Sony A7R IV vs Sony A380: A Tale of Two Generations, One Brand’s Journey Through Imaging

When stepping into the world of photography gear, the sheer number of camera models available - old, new, pro, entry-level - can feel overwhelming. Today, I wanted to do something a bit different and examine two Sony cameras from quite different eras and categories: the Sony Alpha A7R IV, a 2019 full-frame pro mirrorless powerhouse, and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A380, a 2009 entry-level APS-C DSLR. What separates these two cameras, and what kind of photographer might each serve best? How do they hold up after years of innovation, and what lessons can we glean by contrasting them side by side?

I’ve spent many months testing both, along with hundreds of other cameras, and I’ll walk you through the most critical details - technical specs, real-world performance, and usability - from my own hands-on experience. By the end, you’ll understand not just the specs, but also when a tried-and-true entry-level DSLR might suffice or when the leap to a state-of-the-art mirrorless camera is truly justified.

First Impressions: Handling and Ergonomics from Old School to New School

Let’s start with the physical experience of holding these cameras. The A7R IV is a slightly larger, denser mirrorless camera with an SLR-style body, where ergonomics reflect the demands of professional operation. In contrast, the A380, though compact, maintains the classic DSLR feel with a smaller body and pentamirror viewfinder.

The Sony A7R IV weighs in at 665g and measures 129x96x78mm, featuring a robust magnesium alloy body with comprehensive weather sealing - a boon for outdoor shooting in varied environments. The grip is deep and contours nicely around my hand, lending confidence during long shoots. Buttons are thoughtfully positioned, albeit not illuminated, which can be a minor inconvenience in low-light conditions.

The Sony A380, by comparison, is lighter at 519g and more compact (128x97x71mm). It has a robust plastic body without environmental sealing. The tilt-screen is smaller (2.7" vs. 3" on the A7R IV) and doesn’t support touch interaction, which slightly slows navigation, particularly as menus are less streamlined - a typical downside for cameras from this era.

Top controls, as seen in this detailed overhead shot, highlight the evolution of interfaces:

The A7R IV sports customizable dials and dedicated buttons for ISO, exposure comp, and drive modes. The A380 offers fewer physical controls and less immediate access to advanced functions, instead relying more heavily on menu navigation. The lack of illuminated buttons and touchscreen on the A380 means less tactile and visual feedback, which can reduce efficiency during fast shooting scenarios.

Sensor Architecture and Image Quality: Punching Above vs. Punching Its Weight

Sensor technology lies at the heart of every camera’s image quality. The A7R IV boasts a cutting-edge 61.0MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter (OLPF), purpose-built to maximize resolution, image detail, and dynamic range. In technical terms, it achieves a DxO Mark overall score of 99, with exceptional color depth (26.0 bits), dynamic range (14.8 stops), and low-light ISO performance (native up to ISO 32,000, boosted to 102,800). That translates into breathtakingly detailed files with impressive latitude for post-processing.

On the other hand, the A380 has a 14.2MP APS-C CCD sensor with a conventional OLPF aimed at controlling moiré but somewhat reducing absolute sharpness. Its DxO score is a modest 67, with lower color depth (22.6 bits), dynamic range (11.8 stops), and ISO performance peaking at 3200 native. This reflects the significant advances in sensor tech over the last decade.

The relative sensor areas, focal length multipliers, and other characteristics merit a closer look:

The A380’s crop sensor (23.6x15.8mm) is much smaller than full-frame (35.8x23.8mm) on the A7R IV, and this influences depth of field, low light capability, and lens compatibility. The 1.5x crop factor means lenses act “longer” on the A380 - a potential benefit for wildlife telephoto shooting but a limitation if wide angles are your forte.

From practical field tests, portraits captured with the A7R IV show incredibly natural skin tones with subtle gradations and gorgeous bokeh, thanks to the larger sensor and superior lens options. Landscapes shine with intricate detail, especially when shooting at base ISO, where the dynamic range lets you recover skies and shadows without artifacting.

Sample image comparisons from both cameras underscore this:

Sony A7R IV front Sony A7R IV screen back Sony A380 front Sony A380 screen back

Autofocus Systems - Precision vs. Basic Performance

One area where camera technology has grown exponentially is autofocus (AF) systems. The A7R IV houses a hybrid phase-detection and contrast-detection autofocus system with 567 focus points, including real-time eye detection for both humans and animals - a feature strikingly useful for portrait and wildlife photography. My own tests confirm its ability to consistently lock focus swiftly and accurately, enhancing keeper rates even for fast-moving subjects.

By contrast, the A380 employs a more rudimentary phase-detection autofocus system with only 9 focus points and no eye-detection functionality. AF tracking performance is weak; it struggles to maintain focus on moving subjects beyond gentle panning or slow motion scenarios.

I pushed both cameras in wildlife and sports contexts, and the differences become clear. While the A380 participates passably for casual photography, the A7R IV excels for professionals relying on rapid, consistent tracking and eye detection - critical for unpredictable subjects.

Photography Genres: Strengths and Weaknesses Compared

Let’s examine how each camera suits different photography needs, keeping their respective categories and technological contexts in mind.

Portraiture

The A7R IV is outstanding for portraits. Its large sensor combined with superb lens choices lets you achieve beautiful bokeh separation and soft skin texture. Eye AF dramatically increases the rate of perfect-focus shots. The 61MP resolution affords cropping options without quality loss, and I found it especially forgiving for subtle retouching thanks to its rich color depth.

The A380 can take decent portraits, especially in good light, but the limited AF points and resolution constrain the creative possibilities. Its tendency to render colors slightly flatter means skin tones require more post-processing finesse.

Landscape

In landscapes, the A7R IV reigns supreme thanks to its wide dynamic range, high resolution, and weather-sealed body enabling shooting in adverse conditions like rain or dust. I’ve shot rugged coastal cliffs and city skylines with ease, often opting for focus bracketing on this camera to create ultra-sharp composites (though note it does not have built-in focus stacking).

The A380 is less ideal; its smaller sensor and lower resolution limit the level of detail and tonal richness. Lack of weather sealing and a plastic body also mean caution in rough environments. Low dynamic range can make shadow recovery from RAW files more challenging.

Wildlife

In wildlife, focal length multiples and AF speed matter. The A380’s APS-C sensor offers a 1.5x crop, which effectively gives added reach to telephoto lenses, useful if you can’t invest in super-telephoto glass. However, its slow AF tracking and 3 fps burst rate make it hard to get keeping shots of active animals.

The A7R IV has no crop factor (full-frame), so achieving extreme magnification requires physically longer lenses. But its 10 fps continuous shooting rate, outstanding AF system including animal eye-detection, and impressive buffer make chasing wildlife a far more viable and rewarding endeavor.

Sports Photography

Here speed is king. The A7R IV delivers 10 frames per second with AF and exposure tracking, which performs well in dim lighting as well with high native ISO. Its autofocus system is built for moving subjects, and its robust file handling suits detailed action shots.

The A380 lags behind with 3 fps continuous shooting, basic AF tracking, and limited ISO performance. It’s best suited for casual sports snaps in bright conditions.

Street Photography

For street shooters, size and discretion matter, along with low-light performance. The A380’s pentamirror viewfinder provides an optical experience but is less bright and encompassing compared to higher-end DSLRs and mirrorless EVFs.

The A7R IV, while bigger, has a quiet shutter option and excellent high ISO quality allowing shooting in subtle lighting without intrusive flash. The tilting touchscreen enables dynamic framing.

For portability, however, the A380 wins on weight and bulk, a rare advantage nowadays for full-fledged DSLRs.

Macro and Close-Up

Macro requires precise focusing and stabilization. The A7R IV includes in-body 5-axis image stabilization, increasing handheld macro success, even with secondhand lenses. Focus bracketing is absent but manual focus precision and high resolution result in stunning detail.

The A380 offers basic sensor-based stabilization but no focus bracketing or handheld-friendly features. Focus peaking and magnification aids on modern cameras are absent here, making close-up shots more challenging.

Night and Astrophotography

The full-frame sensor and high ISO range on the A7R IV shine for night shots and astrophotography. I’ve captured star fields and Milky Way images with excellent low noise at ISO 3200-6400, something almost unimaginable on older APS-C sensors.

The A380’s max ISO 3200 is usable only at lower settings; noise becomes problematic quickly. Long exposure noise reduction and manual exposure control help but cannot compensate fully.

Video Capabilities

Video is minimal on the A380: no dedicated recording modes or resolutions beyond basic. The A7R IV supports 4K UHD at 30p with 8-bit 4:2:0 internally encoded files, external mic and headphone jacks, and excellent stabilization making it suitable for professional hybrid shooters.

Usability: Interface, Storage, and Connectivity

The back screen and live view systems have evolved tremendously:

• The tilting 3” touchscreen on the A7R IV responds crisply and allows tap-to-focus; menu navigation is intuitive.
• The A380’s 2.7” non-touch display feels dated, and while it tilts, the limited resolution (230k dots) hampers preview accuracy.

Storage is modern and flexible on the A7R IV, with dual UHS-II SD card slots supporting high-speed workflows, while the A380 offers a single slot compatible with SD and Memory Stick Pro Duo cards but lacks fast transfer and redundancy options.

On connectivity:

• The A7R IV comes with built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, USB 3.1 Gen 1 for rapid file transfer, and HDMI output.
• The A380 lacks wireless features and has USB 2.0 - a bottleneck for image transfer speeds.

Battery life is respectable on both - with the A7R IV rated for 670 shots using the LCD, and the A380 rated at around 500 shots. However, real-world usage of mirrorless cameras means carrying spares remains prudent.

Reliability and Build: Professional Workhorse vs. Starter DSLR

The A7R IV’s metal body is robust and weather-sealed, designed to thrive under professional workloads. Button placements optimize quick setting changes, with customizable options enhancing workflow.

The A380 is more fragile in comparison - mostly plastic construction and no weather sealing - but still rugged enough for casual use.

File formats are modern on the A7R IV, supporting 14-bit RAW capture, and Sony’s compressed and uncompressed RAW options offer professionals flexibility. The A380 supports 12-bit RAW, which limits dynamic post-processing latitude.

Price and Value: What Does Your Investment Buy?

The A7R IV’s launch price hovered around $3500, and even now it sits near the high end. However, it delivers pro-grade image quality, speed, and versatility - an investment justifiable for serious enthusiasts and pros.

The A380, in contrast, was an affordable beginner’s camera at around $900, targeting hobbyists dipping toes into DSLR waters. While dated now, it offers a low-cost entry into photography with reasonable image quality for its time.

Performance Ratings at a Glance

Sony’s evolution is evident in metrics evaluated through DxOMark and my own testing. Here’s a comparative snapshot of overall scores:

And a closer look by photography genre, illustrating which camera excels where:

Final Thoughts: Who Should Buy Which?

Sony A7R IV
This camera is a powerhouse for users demanding uncompromising image quality, autofocus sophistication, and versatility across genres including portrait, landscapes, wildlife, sports, video, and more. It suits professional photographers, serious enthusiasts, and hybrid shooters who want one camera to do almost everything.

If you want vibrant skin tones straight out of camera, superior low light capabilities, and a future-proof format for professional workflows, the A7R IV stands tall.

Sony A380
Ideal for photographers entering DSLR photography on a budget who don’t need 4K video, ultra-fast autofocus, or full-frame image quality. It’s well suited for casual family photography, travel with modest gear, and learning hands-on the basics of DSLR operation.

It remains relevant for beginners or as a backup camera if budget is restricted, but do not expect performance to compete with modern cameras.

In Summary

The Sony A7R IV and Sony A380 represent cameras from two very different technological eras and market segments. The A7R IV encapsulates nearly a decade of advances in sensor tech, autofocus, image processing, and connectivity, making it a versatile tool for demanding professionals and enthusiasts.

Conversely, the A380 is a charming but dated introduction to DSLR photography, offering decent image quality given its time and price point but lacking the refinements that make modern cameras truly stand out.

Choosing between them demands consideration of budget, intended use, and expectations. For those embracing the future, the A7R IV is a worthy flagship; for those starting out or constrained financially, the A380 can still deliver joyful photography moments.

By combining technical analysis, real-world experience, and user-centric recommendations, I hope this comparison has shed light on the journey Sony cameras have taken and helped you navigate which direction best fits your photographic ambitions. Happy shooting!