Sony Alpha line, such as Sony Alpha 7R III vs a7III, are popular and excellent in performance. Newer models are usually better, but they are also more expensive. The Alpha 7R III is an older variant but costs higher. If you want to know what they can offer, let’s see how these two cameras compare here.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- How to Choose a Camera
- What are Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III
- How is the Design of Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III
- How are the Specs of Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III
- How are the Image Qualities of Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III
- How are the Autofocus in Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III
- How is the Video and Image Stabilization of Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III
- Sony Alpha 7R III Vs a7III
Buying a Camera
Compact digital cameras are no longer an exciting device to buy because chances are your smartphones can provide the same or even better performance in a streamlined system. The current camera market is dominated by enthusiast models, DSLR or mirrorless with interchangeable lenses. They are competent for hobbyists and professionals with the same interest in taking beautiful photos for personal use or commercial purposes. Like many other products, choosing a particular camera over the other is a subjective decision.
Budget is a crucial part because modern cameras are not cheap. The newer system can cost anywhere above $500 as body only and more when choosing the kit or buying better lenses. Each user may have a budget limit, affecting the decision. Another critical factor to base your decision on is the appliance. Not everyone will find full-frame high pixels cameras useful unless they want to take photos often in low-light conditions or blow up the print and do extreme cropping.
The full-frame cameras are usually expensive, but if you don’t need those abilities, any options from micro four-thirds such as Panasonic GX85 Vs Olympus EM5 Mark II to APS-C will be adequate. Cameras with smaller sensors are cheaper, and they will produce similarly good pictures depending on the skill of the users and the overall system. Smaller sensors have a larger depth of field, and some people like it better, so there is no single camera that will satisfy everybody as it is more subjective to the users.
| Sony Alpha 7R III | Sony a7III | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 5 x 3.87 x 3 inches | 5 x 3.88 x 3 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 1.45 pounds | 1.44 pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | Check price | Check price |
About Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III
But, if you wish for the features and ability of full-frame cameras, then there is no reason why they won’t be an excellent choice. The main issue is probably budget, yet there are many exciting options to consider if you can spend the amount. Full-frame cameras usually start from $1,000 and higher, while the lenses vary from the company and third-party manufacturers. With its E-mount system, Sony can fit many different lenses from the affordable to high-end range. We also like that you can use their APS-C lenses on the full-frame cameras.
For those who are also shooting video with the camera and want a convenient hybrid system, the Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III are two ideal options. The two are similarly the third generation of the respective line, and coming from the same Alpha series, they are powerful. The a7III is an improvement over the other, especially on the overall system. The Alpha 7R III was launched a year before the latter, so users expect an improvement over the older iterations.
The Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III are similarly powerful cameras with notable differences. What makes the 7R III still an outstanding choice is its sensor. Both have the same full-frame sensor, but 7R III has a whopping 43MP while the a7III is a 24MP camera. The difference in pixels affects the detail of your picture because more pixels mean more information, so it benefits post-processing. Still, it also means you need more storage because the file size will be more significant.
Another essential difference between Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III is their systems. Being newer, a7III has an improved system that slightly affects the autofocus and speed. In addition, the new camera also comes with a bigger battery which is excellent because it is always an improvement we seek in new cameras.
Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III Design
Let’s see the unit before getting into what the Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III can offer. But, similar to most Alpha series, there are not many changes from the physical side. None of these cameras are weather-sealed for use in extreme weather if your application calls for such a feature. The design is identical that if you look from the front and somehow the label isn’t visible, we find it difficult to tell them apart. However, you can tell the 7R III from the lock button on the dial.
The port collections are still on the same side, but 7R III has a PC sync that is not available on the a7III. The rest of the features are very similar, and we still find a7III only has a tilting screen, limiting the shooting angle and use in video recording. The screen resolution is better on 7R III as it is a 1.4M dots screen, while the latter only uses a 900K dots variant. As for the battery, the two use NP-FZ100 lithium-ion, but now the a7III lasts longer.
Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III Specs
Next, let’s see the basic specs of Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III to see what the two can offer. The two are full-frame sensors with different effective pixels. The R in a7R III means resolution, which is why it has 43MP effective pixel while the latter only has half of it or 24MP. The ISO range is from 100 to 32000 or expandable to 102,400. These cameras respectively have 5.5 and 5-stops sensor-based image stabilization to improve the handheld performance.
Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III Image Quality
As for image quality, both have the color of Sony cameras, so they will look the same, and the difference in the pixel is not noticeable unless you zoom in for pixel peeping. Most people won’t be able to tell which photo was taken with the high pixel count when they are shot in the same situation. The details are the same, and the low-light performance is impressive. But, because a7III comes later, the ISO range can get one-stop higher than 7R III, and it performs better at the higher range.
You can even use the ISO 12,800 on a7III and still get an amazing image quality that the 7R III does not offer. The Alpha 7R III has the Pixel Shift feature, missing from the latter and even the a9 II. This feature will affect the result of your shooting. The technology essentially shoots four uncompressed RAW images while shifting the image sensor one pixel at a time. The feature’s purpose is to generate images with higher resolution than how it is in standard mode.
Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III Autofocus
Next, we want to see the autofocus performance on Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III. Being a newer model, the a7III comes with a significant upgrade of a tremendous 693 AF points to 7R III with its 399 points. In practice, the improvement is helpful to let the camera keep focusing on the target as it moves across the sensor, especially near the edge of the frame. But, for the performance and speed, the two are very similar and reliable.
They are also doing a great job at recognizing faces and eyes. We have seen them stick to the subject’s face as their head moves left or right without facing the camera. They are suitable for shooting a runaway where your subject comes from afar and slowly gets closer to the camera.
Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III Video and Stabilization
The Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III are also ideal for hybrid users, one of the main target consumers for these cameras. Both cameras can shoot in 4K at 30p and 120 frames per second when you move to Full HD without cropping. What to note is that a7 III will have a 1.2 crop when shooting at 4K 30p, so your field of view will get narrower. Other video features in these cameras are an external microphone, headphones, and professional shooting profiles like SLOG2, SLOG3, and HLG.
Lastly, we want to talk about the image stabilization in Sony Alpha 7R III and a7III. The two have in-body image stabilization, but the 7R III has a slight advantage as it is 5.5 instead of 5 points. The stabilization feature works well for users who often record video in handheld mode. But, we like the experience with 7R III better primarily because of the screen. The camera has a better screen, and it is easier to pick focus while it also looks brighter under sunlight.
Sony Alpha 7R III Vs a7III
Both cameras are impressive and work well for hybrid shooters. The image quality is also excellent, but while 7R III boasts a high pixel count and pixel shift mode, the a7III has a better processor that makes it more reliable under low light conditions. The video recording features are the same, and they have incredible in-body image stabilization. Unfortunately, none can record 4K 60p yet, and a7III also crops 4K 30p. The autofocus performance is similarly impressive, but a7III has the upper hand with its increased AF points.
Conclusion
There is no wrong option because we love these cameras that are equally reliable. We recommend the a7III because the price gap is too high to get the slight advantage of increased pixel counts. The a7III is more than a good camera for most people; moreover, it can perform better in low-light conditions.