If your photography demands high resolution and impeccable image quality, two of Sony’s cameras that you may be considering are the a7CR and the a7R V. Both cameras share a 61-megapixel sensor and can even shoot 240 megapixel images with their high-resolution sensor shift modes. Considering that you’ll get the same image quality from both, why is the a7R V more expensive? It has to do with some of the camera’s other features, as detailed below.
Sony a7CR vs Sony a7R V Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Sony a7CR | Sony a7R V |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | August 2023 | October 2022 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | BSI CMOS | BSI CMOS |
| Image Processor | BIONZ XR | BIONZ XR |
| Resolution | 61.0 MP | 61.0 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 9504×6336 | 9504×6336 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 35.7 x 23.8 mm (Full Frame) | 35.7 x 23.8 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 3.76µ | 3.76µ |
| Low Pass Filter | No | No |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | Yes | Yes |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 32,000 | ISO 32,000 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-102,400 | ISO 50-102,400 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | Yes | Yes |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | No | No |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/8000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 8 FPS | 10 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 7 FPS | 10 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | Compressed 12-bit raw at 8 FPS (uncompressed 14-bit raw is available at 7 FPS) | Compressed raw at 10 FPS (uncompressed and lossless compressed raw at 7 FPS) |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 36 frames (8 FPS) | 583 frames (10 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognition | Hybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognition |
| Autofocus Points | 693 | 693 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -4 EV | -4 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/160 | 1/250 |
| Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | No | Yes |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 10 bits | 10 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 10 bits | 16 bits |
| Raw Video | No | Yes, externally |
| 8K Maximum Framerate | N/A | 25 FPS |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 60 FPS | 60 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | 1.24x crop at 4K 60p (otherwise no additional crop) | 1.24x crop at 8K and 4K 60p (otherwise no additional crop) |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:2 | 4:2:2 |
| Video Recording Limit | 780 min | No limit (4K); 30 minutes (8K) |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 1 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-II) | CFExpress Type A, or SD (UHS-II) |
| Slot 2 Type | N/A | CFExpress Type A, or SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.0 in | 3.2 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 1.04 million dots | 2.1 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Fully Articulating | Fully Articulating |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.70x | 0.90x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2.36 million dots | 9.44 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | No | No |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| GPS | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Type C 3.2 Gen 1 | Type C 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Battery Type | NP-FZ100 | NP-FZ100 |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 490 frames | 440 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 530 frames | 530 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 515 g (1.14 lbs.) | 723 g (1.59 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 124 x 71 x 63 mm (4.9 x 2.8 x 2.5″) | 131 x 97 x 82 mm (5.2 x 3.8 x 3.2″) |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $3000 (Check Current Price) | $3900 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Sony a7CR Used Prices (eBay Partner Program affiliate link) | Sony a7R V Used Prices (eBay Partner Program affiliate link) |
You can see from this comparison that there are plenty of differences between the a7CR and the a7R V despite using the same camera sensor – and aside from size, weight, and price, those differences definitely favor the Sony a7R V.
Starting with the biggest differences, the a7R V has a more pro-oriented design, with dual memory card slots, a larger rear LCD, and a much larger electronic viewfinder. All of these are welcome improvements, especially the dual memory cards, since it allows you to keep two copies of every photo that you take – critical for a temporary backup in the field.
The video features of the Sony a7R V are also more advanced and pro-oriented. It’s not that the a7CR is a slouch for videography, but if you need high-octane features like 8K 16-bit RAW video, the a7R V can get it done (at least, when paired with an external HDMI recorder).
Finally, the Sony a7R V makes for a better sports and wildlife photography camera thanks to its larger buffer. The limited 44-shot buffer of the a7CR is one of my two major complaints with that camera, alongside the single memory card slot. If you expect to be do intensive wildlife photography with frequent high-FPS bursts, the a7R V’s larger buffer will be very welcome. It also shoots at a higher rate of 10 FPS rather than 8 FPS in the first place.
To sum everything up, the Sony a7R V is definitely the more advanced camera – as you would expect from the higher price. Basically, the question is whether you’re willing to spend the extra money to get dual card slots, a bigger buffer, a larger viewfinder, and niche top-quality video features.
At the end of the day, for still photography, the two cameras will give you the same image quality. The a7CR will also do it in a smaller, lighter package, which is ideal for something like hiking long distances for landscape photography. I can’t make a direct recommendation because it depends on your situation, but at least now you know the tradeoffs between the two!
