Nikon Z7 vs Sony A1

Cameras
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Nikon Z7 vs Sony A1

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35mm 858.0mm²
45.7 megapixels
ISO 64 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon Z7 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon Z7 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the Z7.
Compare Nikon Z7 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon Z7 conclusion.

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

Go in depth with our full Sony A1 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A1.
Compare Sony A1 image quality against competitors.

Succeeded by the Nikon Z7 II
Compare Z7 vs Z7 II
Compare Nikon Z7 II vs Sony A1

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Differences

Nikon Z7 advantages over Sony A1

Less expensive
$3097 vs $4998*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More dots on screen
2100k vs 1440k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen

Sony A1 advantages over Nikon Z7

Slower slow-motion
240 fps vs 120 fps
Supports slower slow-mo
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Longer video battery life
150 vs 85 minutes
Capture more video
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

530 vs 400 shots
Capture more photos
Higher max flash sync
1/400 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
4 years vs 6 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More viewfinder magnification
0.90x vs 0.80x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Faster JPEG shooting
30.0 fps vs 9.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
165 vs 26 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 9.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
155 vs 23 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

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
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Both provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
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
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
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read Z7 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A1 User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon Z7

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-70mm f/4 S lens
Kit with 24-70mm f/4 S lens and FTZ adapter

All Z7 Deals

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Buy the Sony A1

Body Only

All A1 Deals

Review Excerpt

Familiar design in a compact form; Rugged build quality; Gorgeous EVF; Excellent image quality; Good autofocus; In-body image stabilization; Good 4K video recording.
Single card slot; Not as good at subject tracking as some Nikon DSLR cameras; Limited native lens selection (although adapter works well); Limited buffer depths.
Read our Nikon Z7 Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Sony A1, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Sony A1 Shooter's Report

The Competition

Compared to Nikon Z6

Nikon Z7

Nikon Z6

$2147
35mm

More pixels
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$1396
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Nikon Z6

Sony A1

Nikon Z6

$5498
35mm

Slower slow-motion
NFC

$1396
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A1 vs Nikon Z6

Compared to Canon EOS R

Nikon Z7

Canon EOS R

$2147
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

$1499
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Canon EOS R

Sony A1

Canon EOS R

$5498
35mm

Slower slow-motion
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1499
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A1 vs Canon EOS R

Compared to Sony A7R IV

Nikon Z7

Sony A7R IV

$2147
35mm

Bigger pixels
Top deck display

$3120
35mm

High resolution composite
NFC

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Sony A7R IV

Sony A1

Sony A7R IV

$5498
35mm

Slower slow-motion
Longer video battery life

$3120
35mm

Less expensive
High resolution composite

Compare Sony A1 vs Sony A7R IV

Compared to Leica SL2

Nikon Z7

Leica SL2

$2147
35mm

Tiltable Screen
On-sensor phase detect

$5245
35mm

Slower slow-motion
High resolution composite

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Leica SL2

Sony A1

Leica SL2

$5498
35mm

Slower slow-motion
Tiltable Screen

$5245
35mm

Less expensive
High resolution composite

Compare Sony A1 vs Leica SL2

Compared to Canon R5

Nikon Z7

Canon R5

$2147
35mm

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

$3349
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Canon R5

Sony A1

Canon R5

$5498
35mm

Slower slow-motion
NFC

$3349
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A1 vs Canon R5

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