Sony A7R IV vs Sony A55

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.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

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.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha A7R IV and Sony SLT-A55. The entire galleries are viewable at Sony A7R IV Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.