• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 42.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 32,000

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Differences

Canon T3i advantages over Sony A7R III

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Sony A7R III advantages over Canon T3i

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • High resolution composite
    Yes vs No
    Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Better color depth
    26.0 vs 22.1 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,523 vs 793 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    14.7 vs 11.5 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 650 vs 440 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Newer
    7 years vs 14 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x vs 0.53x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    42.4 vs 18.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.9 fps vs 3.6 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    82 vs 9 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    9.2 fps vs 3.6 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    30 vs 5 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    102400 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • 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
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A7R III

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent image quality; Good grip; Full HD video recording; Swiveling LCD; Very fast autofocus; HDMI output.

  • Slow frame rate for sports shooting; Tendency to overexpose in bright sunlight; Live View AF is slow; No microfocus adjustment.

  • 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.

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D7000

Canon T3i
Nikon D7000
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Fast startup
Sony A7R III
Nikon D7000
  • $2204
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Pentax K-5

Canon T3i
Pentax K-5
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Sony A7R III
Pentax K-5
  • $2204
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Lens selection

Compared to Canon T4i

Canon T3i
Canon T4i
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Fast startup
Sony A7R III
Canon T4i
  • $2204
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $579
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compared to Sony A7R II

Canon T3i
Sony A7R II
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $2898
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A7R III
Sony A7R II
  • $2204
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $2898
  • 35mm
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Nikon Z7 II

Canon T3i
Nikon Z7 II
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $2330
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A7R III
Nikon Z7 II
  • $2204
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • High resolution composite
  • $2330
  • 35mm
  • Top deck display
  • Newer
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