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Sony A7 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
78
Imaging
70
Features
80
Overall
74
Sony Alpha A7 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
63
Features
71
Overall
66

Sony A7 vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs

Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Newer Model is Sony A7 II
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Launched December 2011
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Sony A7 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

Following is a in-depth assessment of the Sony A7 versus Sony NEX-7, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both produced by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A7 (24MP) and the NEX-7 (24MP) is relatively comparable but the A7 (Full frame) and NEX-7 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A7 was revealed 2 years after the NEX-7 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summation of how the A7 matches up versus the NEX-7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Sony NEX-7

 A7 NEX-7 
LaunchedJanuary 2014December 2011More modern by 26 months
Screen resolution1230k921kCrisper screen (+309k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Sony A7

 NEX-7 A7 

Common features in the Sony A7 and Sony NEX-7

 A7 NEX-7 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Sony A7 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A7 has got physical measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") along with a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-7 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

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Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the A7 versus the NEX-7.

Sony A7 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the A7 and NEX-7 is 78 and 84 respectively.

Sony A7 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes only by seeing technical specs. The pic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A7 and NEX-7.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor sizes. The A7 provides the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field simpler. The more recent A7 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Sony A7 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Sony A7 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A7
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-7
82
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
77
has manual focus
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A7 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-7 Street photography highlights
79
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment proof
lighter than competitors in class (474 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
76
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A7 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-7 Sports photography details
66
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
environment proof
has phase detect auto focus
slow fps (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery (340 shots)
61
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great battery power (430 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A7
Travel photography with Sony NEX-7
69
lighter than competitors in class (474 grams)
environment proof
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
terrible battery (340 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
great battery power (430 per charge)
decent MP (24MP)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A7 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Landscape photography camera
75
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery (340 per charge)
72
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (430 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-7 Vlogging information
35
includes face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic jack
lighter than competitors in class (474 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
35
features face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
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Sony A7 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7 and Sony NEX-7
 Sony Alpha A7Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A7 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-01-22 2011-12-13
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz X Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.8 x 23.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 855.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Lowest native ISO 50 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 117 25
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E Sony E
Total lenses 121 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 474 gr (1.04 lb) 400 gr (0.88 lb)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 90 81
DXO Color Depth rating 24.8 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.2 13.4
DXO Low light rating 2248 1016
Other
Battery life 340 pictures 430 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FW50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $798 $699