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Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
78
Imaging
73
Features
76
Overall
74
Sony Alpha A7R front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
63
Features
71
Overall
66

Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs

Sony A7R
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 465g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Renewed by Sony A7R 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
  • Announced December 2011
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Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both offered by Sony. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the A7R (36MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the A7R (Full frame) and NEX-7 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The A7R was brought out 2 years later than the NEX-7 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A7R being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the A7R grades vs the NEX-7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A7R over the Sony NEX-7

 A7R NEX-7 
AnnouncedFebruary 2014December 2011Fresher by 27 months
Screen resolution1230k921kClearer screen (+309k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Sony A7R

 NEX-7 A7R 

Common features in the Sony A7R and Sony NEX-7

 A7R NEX-7 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Sony A7R has got physical dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 465 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Sony NEX-7 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Check the Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the A7R and the NEX-7.

Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the A7R and NEX-7 is 78 and 84 respectively.

Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specifications. The photograph here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the A7R and NEX-7.

To sum up, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A7R featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony A7R will offer you more detail having its extra 12MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The fresher A7R will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A7R Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-7 Portrait photography highlights
83
manual focus
megapixel count excellent (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
77
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A7R as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Street photography camera
79
screen tilts up and down
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
lighter than competition (465 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
76
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A7R
Sports photography with Sony NEX-7
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count excellent (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
environment sealing
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (340 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
61
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery power (430 shots)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A7R Travel photography features
Sony NEX-7 Travel photography features
69
lighter than competition (465g)
environment sealing
megapixel count excellent (36 megapixels)
bad battery life (340 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
70
good battery power (430 shots)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A7R Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-7 Landscape photography details
77
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count excellent (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (340 CIPA)
72
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good battery power (430 shots)
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7R Vlogging info
Sony NEX-7 Vlogging info
36
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic jack
lighter than competition (465g)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
35
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
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Sony A7R vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7R and Sony NEX-7
 Sony Alpha A7RSony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A7R Sony Alpha NEX-7
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-02-13 2011-12-13
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz X Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 36MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 7360 x 4912 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony E
Available lenses 121 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 465g (1.03 pounds) 400g (0.88 pounds)
Physical 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 score 95 81
DXO Color Depth score 25.6 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score 14.1 13.4
DXO Low light score 2746 1016
Other
Battery life 340 photos 430 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $1,898 $699