Sony A7 III vs. A7R III Complete Comparison: Which One to Buy?

Can’t decide between Sony Alpha 7 III and Sony Alpha 7R III? With both cameras offering impressive features and capabilities, it can be challenging to determine which one to purchase. 

As an experienced photographer who has worked with various cameras to capture nature, people, and landscapes, I’m here to assist you in making an informed decision.

In this article, I’ll compare both cameras from their Alpha series and give my recommendation!

We’ll closely examine the features and capabilities of each camera in this comprehensive comparison of the Sony A7 III vs A7R III to assist you in making an informed decision.

At a Glance

Before I dive into the nitty gritty of both cameras, I want to say that the Sony A7 III is overall a better option than the Sony A7R III because it’s lighter, easier to use, and produces high-quality images. 

However, there are cases where the A7R III might be a better choice, such as its more comprehensive ISO range. 

Although they look identical, there are significant differences between the two cameras. 

Read on to learn more about their similarities, differences, and unique features to make an informed decision about which one to buy.

Main Specifications Comparison

I’m excited to share some information with you about the Sony A7 III and Sony A7R III cameras. Let’s dive into the main specs of these amazing cameras and see what makes them stand out. 

At first glance, the Sony A7 III and A7R III are almost identical in terms of physical specs. They have the same dimensions and are only a few grams apart in weight. 

Both cameras are dust and moisture-resistant, so I can take them on outdoor adventures without worrying about damage.

Plus, both cameras are easy to hold with one hand while I’m multitasking.

While the weight difference is minimal, I personally prefer the slightly lighter A7 III. 

However, most people might not notice a difference unless they’re holding both cameras at the same time.

Sony has made both the A7 III and A7R III with a magnesium alloy chassis with a mount that has six screws and the same button layout. 

This includes two dials for exposure control, 13 custom buttons, an autofocus joystick, and a movie recording button. 

Holding these cameras, I can feel how solid and durable they are, thanks to the high-quality materials Sony used to make them. 

This also means they’ll last a long time, making them a smart investment.

While there are some physical differences between these cameras, it’s hard to determine which one is better based on physical attributes alone. That’s where the rest of my comparison comes in!

Sensor: A7 III Recommended Based on this Key Feature

One of the most significant differences between the Sony A7 III and A7R III is their sensors. 

The sensor rating plays a crucial role in the quality of the images captured. However, it’s essential to strike a balance to avoid producing overly sharp or blurry photos.

Many photographers consider the sweet spot for a sensor to be around 24 MP. This allows for large images with excellent detail without quickly filling up the memory card.

The Sony A7 III has a 24.2MP 35mm full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor, which is right in that sweet spot. 

In my experience, the photos taken with this camera were crystal clear, and I didn’t have to worry about my memory card filling up too quickly.

On the other hand, the A7R III has a 42.4MP 35mm full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor, which provides an even higher level of detail in the images.

Although this allowed for an increase in detail in my photos, I noticed that my memory card filled up much faster.

Key Takeaways

Overall, I recommend the A7 III based on this feature alone. While both cameras have excellent sensors, they differ in terms of resolution and how quickly they fill up the memory card.

The A7 III is perfect for those seeking a balance of image quality and storage capacity, while the A7R III is ideal for photographers looking to capture the most intricate details in their shots.

If you use the A7R III, you’ll need several memory cards or external storage drives for your computer. I found that the A7R III can easily crash a laptop without enough storage.

Autofocus: A7 III and A7R III Performance Similar

Another area where the Sony A7 III and A7R III differ is their autofocus systems. Although the A7 III autofocus system is similar to the A7R III, but with a slower calculation speed. 

Sony A7 III has 693 phase detection and 425 contrast detection points. In contrast, the A7R III has the same number of contrast detection points but only 399 phase-detection points.

When using both cameras, I noticed a difference in sensor coverage. The A7 III covers about 93% of the sensor while the A7R III only covers 47%. 

This variance in sensor coverage area can make a big difference in accuracy when tracking moving subjects.

I found that the A7 III was easier to use and more accurate when photographing moving objects like dogs and cats. 

I like how both cameras have the same five focus modes for a photographer. 

These focus modes include:

• AF-A: This automatically switches between continuous and single depending on whether the subject is moving or staying still. I noticed that both cameras switch slowly, so I prefer doing it manually. 
• AF-S, AF-C, and MF: These are single, continuous, and manual modes. 
• Lock-On AF: This focus setting allows people to lock onto a subject, whether moving or not, and track it throughout the frame, with the focus moving automatically. 
• DMF: With this setting, you can manually adjust after you’ve focused the camera. I think it’s great for macro shooting. 

Furthermore, I tried the same focus areas that Sony provides for both cameras. These include:

• Zone: This works on a nine-group area where you can move it to different positions. I love this for taking photos of sporting events and birds flying. 
• Wide: This setting lets you use all the points the focus offers.
• Flexible Spot: This is a single area you can move around, varying between three sizes. 
• Expand Flexible Spot: This setting uses a minor contrast detection point so that it can improve accuracy and speed. The expanded flexible spot is by far my favorite focus setting. 
• Center: This allows you to focus the camera on a single, fixed area in the center of the frame.

The Sony A7 III and A7R III have a two-times improvement in their tracking and focusing speed compared to their predecessors. 

In my experiments, I found that both cameras worked best in continuous autofocus. This way, the camera can use its 4D tracking technology and concentrate as many points as possible around the subject.

While shooting with these cameras, I noticed that poor lighting can affect autofocus speed. Nonetheless, both cameras performed exceptionally well in most situations. 

Even though the A7 III is slightly more precise, the difference is minimal. 

However, it’s still worth noting that the higher phase-detection points of the Sony A7 III make all the photos a little more accurate.

Key Takeaways

Overall, in most situations, I found the A7 III and A7R III performance very similar. 

The autofocus system on both cameras is highly efficient, making it easy to capture sharp, in-focus photos. The various focus modes and focus areas make it easier to tailor the autofocus to my shooting needs, making the experience highly personalized.

Image Quality: A7 III Outperforms A7R III

One of the most significant differences between the Sony A7 III and A7R III is their image quality. 

Both cameras have a 35mm format sensor with BSI (back-illuminated) technology. 

However, they differ in resolution: the A7 III has a 24MP resolution with a low-pass filter while the A7R III has a 42MP resolution without an AA filter.

Although I personally favor the A7 III, the A7R III offers sharper final images and more room for cropping in post-production.

However, I found that I could still capture fine details by upscaling images from the A7 III to match those from the A7R III.

Conversely, downscaling the A7R III image produced a similar resolution to the A7 III. Plus, I did notice more moire in the A7 III image, which can be easily removed in post-production

Moving on to image-shooting options, both cameras also allow for shooting in APC-C mode with a 1.5x crop. This produces a 10MP file on the A7 III and an 18MP file on the A7R III.

While the A7R III offers greater sharpness and color resolution with its pixel shift multi-shoot tool, it can only be used on a tripod to avoid any disruptions in image sharpness.

Both cameras offer a fantastic dynamic range and versatility in their RAW files, with the A7 III producing better shadow recovery than the A7R III. 

However, both cameras offer identical highlight recovery options.

I appreciate the option to shoot both compressed and uncompressed RAW files with both cameras, with a maximum bit depth of 14. 

The uncompressed files provide higher quality when there’s a lot of post-processing, while the compressed files are suitable for burst mode.

When it comes to metering modes, both cameras have similar options, including Multi-Center and Spot. 

Additionally, the Auto White Balance is cooler on the A7R III, but this difference is negligible.

Finally, the camera’s portrait profile mode produces fantastic skin tones with no yellow tinting, which was a common issue with previous Sony cameras. 

The A7R III produces a warmer rendering than the A7 III, but this comes down to personal preference and the subject being photographed.

Key Takeaways

Overall, despite the minimal differences in the image quality between the two cameras, I still favor the A7 III over the A7R III for the reasons listed prior. 

But both are great options depending on your preferences and shooting style.

4K Video: Similar Features on A7 III and A7R III

The Sony A7 III and A7R III are both great options for shooting videos. 

They can record 4K videos at up to 30fps and full HD videos at up to 120fps, making them a versatile choice for different types of videos.

However, there are some differences between the two cameras when it comes to recording videos.

The A7 III can record with full pixel readout and no pixel when using the entire width of the sensor. 

This works for everything except 4K and 30p, where the camera applies a 1.2x crop to increase sharpness without aliasing or moire. It down-samples to 4K, and if I use the S35/APS-C mode, it crops the sensor by 1.5x, using about 8MP.

On the other hand, the A7R III offers a full pixel readout in the Super35 mode, using 18MP of the camera’s sensor, resulting in 5K downscaling to 4K. 

It has no sensor crop when using the entire sensor, while the full-frame mode has pixel binning. 

However, despite this, the A7 III still had a sharper result in full-frame mode compared to the A7R III. 

The details aren’t nearly as sharp when working with the 1080p setting, but the quality is still pretty good overall for both cameras, and the frame rate can go up to 120fps.

Both cameras offer Slow&Quick mode, which allows me to shoot slow-motion videos directly in the camera at speeds ranging from 1fps to 120fps. 

While this is a great feature, it’s recommended to record video at an average speed and slow it down when editing the videos.

Regarding dynamic range, both cameras come with Sony’s Picture Profiles, offering various gamma and color modes to record video. 

While the dynamic range is the same, the A7R III had more color noise in full-frame mode than the A7 III, even after color grading. 

However, the A7R III showed an improvement in color when in Super35 mode. 

When it comes to skin tones and white balance, there’s a difference between both cameras when recording video. 

The A7R III produced cooler tints with auto-white balance, but switching to manual kelvin temperature made it redder.

When it comes to stabilization, both cameras are not the best, but they’re great for static shots. 

However, they can be rough when panning or moving around with both cameras. 

Something others report when using the Sony A7 III and Sony A7R III for video recording is the cameras overheating. 

I personally didn’t have an issue with this, but it’s possible and worth mentioning for longer recordings. 

Some other similarities between both cameras regarding video recording are: 

• Proxy recording 
• 3.5mm mic input and headphone output
• The shutter release controls start and stop recording 

Key Takeaways

Overall, Sony A7 III and A7R III offer similar features for video recording, such as proxy recording, 3.5mm mic input and headphone output, and shutter release controls to start and stop recording. 

If you’re someone who wants to shoot different types of videos with a camera that offers excellent photo capabilities, both the Sony A7 III and Sony A7R III are great options to consider.

Screen, Viewfinder and LCD Screen: Sony A7 III and A7R III Impress

I immediately noticed the screen and electronic viewfinder on the cameras when playing around with the Sony A7 III and A7R III. 

Let’s talk about the A7 III first. The Sony A7 III comes with an updated version compared to precious Sony Alpha cameras. 

It has a new optical design that can increase the camera’s magnification to 0.78x. I noticed that the OLED panel hasn’t changed from previous models, with a refresh rate of 60fps and 2.360k dots. 

I personally don’t have a problem with the 2.360k dots on the A7 III, but some people might prefer the A7R III. 

Unlike the A7 III, the A7R III has a much more advanced electronic viewfinder. It has 3,680k resolution dots, significantly improving from the A7 III. 

I liked that you could switch between a standard and a high frame rate. The standard frame rate with this camera is 60fps, and the high frame rate is 120fps. 

The 120fps allows a photographer to have a more fluid live view of a subject, especially when capturing fast subjects. 

As for the magnification of the A7R III, it’s the same as the A7 III at 0.78x. Some other electronic viewfinder specifications of the cameras are 100% field of view and a 23 mm eyepoint. 

I love this aspect because it means both cameras are comfortable for people to use, even when wearing glasses. I personally lost sight of extreme corners, but the view is still wide. 

When looking at the rear LCD screen of both cameras, they have the same tilting abilities. I played around with it and could tilt up to 107° and 41° down. 

The two cameras differ on the rear LCD because the A7R III has a higher resolution of 1.44M dots, whereas the A7 III has a resolution of 921k. 

Even though I prefer the A7 III, I will say that the main advantage that the A7R III has over the other camera, at least in this category, is that the electronic viewfinder and LCD give a sharper live view of all the details in the shot. 

I noticed the difference when manually focusing with the focus magnification assist. 

Something both the A7 III and A7R III have is a display quality setting. I was able to set the setting to standard or high. 

When set to high, it uses the highest value, which means the camera’s highest resolution. Setting the display quality to high is a great feature, especially for the A7 III, which doesn’t have as much resolution, to begin with, compared to the A7R III. 

I appreciate that both cameras come with touch capabilities. Moving the focus point or looking through your images in the playback section is easy. 

I didn’t notice a difference between the two cameras when it came to precision and reactivity. 

I can use the touchscreen or turn it off when working with the electronic viewfinder. The cameras have a physical joystick, but you can choose which works better for you. 

Key Takeaways

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with both the Sony A7 III and A7R III cameras. 

Whether you’re a professional photographer or just getting started, these cameras offer a fantastic user experience with excellent image quality and features that make photography enjoyable and easy.

Shutter, Continuous Shooting, & Buffer: Similar Shutter Speeds, A7 III Boasts Better Buffering Than A7R III

As for the shutter speed of the Sony A7 III and A7R III, they’re the same. 

Both cameras can shoot up to 1/8000s. They can also shoot slower than this, as slow as the 30s. These cameras come with an electronic first curtain and a complete electronic option. 

I was able to reduce the shutter shock thanks to the electronic first curtain. I found that this was especially helpful in reducing this when I was shooting at a slower shutter speed. 

I also noticed that I could make the operation silent, but there were banding issues when working in fluorescent lights. 

Something that I experienced when shooting with both cameras was distortion. When using the rolling shutter feature, there was a distortion with any quick pans I did. 

The Sony A7 III and Sony A7R III come with a front-end LSI chip that helps improve the processing and reading speed of the camera. 

Both shot images at a max of 10fps in standard view and 8fps in live view. 

Something I enjoyed about both cameras is that there’s a low and mid-speed. The mid-speed is 6fps, and the low speed is 3fps. 

Now let’s get into the buffering of each camera. I noticed that while both cameras were pretty equal in shutter and continuous shooting, the A7 III stood out buffering-wise. 

Since it has a lower resolution than the A7R III, I wasn’t surprised it did better with buffering. 

I could shoot with the A7 III at 8fps for over 30 seconds before slowing down to 4fps when working with RAW files. When I worked with JPGs, I didn’t see the camera slow down at all.  

Continuous shooting is available on both cameras at all available speeds. It even has an anti-flicker mode to prevent exposure changes when taking photos in artificial lighting. I did notice that this can slow down the bust speed, though. 

Key Takeaways

Overall, the Sony A7 III and A7R III have similar shutter speed capabilities. 

The A7 III has better buffering than the A7R III due to its lower resolution, allowing for 8fps shooting for over 30 seconds with RAW files. 

ISO Range: A7 III Excels in Low-Light with Wider Range Than A7R III

ISO range refers to the range to which someone can set the camera’s sensor. When reviewing cameras, I always pay attention to the ISO range because it can make a huge difference in the final photo results. 

Cameras can have an ISO value from 100 to well over 100,000. The wider the ISO range, the better the camera takes images in low light conditions without needing a flash or extra lighting equipment. 

When I compared the two cameras, I learned that the Sony A7 III has an ISO value of 100 to 51,200 while the Sony A7R III has an ISO range of 100 to 32,000. Both cameras offer an expandable ISO range, though. 

The Sony A7 III has an expandable ISO range from 50 to 103,400, and the Sony A7R III has an expandable range of 50 to 204,800.

Based on the numbers alone, I can tell you that the A7 III is the better choice regarding the ISO range.

The A7 III is a great choice when taking large photos or photos in lower light settings because of its more extensive ISO range. With the expansive range available, it promises better results compared to the A7R III! 

If you’re looking for excellent low presence and night shots in particular, then this is an ideal choice. 

With its increased sensibility at higher ISO values, it will capture far more detail when using post-processing software with the ambient exposure. 

Additionally, indoors and landscapes will also benefit from its extended range when taken in dimly lit environments. 

With all these features combined, you can create breathtaking images day or night with ease. 

Something to think about is that even though a wider range tends to be better, the higher the ISO value, the grainier the image, affecting the final image quality. 

I tested both cameras in the same low light setting, and I could tell that the A7 III outperformed the A7R III in this situation. 

Key Takeaways

Overall, the Sony A7 III has a wider ISO range and better low light performance compared to the Sony A7R III. 

However, it’s important to keep in mind that higher ISO values can result in grainier images, which can affect the final image quality.

Pixel Shift Multi-Shooting: Choose Based on Photography Needs

Getting a camera that allows for pixel shift multi-shooting is essential for those interested in digital photography.

It helps improve the resolution and quality of the images taken by taking several photos of the same scene with tiny variations in the camera’s sensor for every new shot. 

I tried the pixel shift multi-shooting on both Sony cameras to see how the technique held up.

Both the A7 III and A7R III cameras allow for this technique, but based on what I found, the A7R III is the better choice. 

It comes with a tool that allows you to increase the sharpness of photos even more. It will enhance color resolution because of the built-in sensor-shift, which the A7 III doesn’t. 

This setting lets someone take four images in a row, moving one pixel per shot.

It captures one red, blue, and green pixel instead of one image with all three RGB channels. Both Sony cameras have a 42mp resolution, but the A7R III has a better pixel shift multi-shooting feature. 

I’d say that as far as the pixel shift multi-shooting feature goes, it’s better for photographers who are looking to capture stationary objects like buildings and people, so there’s a higher level of clarity.

Key Takeaways

Overall, the A7 III is the better choice for those interested in low light performance and capturing moving objects. 

On the other hand, the A7R III has a better pixel shift multi-shooting feature, which is ideal for photographers looking to capture stationary objects like buildings and people.

Ultimately, the choice between the two cameras depends on the individual’s specific photography needs and preferences.

Flash: Equal Options on Both Cameras

For those who want to use flash with their Sony camera, I found that the A7III and A7R III are similar flash-wise.

These cameras have everything you need for a great shot! Their flash compensation capabilities reach up to an impressive ±3Ev. 

Additionally, they feature slow sync and rear sync, which allow me to fire the flash in synchronization with all my shutter speeds. 

And if that wasn’t enough, both have a feature to minimize red eyes when people snap into the picture. Eye reduction has the potential to truly make your photos stand out.

There’s also bracketing if you love playing with lighting casts and capturing light in multiple shots. 

The bracketing is the same on both cameras with up to 3Ev/5 frames or 1Ev/9 frames. 

Key Takeaways

Overall, I believe that both cameras are equal when it comes to the flash, but Sony offers several off-camera flash options for you to have more options. 

The flash was pretty good overall, but there might be some times when you need to utilize artificial light to capture the subject you want. 

Therefore, I wouldn’t rely solely on flash capabilities to make your final decision between these two cameras.

Battery Life: A7 III Offers Longer Life, A7R III Includes Portable Charger

When it comes to choosing between the Sony A7 III and A7R III cameras, you need to think about the battery life of each camera. 

We gauge the battery life based on how many shots you can take, starting at a full battery charge until it completely dies. 

The Sony A7 III can take roughly 710 shots before the battery drains, while the Sony A7R III can only take about 650.

It would help if you remembered that several factors could make the battery life of both cameras more or less efficient. 

For example, if you set the camera to continuous mode, you can most likely get around 2,000 images without fully draining the camera’s battery. 

If you’re recording videos, you can probably get two clips that are roughly 30 minutes each, but it will drain the battery to 65% or even 100%. 

While the battery life can vary depending on your settings and the camera, this is similar across the board. 

You’ll be able to get more out of both the Sony A7 III and A7R III battery life when you’re dealing with low-intensity shooting. 

Even though the Sony A7 III has a slightly longer battery life, the one thing that the A7R III does better is that it comes with a specific battery charger. 

Unfortunately, the A7 III has a charger, but you’ll need to purchase it separately from Sony or a third-party retailer. 

Keep in mind that if you purchase a charger from a third party for the A7 III, it might not charge as well and potentially damage your camera’s battery in the long run.

I’ve never had many issues with third-party chargers, but others have, so it’s best to use that advice with caution.

Key Takeaways

Overall, for those who want a camera that naturally has a longer battery life, then the A7 III is the better option based on my findings. 

But, if you want a camera that has a decent battery life but comes with a portable charger, then the A7R III is the better option.  

Price: A7R III Costs $500+ More Than A7 III

The price is one of the most apparent differences I found between the Sony A7 III and the Sony A7R III. 

Of course, where you purchase the camera could cause the price to change, but generally, the Sony A7R III costs over $500 more than the A7 III. 

If you want to purchase the Sony A7 III, you can expect to pay $1,999.99 before tax and shipping costs. 

Through my research, I found that the price for this camera will increase to $2,199.99 if you want to buy it with a body + 28-70 mm zoom lens. 

The Sony A7R III doesn’t have the option to add a zoom lens, so the price stays at $2,199.99. 

Again, this can change depending on where you purchase it from, the cost of shipping, and if you have any discounts you can use. 

So, if you’re on a budget, not that either of these cameras is overly cheap, and want an excellent camera for a lower price, then I encourage you to go with the Sony A7 III. 

Even if you choose to add on the zoom lens, the price is still lower than the A7R III camera. 

When considering which camera to go with price-wise, I noticed that you would need to buy more accessories for the A7 III than the A7R III, which can drive the overall cost of what you’ve spent on the camera up over time. 

Key Takeaways

Sony A7 III vs A7R III: A7 III Wins

The winner when it comes between the Sony A7 III and Sony A7R III is the A7 III. 

I believe this is the best overall camera of the two because it’s a little bit more affordable, has a decent battery life, an excellent shutter speed, and a significant ISO range. 

While I found the A7 III to be the best overall, there are instances where I think the Sony A7R III might be a better fit for different aspects of photography. 

For example, even though the Sony A7 III is more affordable, when it comes to all the features you get with the Sony A7R III, like the dedicated battery charger, I believe it’ll be more cost-effective in the long run. 

No matter which camera you’re interested in buying, both will provide you with excellent quality photos, in my opinion. 

I don’t recommend purchasing both cameras, but if you feel like you need to test both on your own, to each their own. Those interested can buy the Sony A7 III here and the Sony A7R III here.