Sony A7 vs Canon EOS R

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Sony A7 vs Canon EOS R

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35mm 855.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A7 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7.
Compare Sony A7 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7 conclusion.

35mm 864.0mm²
30.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 40,000

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

Succeeded by the Sony A7 II
Compare A7 vs A7 II
Compare Sony A7 II vs Canon EOS R

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Differences

Sony A7 advantages over Canon EOS R

Less expensive
$819 vs $2499
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Thinner
48 mm vs 84 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
769g vs 1360g
Lighter weight

Canon EOS R advantages over Sony A7

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
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
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.
EOS R test data on DxO Mark A7 test data on DxO Mark

2,742 vs 2,248 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More telephoto lens reach
105 mm vs 70 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Newer
6 years vs 11 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More dots on screen
2100k vs 922k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Less shutter lag
0.10 vs 0.23 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
30.3 vs 24.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Wider angle kit lens
24 mm vs 28 mm
Capture more of the scene with the included lens
Faster JPEG shooting
8.0 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
126 vs 50 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.0 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
65 vs 28 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
102400 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
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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

Common Weaknesses

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read EOS R User Reviews

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Buy the Sony A7

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 lens

All A7 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon EOS R

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm lens

All EOS R Deals

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.
Read our Sony A7 Review

Very good overall image quality; Good dynamic range & very good high ISO performance; Excellent Dual Pixel CMOS AF performance; Sharp native lenses; Great performance with adapted optics; Compact design; Fully articulating LCD.
Sensor performance lags behind competition; No In-Body Image Stabilization; Sluggish burst speed with C-AF; Mediocre battery life; No 4Kp60; 1.7x 4K crop; Ergonomics could be better.
Read our Canon EOS R Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7R

Sony A7

Sony A7R

$748
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$1399
35mm

Higher effective ISO
More pixels

Compare Sony A7 vs Sony A7R

Canon EOS R

Sony A7R

$1499
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

$1399
35mm

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon EOS R vs Sony A7R

Compared to Sony A7 II

Sony A7

Sony A7 II

$748
35mm

Less expensive

$1077
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A7 vs Sony A7 II

Canon EOS R

Sony A7 II

$1499
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

$1077
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon EOS R vs Sony A7 II

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

Compare Sony A7 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Canon EOS R

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$1499
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$3802
35mm

Fast startup
Built-in GPS

Compare Canon EOS R vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Compared to Nikon Z7

Sony A7

Nikon Z7

$748
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$2147
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7 vs Nikon Z7

Canon EOS R

Nikon Z7

$1499
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$2147
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

Compare Canon EOS R vs Nikon Z7

Compared to Nikon Z6

Sony A7

Nikon Z6

$748
35mm

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$1396
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7 vs Nikon Z6

Canon EOS R

Nikon Z6

$1499
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
More telephoto lens reach

$1396
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon EOS R vs Nikon Z6

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