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Sony Alpha 7 III vs Sony Alpha 7 IV

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyAlpha 7 IIISonyAlpha 7 IV
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2018November 2021
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor typeBack-illuminated Exmor R CMOSExmor R back-illuminated CMOS
Sensor dimensions35.6 × 23.8 mm35.9 × 23.9 mm
Effective resolution24.2 MP33 MP
Largest image6000 × 40007008 × 4672
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–51200100–51200
Sensor detailApproximately 25.3 million total pixels; 3:2 back-illuminated sensor.Approximately 34.1 million total pixels; 3:2 full-frame sensor
Image formatsJPEG and Sony ARW 2.3 RAW, including uncompressed RAW. Sony's announcement limits compressed RAW continuous shooting to 12 bits; 14-bit output is not universal in every mode.JPEG, HEIF and 14-bit RAW; compressed, lossless compressed and uncompressed RAW options
ISO detailStandard still-image ISO 100–51200; expanded ISO 50–204800. Video ISO 100–51200 expands up to ISO 102400.Standard still-image ISO 100–51200; expanded ISO 50–204800. Movie ISO 100–51200, expandable to 102400.
Image processorBIONZ X with front-end LSI.BIONZ XR
Lens and shooting
Lens mountSony E-mountSony E-mount
StabilisationSensor shiftSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst10 fps10 fps
Lens detail–Interchangeable E-mount; body figures exclude lenses. ILCE-7M4K kit includes FE 28–70mm F3.5–5.6 OSS.
AutofocusFast Hybrid AF with 693 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection points; phase-detection covers approximately 93% of the image area. Eye AF supports continuous AF.Fast Hybrid AF with 759 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection points in full-frame mode; Eye AF recognises humans, animals and birds in stills and movies
ShutterFocal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/8000 second plus Bulb; electronic first curtain and silent electronic shooting.Mechanical or electronic shutter; 1/8000 second to 30 seconds plus Bulb; full-frame flash sync 1/250 second
Burst detailUp to approximately 10 fps in Hi+ with AF/AE tracking using mechanical or silent shooting; approximately 8 fps in Hi with live view. Maximum speed depends on settings and lens compatibility. Silent shooting can distort moving subjects. Sony gives buffers of approximately 177 standard JPEG, 89 compressed RAW or 40 uncompressed RAW images under its UHS-II SDXC test conditions.Hi+ up to 10 fps, Hi 8 fps, Mid 6 fps and Lo 3 fps. Photography Blog and TechRadar report JPEG/compressed RAW are needed for 10 fps; uncompressed or lossless RAW slows to approximately 5–6 fps. Speed and buffer depend on shooting conditions and card.
Stabilisation detailFive-axis image-sensor shift; Sony claims 5 stops under CIPA conditions for pitch/yaw with Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA and long-exposure noise reduction off. Correction depends on the lens.Five-axis sensor shift; maker claims 5.5 stops under CIPA pitch/yaw conditions with Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA. Active movie stabilisation adds a crop.
Video
Highest video resolution3840 × 2160 at 30 fps3840 × 2160 at 60 fps
Video detailJapanese/NTSC XAVC S 4K at 30p or 24p, approximately 100 or 60 Mbps; the UK PAL specification lists 25p. Full HD reaches 120p in NTSC modes. S-Log2, S-Log3 and HLG supported. Sony specifies different sensor readout at 24p and 30p; PhotographyBlog reports a 1.2× crop at 30p. Continuous recording is limited to approximately 29 minutes.Internal 4K up to 60p, including 10-bit 4:2:2; 60p/50p uses APS-C/Super 35 rather than full-frame readout. Full-frame 4K 30p uses 7K oversampling. Full HD up to 120p; S-Log3, HLG and S-Cinetone. USB streaming tops out at 4K 15p or Full HD 60p, separately from internal recording.
AudioBuilt-in stereo microphone; 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets.–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicElectronic
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots921,6001,036,800
TouchscreenYesYes
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailTFT screen tilts approximately 107° up and 41° down; touch focus is supported. Dots count colour subpixels.Side-opening vari-angle touchscreen, approximately 176° opening and 270° rotation; dots are not image pixels
Viewfinder detail0.5-inch electronic viewfinder; 2,359,296 dots; 100% coverage and approximately 0.78× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity.0.5-type OLED; 3,686,400 dots; 100% coverage; approximately 0.78× magnification; 60 or 120 fps display
Connections and design
Wi-FiYesYes
BluetoothYesYes
Battery life (maker's claim)710 photographs580 photographs
Body weight565 g573 g
Release detailSony Japan specifies 23 March 2018 for the ILCE-7M3 body and ILCE-7M3K kit, following its 27 February announcement; this is the Japanese sale date, not a UK release claim.Sony Hong Kong states 25 November 2021 availability; the UK announcement gives December 2021. Announced on 21 October 2021. This is ILCE-7M4, not the Alpha 7R IV or Alpha 7S III.
Recording mediaTwo card slots; slot 1 supports UHS-I and UHS-II SD cards, while slot 2 supports UHS-I SD and compatible Memory Stick media.Slot 1 accepts CFexpress Type A or UHS-I/II SD cards; slot 2 accepts UHS-I/II SD cards
PortsUSB-C with USB 3.1 Gen 1, Multi/Micro USB, Micro HDMI, microphone and headphone sockets and Multi Interface Shoe.Full-size HDMI Type A; USB-C 10Gbps with Power Delivery; Multi/Micro USB; 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets; Multi Interface Shoe with digital audio
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC.Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, subject to regional 5 GHz restrictions; Bluetooth 4.1
Battery life detailNP-FZ100; approximately 710 photographs with the monitor or 610 with the viewfinder under CIPA conditions.NP-FZ100. Current Sony Japan specifications give approximately 580 photographs with the monitor or 520 with the viewfinder under CIPA conditions; Photography Blog's launch review instead reports a 610-shot claim. Main figure follows the current maker table.
ChargingUSB-C or Multi/Micro USB charging and power supply.In-camera USB-C charging and USB Power Delivery
DimensionsApproximately 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7 mm maximum (width × height × depth); Sony also gives 62.7 mm from grip to monitor.Approximately 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8 mm; 69.7 mm depth from grip to monitor
Weight detailApproximately 565 g body only; 650 g including battery and memory card; lens excluded.Approximately 573 g body only; current Sony specifications give 658 g with battery and memory card. Photography Blog incorrectly describes the loaded figure as excluding battery/card; it is not used as body weight.
In the boxNP-FZ100 battery, AC adaptor AC-UUD12, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap, eyepiece cup and Micro USB cable, according to Sony Japan.–

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