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Sony A7 III vs YI M1

Portability
63
Imaging
74
Features
92
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A7 III front
 
YI M1 front
Portability
87
Imaging
60
Features
66
Overall
62

Sony A7 III vs YI M1 Key Specs

Sony A7 III
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 650g - 127 x 96 x 74mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Succeeded the Sony A7 II
  • Later Model is Sony A7 IV
YI M1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 350g - 114 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced September 2016
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Sony A7 III vs YI M1 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Sony A7 III vs YI M1, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Sony and YI. The sensor resolution of the A7 III (24MP) and the M1 (20MP) is fairly well matched but the A7 III (Full frame) and M1 (Four Thirds) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The A7 III was announced 18 months after the M1 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A7 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the YI M1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summary of how the A7 III scores versus the M1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A7 III over the YI M1

 A7 III M1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018September 2016More modern by 18 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick YI M1 over the Sony A7 III

 M1 A7 III 
Display resolution1040k922kCrisper display (+118k dot)

Common features in the Sony A7 III and YI M1

 A7 III M1 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Sony A7 III vs YI M1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony A7 III comes with outer dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) while the YI M1 has dimensions of 114mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 350 grams (0.77 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A7 III vs YI M1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the A7 III compared to the M1.

Sony A7 III vs YI M1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A7 III and M1 is 63 and 87 respectively.

Sony A7 III vs YI M1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7 III vs YI M1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading through technical specs. The picture underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A7 III and M1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A7 III with its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh simpler and the Sony A7 III will give extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more modern A7 III will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A7 III vs YI M1 sensor size comparison

Sony A7 III vs YI M1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7 III vs YI M1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A7 III
Portrait photography with YI M1
84
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
76
manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A7 III
Street photography with YI M1
78
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
has focus via touch
weather sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
74
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A7 III as a Sports photography camera
YI M1 as a Sports photography camera
87
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery life (610 shots)
has phase detect AF
55
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
better than average battery pack (450 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A7 III as a Travel photography camera
YI M1 as a Travel photography camera
73
good battery life (610 shots)
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
has focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
78
better than average battery pack (450 CIPA)
supports bluetooth
boasts focus via touch
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A7 III as a Landscape photography camera
YI M1 as a Landscape photography camera
85
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
great high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
good battery life (610 CIPA)
2 card slots
77
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (450 shots)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A7 III
Vlogging with YI M1
36
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external microphone support
does not offer selfie friendly screen
33
touch screen
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing microphone jack
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Sony A7 III vs YI M1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7 III and YI M1
 Sony Alpha A7 IIIYI M1
General Information
Manufacturer Sony YI
Model type Sony Alpha A7 III YI M1
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2018-02-27 2016-09-19
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 35.8 x 23.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 852.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 51200 25600
Max enhanced ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 693 81
Lens
Lens support Sony E Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 121 107
Crop factor 1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 922 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Red-Eye Slow
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 75 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
Max video resolution 3840x2160 4096x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 650 grams (1.43 lb) 350 grams (0.77 lb)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9") 114 x 64 x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 96 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 25.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 3730 not tested
Other
Battery life 610 pictures 450 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FZ100 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Two 1
Pricing at release $1,998 $320