• 35mm 855.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 72.00mm (35mm eq.)

Buy From

Differences

Sony A7 advantages over Canon G1X Mark III

  • Less expensive
    $819 vs $999*
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.97 vs 3.72 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 340 vs 200 shots
    Capture more photos
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    50 vs 23 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    28 vs 16 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Canon G1X Mark III advantages over Sony A7

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/2000 vs 1/250 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Newer
    7 years vs 11 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.23 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.3 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    9.4 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-camera panoramas
    Both provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • 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
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • 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

  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Incredibly small body for a fully-featured, full-frame camera; Very high resolution; Hybrid autofocus is reasonably fast and confident; Significantly better burst-shooting performance than A7R; Excellent image quality even at very high sensitivities; Faster x-sync than A7R; Accepts existing Alpha-mount and E-mount lenses, and can optionally crop to APS-C image circle.

  • Grass-is-greener syndrome when compared to its higher-res sibling; Moderate performance; Loud shutter (but electronic first-curtain helps); Mediocre battery life when using electronic viewfinder; Weak low-light autofocus considering its price; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7R

Sony A7
Sony A7R
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More pixels
Canon G1X Mark III
Sony A7R
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Leica X-E (Typ 102)

Sony A7
Leica X-E (Typ 102)
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1534
  • APS-C
  • Internal flash
  • Higher max flash sync
Canon G1X Mark III
Leica X-E (Typ 102)
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1534
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Sony A7 II

Sony A7
Sony A7 II
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • $1178
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Canon G1X Mark III
Sony A7 II
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1178
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A7
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
Canon G1X Mark III
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Fujifilm X70

Sony A7
Fujifilm X70
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
Canon G1X Mark III
Fujifilm X70
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
Compare Other Cameras?