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Sony Alpha 7 vs Sony Alpha 9 III

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyAlpha 7SonyAlpha 9 III
Overview
ReleasedNovember 2013January 2024
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor typeExmor CMOSStacked Exmor RS CMOS with global shutter
Sensor dimensions35.8 × 23.9 mm35.6 × 23.8 mm
Effective resolution24.3 MP24.6 MP
Largest image6000 × 40006000 × 4000
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–25600250–25600
Sensor detailApproximately 24.7 million total pixels; 3:2 sensor; anti-static coating and ultrasonic dust reductionApproximately 25.2 million total pixels; integral memory and global exposure rather than sequential line exposure.
Image formatsJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.3; 14-bit RAW outputJPEG, HEIF and Sony ARW 5.0 RAW.
ISO detailStandard still-image ISO 100–25600; expanded ISO 50. Multi Frame NR offers ISO 51200 by combining images, rather than extending the standard single-image range.Standard ISO 250–25600 for stills and movies; stills expand to ISO 125–51200.
Image processorBIONZ XBIONZ XR with dedicated AI processing unit.
Lens and shooting
Lens mountSony E-mountSony E-mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst5 fps120 fps
Lens detailInterchangeable E-mount; full-frame FE lenses use the whole sensor, while APS-C lenses use a crop. ILCE-7K includes FE 28–70mm F3.5–5.6 OSS; the photograph shows this kit.–
AutofocusFast Hybrid AF; 117 phase-detection and 25 contrast-detection points in full-frame mode; single AF, continuous AF, direct manual focus and manual focus; Eye AF and Lock-on AFUp to 759 still-image or 627 movie phase-detection points; sensitivity EV −5 to 20 with an F2 lens at ISO 100 equivalent. Current UK specification includes automatic subject selection and people, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and aircraft; launch reviews precede later firmware enhancements.
ShutterElectronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/8000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second–
Burst detailApproximately 5 fps Speed Priority Continuous or 2.5 fps normal continuous shooting. Sony's original ILCE-7/7R Help Guide states that speed-priority focus normally fixes at the first image, but specifically permits phase-detection AF with Continuous AF on the ILCE-7; exposure behaviour depends on AEL-with-shutter settings. Speed and tracking depend on shooting conditions and lens compatibility. Sony specifies a speed-priority buffer of 25 RAW or 23 RAW+JPEG photographs.Up to 120 fps full-resolution electronic bursts with AF/AE tracking under Sony test conditions; speed depends on lens compatibility and shooting settings. Pre-Capture retains up to one second before full shutter press. No mechanical shutter.
Stabilisation detailNo sensor-shift stabilisation; optical correction requires a compatible OSS lensFive-axis sensor shift; 8.0-stop CIPA pitch/yaw claim with FE 50mm F1.2 GM and long-exposure noise reduction off. Active and Dynamic Active movie modes supported.
FlashNo built-in flash; external flash uses the Multi Interface Shoe–
Exposure controlsProgram, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual; Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto, scene modes, Sweep Panorama, DRO and Auto HDR–
Video
Highest video resolution1920 × 1080 at 60 fps3840 × 2160 at 120 fps
Video detailAVCHD Full HD 60p/24p on the Japanese model; PAL versions offer 50p/25p. Interlaced 60i/50i modes are separate from progressive frame rates. MP4 recording also available. HDMI 4K output is for still-image playback, not 4K movie recording.Up to uncropped 3840 × 2160 120p NTSC or 100p PAL; 4K 60p uses 6K oversampling. Supports 10-bit 4:2:2, S-Log3 and S-Cinetone; All-Intra 4K tops out at 60p. External HDMI RAW output is separate from internal recording.
AudioBuilt-in stereo microphone; 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets; recording-level adjustment and audio-level display–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicElectronic
Screen size3″3.2″
Screen dots921,6002,095,104
TouchscreenNoYes
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailTFT screen tilts approximately 90° up or 45° down; dots count colour subpixelsFour-axis LCD tilts and opens sideways; approximately 98° up, 40° down, 180° sideways and 270° rotation.
Viewfinder detail0.5-inch XGA OLED Tru-Finder; 2,359,296 dots; 100% coverage; approximately 0.71× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity0.64-inch Quad-XGA OLED with 9437184 dots and approximately 0.90× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; selectable up to 240 fps NTSC or 200 fps PAL.
Connections and design
Wi-FiYesYes
Bluetooth–Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)340 photographs530 photographs
Body weight416 g617 g
Release detailSony Japan specifies 15 November 2013 for the original ILCE-7 body and ILCE-7K kit, following its 16 October announcement. This is not the higher-resolution Alpha 7R or a later Alpha 7 generation.Sony UK announced availability in January 2024; Japan's announcement specifies 26 January. The main date retains UK month precision.
Recording mediaSD, SDHC and SDXC including UHS-I; Memory Stick PRO Duo, PRO-HG Duo and XC-HG DuoBoth slots accept CFexpress Type A or UHS-I/UHS-II SD.
PortsMulti/Micro USB, Micro HDMI, microphone and headphone sockets, Multi Interface ShoeUSB Type-C at 10 Gbps, Multi/Micro USB, full-size HDMI, 1000BASE-T Ethernet, sync terminal, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets and digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe.
Wireless connectionsBuilt-in Wi-Fi and NFCWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4/5 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0.
Battery life detailNP-FW50; Sony Japan claims approximately 340 photographs using the monitor or 270 using the viewfinder under CIPA conditionsNP-FZ100; Sony UK CIPA approximately 530 photographs with LCD or 400 with viewfinder. Japan lists 520/410 respectively. USB Type-C Power Delivery charging and power supported.
ChargingUSB charging in the camera–
DimensionsApproximately 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2 mm (width × height × depth) in Sony's launch table; the Japanese specification also gives 54.8 mm from grip to viewfinder, versus 48.2 mm from grip to monitorApproximately 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9 mm (width × height × maximum depth); grip-to-monitor depth 72.8 mm.
Weight detailApproximately 416 g body only; 474 g including battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo; both exclude the lensSony UK specifies approximately 617 g body only or 702 g with battery and memory card; Japan specifies 618/703 g respectively. Main figures use the UK specification.
In the box–NP-FZ100 battery, BC-QZ1 charger, power cord, cable protector, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap and eyepiece cup, according to Sony UK.
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy top cover and internal structure; dust- and moisture-resistant design, not a waterproof rating–

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