Sony A1 II vs A7R III

The Sony A1 II and the Sony Alpha A7R III are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in November 2024 and October 2017. Both the A1 II and the A7R III are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. The A1 II has a resolution of 49.8 megapixels, whereas the A7R III provides 42.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Sony A1 II		Sony A7R III
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Sony E mount lenses		Sony E mount lenses
49.8 MP – Full Frame sensor		42.2 MP – Full Frame sensor
8k/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-32,000 (50 - 102,400)		ISO 100-32,000 (50 - 102,400)
Electronic viewfinder (9437k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (3686k dots)
3.2" LCD – 2100k dots		3.0" LCD – 1440k dots
Fully flexible touchscreen		Tilting touchscreen
30 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		In-body stabilization
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
520 shots per battery charge		650 shots per battery charge
136 x 97 x 83 mm, 743 g		127 x 96 x 74 mm, 650 g

Check A1 II price at
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ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony A1 II and the Sony Alpha A7R III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Sony A1 II and the Sony A7R III is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A7R III is notably smaller (8 percent) than the Sony A1 II. Moreover, the A7R III is markedly lighter (13 percent) than the A1 II. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Sony FE Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Sony A1 II	136 mm	97 mm	83 mm	743 g	520	Y	Nov 2024	EUR 7 499	amazon.com
2.		Sony A7R III	127 mm	96 mm	74 mm	650 g	650	Y	Oct 2017	EUR 3 499	ebay.com
3.		Leica SL3	141 mm	108 mm	85 mm	854 g	320	Y	Mar 2024	EUR 6 799	amazon.com
4.		Sony A1	129 mm	97 mm	81 mm	737 g	530	Y	Jan 2021	EUR 7 299	amazon.com
5.		Sony A7C R	124 mm	71 mm	63 mm	520 g	520	Y	Aug 2023	EUR 3 699	amazon.com
6.		Sony A7R II	127 mm	96 mm	60 mm	625 g	290	Y	Jun 2015	EUR 3 499	ebay.com
7.		Sony A7R IIIA	127 mm	96 mm	74 mm	650 g	650	Y	Apr 2021	EUR 3 499	amazon.com
8.		Sony A7R IV	129 mm	96 mm	78 mm	665 g	670	Y	Jul 2019	EUR 3 999	ebay.com
9.		Sony A7R IVA	129 mm	96 mm	78 mm	665 g	670	Y	Apr 2021	EUR 3 999	amazon.com
10.		Sony A7R V	131 mm	97 mm	82 mm	723 g	530	Y	Oct 2022	EUR 4 499	amazon.com
11.		Sony A7S II	127 mm	96 mm	60 mm	627 g	370	Y	Sep 2015	EUR 3 399	ebay.com
12.		Sony A9	127 mm	96 mm	63 mm	673 g	650	Y	Apr 2017	EUR 5 299	ebay.com
13.		Sony A9 III	136 mm	97 mm	83 mm	702 g	530	Y	Nov 2023	EUR 6 999	amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The A7R III was launched at a markedly lower price (by 51 percent) than the A1 II, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

In terms of chip-set technology, the A1 II uses a more advanced image processing engine (Dual BIONZ XR) than the A7R III (BIONZ X), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the A1 II offers a higher resolution of 49.8 megapixels, compared with 42.2 MP of the A7R III. This megapixels advantage translates into a 9 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the A1 II has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 4.16μm versus 4.52μm for the A7R III). In this context, it should be noted, however, that the A1 II is much more recent (by 7 years) than the A7R III, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A1 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A1 II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 43.2 x 28.8 inches or 109.7 x 73.2 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 34.6 x 23 inches or 87.8 x 58.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 28.8 x 19.2 inches or 73.2 x 48.8 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony A7R III are 39.8 x 26.5 inches or 101 x 67.4 cm for good quality, 31.8 x 21.2 inches or 80.8 x 53.9 cm for very good quality, and 26.5 x 17.7 inches or 67.3 x 44.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

Both cameras have the capacity to capture high quality composite images by combining multiple shots after shifting the sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Sony A1 II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 32000, which can be extended to ISO 50-102400. The Sony Alpha A7R III offers exactly the same ISO settings.

In terms of underlying technology, the A1 II is build around a Stacked BSI-CMOS sensor, while the A7R III uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Sony A1 II	Full Frame	49.8	8640	5760	8k/30p	25.4	14.8	3363	97
2.		Sony A7R III	Full Frame	42.2	7952	5304	4K/30p	26.0	14.7	3523	100
3.		Leica SL3	Full Frame	60.3	9520	6336	8K/30p	25.4	14.8	3295	97
4.		Sony A1	Full Frame	49.8	8640	5760	8k/30p	25.9	14.5	3163	98
5.		Sony A7C R	Full Frame	60.2	9504	6336	4K/60p	25.4	14.7	3227	96
6.		Sony A7R II	Full Frame	42.2	7952	5304	4K/30p	26.0	13.9	3434	98
7.		Sony A7R IIIA	Full Frame	42.2	7952	5304	4K/30p	26.0	14.7	3523	100
8.		Sony A7R IV	Full Frame	60.2	9504	6336	4K/30p	26.0	14.8	3344	99
9.		Sony A7R IVA	Full Frame	60.2	9504	6336	4K/30p	26.0	14.8	3344	99
10.		Sony A7R V	Full Frame	60.2	9504	6336	8k/24p	26.5	14.8	3187	100
11.		Sony A7S II	Full Frame	12.0	4240	2832	4K/30p	23.6	13.3	2993	85
12.		Sony A9	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.9	13.3	3517	92
13.		Sony A9 III	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/120p	25.4	14.7	3243	96
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the A1 II provides a higher video resolution than the A7R III. It can shoot video footage at 8k/30p, while the A7R III is limited to 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the A1 II offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the A7R III (9437k vs 3686k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Sony A1 II and Sony A7R III along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Sony A1 II	9437	n	3.2 / 2100	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	30.0/s	n	Y
2.		Sony A7R III	3686	n	3.0 / 1440	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
3.		Leica SL3	5760	Y	3.2 / 2333	tilting	Y	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	Y
4.		Sony A1	9437	n	3.0 / 1440	tilting	Y	1/8000s	30.0/s	n	Y
5.		Sony A7C R	2360	n	3.0 / 1037	swivel	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	n	Y
6.		Sony A7R II	2400	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	Y
7.		Sony A7R IIIA	3686	n	3.0 / 2340	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
8.		Sony A7R IV	5760	n	3.0 / 1440	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
9.		Sony A7R IVA	5760	n	3.0 / 2340	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
10.		Sony A7R V	9440	n	3.2 / 2100	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
11.		Sony A7S II	2400	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	Y
12.		Sony A9	3686	n	3.0 / 1440	tilting	Y	1/8000s	20.0/s	n	Y
13.		Sony A9 III	9440	n	3.2 / 2100	full-flex	Y	1/80000s	120.0/s	n	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Sony A1 II and the Sony A7R III both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The A1 II writes its imaging data to CFexpress (type A) or SDXC cards, while the A7R III uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. Both the A1 II and the A7R III support UHS-II cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s (the second slot of the A7R III only offers slower UHS-I transfer rates, though).

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony A1 II and Sony Alpha A7R III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Sony A1 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y
2.		Sony A7R III	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	Y	Y
3.		Leica SL3	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
4.		Sony A1	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y
5.		Sony A7C R	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
6.		Sony A7R II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Sony A7R IIIA	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	Y	Y
8.		Sony A7R IV	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	Y	Y
9.		Sony A7R IVA	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	Y	Y
10.		Sony A7R V	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y
11.		Sony A7S II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
12.		Sony A9	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
13.		Sony A9 III	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

The A1 II is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the A7R III has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the A7R III was succeeded by the Sony A7R IV. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Sony website.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Sony A1 II and the Sony A7R III? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Sony A1 II:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (49.8 vs 42.2MP) with a 9% higher linear resolution.
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (Dual BIONZ XR vs BIONZ X).
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (8k/30p vs 4K/30p).
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (9437k vs 3686k dots).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.9x vs 0.78x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2100k vs 1440k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a full-flex screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (30 vs 10 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 3.1).
• More solid recording: Has a full-sized HDMI port for a sturdy connection to an external recorder.
• More modern: Reflects 7 years of technical progress since the A7R III launch.

Advantages of the Sony Alpha A7R III:

• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 93g or 13 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (650 versus 520) out of a single battery charge.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (51 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in October 2017).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A1 II is the clear winner of the match-up (13 : 5 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony A1 II and the Sony A7R III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the A1 II or the A7R III perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Sony A1 II	..	..	..	..	..	..	Nov 2024	EUR 7 499	amazon.com
2.		Sony A7R III	..	+ +	4/5	90/100	4.5/5	5/5	Oct 2017	EUR 3 499	ebay.com
3.		Leica SL3	..	..	4.5/5	..	..	4.5/5	Mar 2024	EUR 6 799	amazon.com
4.		Sony A1	5/5	o	4.5/5	93/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2021	EUR 7 299	amazon.com
5.		Sony A7C R	4/5	..	4/5	88/100	..	4/5	Aug 2023	EUR 3 699	amazon.com
6.		Sony A7R II	5/5	+ +	5/5	90/100	5/5	5/5	Jun 2015	EUR 3 499	ebay.com
7.		Sony A7R IIIA	..	+ +	4/5	90/100	4.5/5	5/5	Apr 2021	EUR 3 499	amazon.com
8.		Sony A7R IV	5/5	+	4.5/5	91/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2019	EUR 3 999	ebay.com
9.		Sony A7R IVA	5/5	+	4.5/5	91/100	4.5/5	5/5	Apr 2021	EUR 3 999	amazon.com
10.		Sony A7R V	5/5	+ +	4.5/5	92/100	..	..	Oct 2022	EUR 4 499	amazon.com
11.		Sony A7S II	5/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2015	EUR 3 399	ebay.com
12.		Sony A9	5/5	+ +	4.8/5	89/100	5/5	5/5	Apr 2017	EUR 5 299	ebay.com
13.		Sony A9 III	4.5/5	..	..	91/100	..	..	Nov 2023	EUR 6 999	amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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