• 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 36.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

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Differences

Sony A7R advantages over Sony A9

  • Less expensive
    $1799 vs $2999
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Thinner
    48 mm vs 63 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    465g vs 673g
    Lighter weight
  • More pixels
    36.4 vs 24.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos

Sony A9 advantages over Sony A7R

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.93 vs 4.88 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • 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
  • Fast startup
    ~1.20 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,517 vs 2,746 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 650 vs 340 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Newer
    7 years vs 10 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Less shutter lag
    0.22 vs 0.36 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x vs 0.71x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    20.0 fps vs 4.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    364 vs 15 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    20.0 fps vs 4.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    240 vs 15 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    204800 vs 51200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • 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
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Both provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • 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
  • Headphone jack
    Both provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Incredibly small body for a fully-featured, full-frame camera; Resolution that rivals a medium-format camera; Excellent image quality even at very high sensitivities; Decent performance bearing in mind its extremely high resolution; Accepts existing Alpha-mount and E-mount lenses, and can optionally crop to APS-C image circle.

  • Extreme resolution makes focus and lens quality critical; Modest performance; Loud shutter; Lacks hybrid autofocus of the A7; Mediocre battery life when using electronic viewfinder; Slow X-sync; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.

  • New sensor offers incredible performance; Excellent image quality at low & high ISOs; Very good dynamic range; Phenomenal 20fps burst speed & deep buffer; Very good battery life for a mirrorless; 4K video; Dual card slots.

  • Slow buffer clearing; Only one card slot is UHS-II compatible; Touchscreen underutilized; No lossless RAW compression option; No 4K/60p option.

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7

Sony A7R
Sony A7
  • $1799
  • 35mm
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More pixels
  • $819
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
Sony A9
Sony A7
  • $3147
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $819
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Sony A7R II

Sony A7R
Sony A7R II
  • $1799
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Lighter weight
  • $2898
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Shoot 4K video
Sony A9
Sony A7R II
  • $3147
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • Touchscreen
  • $2898
  • 35mm
  • In-camera panoramas
  • More pixels

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A7R
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $1799
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • Shoot 4K video
Sony A9
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $3147
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Built-in GPS
  • Top deck display

Compared to Leica M (Typ 262)

Sony A7R
Leica M (Typ 262)
  • $1799
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $4995
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • Longer exposure
Sony A9
Leica M (Typ 262)
  • $3147
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Lens selection
  • $4995
  • 35mm
  • Thinner
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter

Compared to Sony A9 II

Sony A7R
Sony A9 II
  • $1799
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $4498
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Bigger pixels
Sony A9
Sony A9 II
  • $3147
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • $4498
  • 35mm
  • Newer
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