Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A7R III

Cameras
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Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A7R III

35mm 864.0mm²
30.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Canon 5D Mark IV Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 5D Mark IV in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 5D Mark IV.
Compare Canon 5D Mark IV image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 5D Mark IV conclusion.

35mm 861.6mm²
42.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A7R III Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7R III in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7R III.
Compare Sony A7R III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7R III conclusion.

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Differences

Canon 5D Mark IV advantages over Sony A7R III

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Bigger pixels
~ 5.36 vs 4.51 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.7 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

900 vs 650 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Higher-res screen
540k vs 360k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Less shutter lag
0.17 vs 0.25 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 82 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A7R III advantages over Canon 5D Mark IV

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$2198 vs $3249
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7R III test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark IV test data on DxO Mark

3,523 vs 2,995 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Lighter weight
657g vs 890g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.71x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
42.4 vs 30.4 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Faster JPEG shooting
9.9 fps vs 7.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.2 fps vs 7.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
30 vs 19 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Slow-motion videos
Both provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7R III User Reviews

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Buy the Canon 5D Mark IV

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Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm Lens
Kit with 24-70mm Lens

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Buy the Sony A7R III

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-70mm f/2.8 GM lens
Kit with 24-70mm f/4 lens

All A7R III Deals

Review Excerpt

Superb image quality from RAW files; Improved dynamic range; Excellent high ISO performance; Fast 7fps burst rate with unlimited JPEG buffer; High-quality cinema 4K video; Built-in Wi-Fi; Dual Pixel CMOS AF is very good.
JPEG files look soft at default settings; 1/200s flash sync; 4K video codec is cumbersome; 29:59 continuous video recording limit.
Read our Canon 5D Mark IV Review

Fantastic image quality; Improved dynamic range over its predecessor; Very good high ISO performance; Much improved real-world AF performance; Class-leading burst rates, even with RAW; Improved 5-axis in-body image stabilization; Better 4K video quality; 1080/120fps video; Dual card slots; Significantly better battery life.
Expensive; Menus still confusing; UHS-II support only on one card slot; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash; Buffer clearing still slow despite UHS-II support.
Read our Sony A7R III Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

$2499
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2139
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A7R III

Canon 5D Mark III

$2348
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2139
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A7R III vs Canon 5D Mark III

Compared to Nikon D810

Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D810

$2499
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2346
35mm

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Nikon D810

Sony A7R III

Nikon D810

$2348
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2346
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A7R III vs Nikon D810

Compared to Sony A7R II

Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony A7R II

$2499
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$2898
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A7R II

Sony A7R III

Sony A7R II

$2348
35mm

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$2898
35mm

In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A7R III vs Sony A7R II

Compared to Sony A99 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony A99 II

$2499
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$3198
35mm

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A99 II

Sony A7R III

Sony A99 II

$2348
35mm

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$3198
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A7R III vs Sony A99 II

Compared to Pentax K-1 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

Pentax K-1 II

$2499
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1747
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Pentax K-1 II

Sony A7R III

Pentax K-1 II

$2348
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$1747
35mm

Lens selection
Built-in GPS

Compare Sony A7R III vs Pentax K-1 II

Compare Other Cameras?