Sony A7R III vs A7 III: An In-depth Comparison

Sony is known for making solid cameras preferred by many creators worldwide. Their alpha series has especially been very popular.

Whenever a new edition of a product comes out, the question on everyone's mind is, what's the difference? Welcome to the debate on the Sony A7R III vs. A7 III.

So just how different is the Sony A7R III from the Sony A7 III? Well, string along, and you'll find out! We will go through the pros and cons of both cameras.

Regardless of what camera you use, it will always be inefficient to shoot without the right equipment. That's why we made an article explaining everything you need to know about camera equipment.

Sony A7R III key specs

• Release Date: October 25, 2017
• Effective pixels: 42.4 MP
• Max resolution: 7952 x 5304
• ISO: 50-102400
• LCD Monitor: 3"
• Shutter speed: 30 - 1/8000s
• Sensor: Full-frame
• Weight 1.45 lb
• Mount: Sony E-mount
• AF: Fast Hybrid AF
• Max video resolution: 4K 30p
• Built-in Wi-Fi & Bluetooth

Sony A7 III key specs

• Release Date: February 26, 2018
• Effective pixels: 24.2 MP
• Max resolution: 6000 x 4000
• ISO: 50-204800
• LCD Monitor: 3"
• Shutter speed: 30 - 1/8000s
• Sensor: Full-frame
• Weight 1.43 lb
• Mount: Sony E-mount
• AF: Fast Hybrid AF
• Max video resolution: 4K 30p
• Built-in Wi-Fi & Bluetooth

Strengths of the Sony A7R III

• Incredible 42.4 MP resolution
• Great high ISO performance
• Low shutter lag
• Great real-world AF performance
• 4k video at 30p
• Great battery life
• Tiltable LCD Touchscreen
• Dual SD card slot

Weakness of the Sony A7R III

• No flash built-in
• In-camera HDR can be a bit unreliable
• No lossless RAW compression
• Not as weather and climate resistant as rival cameras
• Shutter speed is on the slower side

Strengths of the Sony A7 III

• Great 24.2 MP resolution
• Great high ISO performance and dynamic range
• Low shutter lag
• 4k video at 30p
• Great battery life
• Tiltable LCD touchscreen
• Dual SD card slot

Weakness of the Sony A7 III

• Battery charger not included
• No built-in flash
• No built-in intervalometer
• Weather sealing is not up to standards
• Limited control through the touchscreen
• Slow start-up time

Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 III body and design comparison

The Sony A7 III & A7R III are very similar in their body design. They both share the touch screen that was such a welcome sight on the A7R III. They're both weather-sealed with their dust and moisture resistance. However, compared to rivaling cameras this resistance is nothing to write home about.

Furthermore, they both have manual AF control, dual SD card slots, and upgraded battery from the previous alpha model.

The A7 III is missing the magnesium alloy that you'd find in front of the A7R III. Furthermore, the A7 III is missing the unlock button, one Memory Recall slot, and the additional flash port that the A7R III came with.

Despite this, the A7 III only weighs around 7 grams less than the A7R III. The additional flash port is something any studio photographer will miss, at least those who work with cable-connected flash units.

Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 III sensor resolution and processor

When it comes to image sensors, the A7R III and the A7 III have full-frame sensors, full of great possibilities. The full-frame sensor allows you to utilize each frame to the fullest. Due to the larger pixels it produces, full-frame sensors give you a great low light performance, dynamic range, and depth of field.

The big difference in the image sensor is that the A7 III has a 24.2 MP sensor, whereas the A7R III is rocking a 42.4 MP sensor. There's no doubt that the A7R's sensor is superior in that regard with its amazing image quality. However, the A7 III still takes great photos.

The A7R's image sensor simply takes sharper images and allows for better cropping in the editing stage. However, you have to remember that larger images require larger (or more) memory cards and storage space.

So picking the better resolution also comes with more extra costs, and you have to consider this when purchasing the camera.

Another difference between the two cameras is that Sony chose to implement an anti-aliasing filter in the A7 III, a choice they didn't make for the A7R III.

However, the A7R III was designed to not need this filter, so it seems more like compensation in the A7 III than an actual upgrade.

In terms of autofocus, the A7 III actually seems to have more phase-detection points than the A7R III. This means that the A7 III will be better when it comes to tracking a subject at the edge of the frame.

Both cameras have similar performances in terms of ISO and dynamic range. They're both able to create a nice bokeh effect if that's what you're looking for. Both cameras also have a brilliant color performance with Sony's color rendering technology.

Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 III video capabilities

The Sony A7R III and A7 III both record at 4K in up to 30fps or Full HD in up to 120fps. This makes it brilliant for both regular video recordings and fast-paced video recordings.

Due to the 120 fps in Full HD, videographers can use it at sports events and in situations that require slow motion.

The A7 III uses the full width of the sensor. However, there's a 1.2x crop applied when recording in 4K at 30 fps. This is not the case for the A7R III, which records at any frame rate without a crop.

The A7 III outperforms the A7R III at high sensitivity due to its ISO range. The A7 III also works better than the A7R III in full-frame mode, but it's not as good as the A7R III in Super 35.

The two cameras feel similar in most parameters. However, the A7 III performs well when recording videos despite its lower price. So if you're mainly looking to use it for video recording, you might be able to settle for the cheaper A7 III over the A7R.

Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 III viewfinder and LCD screen

When it comes to EVF (electronic viewfinder), the A7R III takes the cake. It has a resolution that's over 50% better than A7 III's. While it might be hard to spot when you look at them separately, you can clearly see the A7R III being smoother when compared side-by-side. The A7R's viewfinder has a refresh rate of 120 fps, whereas the A7 III only reaches 60 fps.

In terms of the LCD screen, the A7R III also wins. The A7R III has a 1,440k screen, and the A7 III "only" has 921k dots. The improved LCD screen and EVF on the A7R III make it easier to see the picture quality on the device itself. But it is also fitting for a camera with a better sensor resolution to have a display resolution that fits.

If you're a glasses user, you're also in luck. Both cameras are great to use, even though you're wearing glasses. This might not have been something you considered, but having one unusable with glasses on could become an annoying affair.

Sony A7R III vs Sony A7 III price

The Sony A7R III goes for around $2,800, and the Sony A7 III goes for around $2,000. So there's definitely money to save if you can stay satisfied with the A7 III's specifications.

Either way, if you acquire one of these options, you're sure to get your money's worth.

Final verdict: Which camera is best?

It comes as no surprise that with a retail price that's $800 higher than the A7 III, the A7R III comes out on top in nearly every aspect. The only time where the A7 III has some advantages over the A7R is when it comes to video recording. So if you're mainly a videographer, you should consider going with the A7 III.

And for photographers. Well. While the A7 III is a fantastic camera, the A7R III is just a little bit better. You should consider if you need the extra MP and feature changes or if the A7 III can suffice. You also have to account for the extra storage costs. But if your plan is to go all out, then go for the A7R III. If not, the A7 III is a fantastic camera as well.

Rent or subscribe to a Sony camera

I hope this helped you decide which camera to go with and settle the Sony A7R III vs. A7 III once and for all.

If you're interested in getting a Sony camera, but you aren't convinced, then fear not! At Wedio, you can rent or subscribe to a Sony camera and check it out for yourself!

If you want to try out the Sony A7R III or A7 III, you can rent or subscribe to it on Wedio for cheap.

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