g with battery/card, excluding body cap and shoe coverApproximately 572 g body only according to Sony Japan; 657 g with battery and memory card; lens excluded.
MaterialsWeather-sealed magnesium-alloy body with integrated vertical grip; maker operating range −10°C to 40°CMagnesium-alloy covers and internal frame; dust- and moisture-resistant design, not a waterproof rating.
In the boxEN-EL18d, MH-33 charger, AN-DC24 strap, UC-E24 USB cable, HDMI/USB cable clip, BS-1 shoe cover and BF-N1 body cap; current UK included-accessory tiles also list EH-7P UK adapterPower cord, NP-FZ100 battery, cable protector, BC-QZ1 charger, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap, eyepiece cup and USB Type-C cable, according to Sony UK.

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