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Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55

Portability
62
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85
Sony Alpha A7R IV front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony A7R IV
(Full Review)
  • 61MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Expand to 102800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 665g - 129 x 96 x 78mm
  • Announced July 2019
  • Replaced the Sony A7R III
  • Refreshed by Sony A7R V
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A57
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Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are offered by Sony. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the A7R IV (61MP) and A55 (16MP) and the A7R IV (Full frame) and A55 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The A7R IV was manufactured 9 years later than the A55 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony A7R IV being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise view of how the A7R IV grades against the A55 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A7R IV over the Sony A55

 A7R IV A55 
LaunchedJuly 2019August 2010More recent by 109 months
Screen resolution1440k921kCrisper screen (+519k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony A7R IV

 A55 A7R IV 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony A7R IV and Sony A55

 A7R IV A55 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions

Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A7R IV features exterior dimensions of 129mm x 96mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1") with a weight of 665 grams (1.47 lbs) while the Sony A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

See the Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the A7R IV and the A55.

Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the A7R IV and A55 is 62 and 67 respectively.

Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor measurements just by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the A7R IV and A55.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The A7R IV due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony A7R IV will provide you with more detail due to its extra 45MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher A7R IV will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A7R IV Portrait photography highlights
Sony A55 Portrait photography highlights
88
you can focus manually
amazing megapixels (61MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
73
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony A7R IV Street photography details
Sony A55 Street photography details
79
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
environment proofing
very good high ISO (32,000)
77
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony A7R IV Sports photography highlights
Sony A55 Sports photography highlights
90
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing megapixels (61 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
great battery life (670 CIPA)
comes with phase detect auto focus
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (380 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A7R IV Travel photography info
Sony A55 Travel photography info
74
great battery life (670 shots)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
comes with touch focus
amazing megapixels (61 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
62
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A7R IV Landscape photography highlights
Sony A55 Landscape photography highlights
88
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing megapixels (61 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (32,000)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
great battery life (670 shots)
has double storage slots
67
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
terrible battery life (380 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7R IV as a Vlogging camera
Sony A55 as a Vlogging camera
37
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external microphone port
does not contain selfie friendly display
78
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
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Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7R IV and Sony A55
 Sony Alpha A7R IVSony SLT-A55
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A7R IV Sony SLT-A55
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2019-07-16 2010-08-24
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.8 x 23.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 852.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 61 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 9504 x 6336 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 32000 12800
Max enhanced ISO 102800 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 567 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 121 143
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,440k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 5,760k dots 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync. Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 665g (1.47 pounds) 500g (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 129 x 96 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 99 73
DXO Color Depth rating 26.0 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.8 12.4
DXO Low light rating 3344 816
Other
Battery life 670 photos 380 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FZ100 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two One
Cost at release $3,498 $800