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Home → Comparison

Sony a7CR vs Sony a7C II: What Should You Get?

By Jason Polak 1 Comment
Last Updated On September 27, 2024

Today, I want to take a look at how Sony’s a7CR and a7C II compare, for the many photographers who may be trying to choose between these two lightweight, full-frame cameras! They are strikingly similar cameras in almost every way – except that the a7CR has a 61.0 megapixel sensor, while the a7C II has a 33.0 megapixel sensor. The rest of the differences flow from that.

Sony a7CR vs Sony a7C II Specifications Comparison

Camera FeatureSony a7CRSony a7C II
AnnouncedAugust 2023August 2023
Camera TypeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor TypeBSI CMOSBSI CMOS
Image ProcessorBIONZ XRBIONZ XR
Resolution61.0 MP33.0 MP
Pixel Dimensions9504×63367008×4672
Sensor Dimensions35.7 x 23.8 mm (Full Frame)35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame)
Sensor Pixel Size3.76µ5.12µ
Low Pass FilterNoNo
IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization)YesYes
Base ISOISO 100ISO 100
Max Native ISOISO 32,000ISO 51,200
Extended ISOsISO 50-102,400ISO 50-204,800
High-Resolution Sensor ShiftYesNo
Focus Stack BracketingYesYes
Pre-Shoot Burst ModeNoNo
Fastest Shutter Speed1/80001/8000
Longest Shutter Speed30 seconds30 seconds
Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter)8 FPS10 FPS
Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter)7 FPS10 FPS
Notes for High FPS ShootingCompressed 12-bit raw at 8 FPS (uncompressed 14-bit raw is available at 7 FPS)Compressed 12-bit raw at 10 FPS (uncompressed 14-bit raw is available at 8 FPS)
Buffer Size (Raw)36 frames (8 FPS)44 frames (10 FPS)
Autofocus SystemHybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognitionHybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognition
Autofocus Points693759
Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100)-4 EV-4 EV
Standard Flash Sync Speed1/1601/160
Curtain to Protect Sensor at ShutdownNoNo
Video Features
Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal)10 bits10 bits
Maximum Video Bit Depth (External)10 bits10 bits
Raw VideoNoNo
4K Maximum Framerate60 FPS60 FPS
1080P Maximum Framerate120 FPS120 FPS
Additional Video Crop Factor1.24x crop at 4K 60p (4K 30p has no additional crop)1.5x crop at 4K 60p (4K 30p has no additional crop)
Chroma Subsampling4:2:24:2:2
Video Recording Limit780 min780 min
Physical and Other Features
Card Slots11
Slot 1 TypeSD (UHS-II)SD (UHS-II)
Rear LCD Size (Diagonal)3.0 in3.0 in
Rear LCD Resolution1.04 million dots1.04 million dots
Articulating LCDFully ArticulatingFully Articulating
TouchscreenYesYes
ViewfinderEVFEVF
Viewfinder Magnification0.70x0.70x
Viewfinder Resolution2.36 million dots2.36 million dots
Viewfinder Coverage100%100%
Voice MemoNoNo
Headphone JackYesYes
Microphone JackYesYes
Built-in FlashNoNo
GPSNoNo
BluetoothYesYes
WiFiYesYes
USB TypeType C 3.2 Gen 1Type C 3.2 Gen 1
Battery TypeNP-FZ100NP-FZ100
Battery Life (Viewfinder)490 frames530 frames
Battery Life (Rear LCD)530 frames560 frames
Weather SealedYesYes
Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card)515 g (1.14 lbs.)514 g (1.13 lbs.)
Dimensions (LxHxD)124 x 71 x 63 mm (4.9 x 2.8 x 2.5″)124 x 71 x 63 mm (4.9 x 2.8 x 2.5″)
Price Comparison
MSRP, Body Only$3000 (Check Current Price)$2200 (Check Current Price)
Used PricesSony a7CR Used PricesSony a7C II Used Prices
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As you can see, there are far more similarities than differences! Considering that the Sony a7C II is $800 less expensive, my basic recommendation is to get it instead of the a7CR, unless you see yourself making huge prints or cropping extensively.

In fact, other than resolution, the differences actually favor the cheaper a7C II. It has a faster frame rate, a bigger buffer, and a longer battery life than the a7CR. Granted, these differences aren’t very large, but they do make this decision easy if you don’t need 61 megapixels.

Sony a7CR Real World Product Photo
The Sony a7CR

Simply put, the Sony a7CR is more specialized. You’re spending extra cash to get an ultra-light, super high-resolution camera – one of the lightest on the market to have such a high pixel count. And if 61 megapixels isn’t enough, the a7CR’s high-resolution sensor-shift mode lets you take photos with a whopping 240 megapixels, although it works best on nonmoving scenes. All of this comes at a cost. Along with the camera itself being more expensive, you’ll need to pair the Sony a7CR with some of Sony’s sharpest lenses (which tend to be heavier and more expensive) and a top-notch tripod if you want to take advantage of the more detailed sensor.

Meanwhile, the Sony a7C II is the way to go if you need an ultra-light, versatile camera and 33 megapixels is enough for you. In my experience, few photographers need more resolution than that, especially with today’s high-quality upsampling algorithms. Big prints are no problem at 33 MP so long as you use good technique in the field and don’t crop extensively.

Sony a7C II Real World Product Photo
The Sony a7C II

I hope that gives you a good understanding of how the two cameras measure up. Basically, it comes down to whether you’re willing to pay $800 more to get 61 megapixels. Almost everything else is identical on the two cameras, and the few remaining differences are actually slightly in favor of the a7C II. Based on the type of photography you do, you probably already know whether 61 MP will be useful or overkill, so don’t agonize over this decision any further!

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Tagged With: Choosing a Camera, Sony A7C II, Sony A7CR

About Jason Polak

Jason Polak is a bird and wildlife photographer from Ottawa, Canada. He has been interested in photography ever since he received a disposable film camera as a small child. His career as a mathematician led him to move to Australia in 2016, where he started seeing colorful parrots. A few casual shots with a lens completely unsuitable for birds got him hooked, and now wildlife photography is his biggest passion. Jason loves to show the beauty of animals to the world through photography, and one of his lifelong goals is to photograph five thousand species of birds. You can see more of Jason's work on his website or on his YouTube channel.

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Mark
Mark
February 4, 2024 9:02 pm

How is the EVF accuracy on either the A7CR or ii? I shoot exclusively using the EVF and I’m currently an APS-C shooter using the Sony 6400, which, unfortunately is laggy – I usually miss sports actions shots due to the EVF lag and end up having to shoot early to crap-shoot getting the shot.

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