The Sony a7R and the Sony a9 both represent “firsts” in Sony’s lineup – the first of their high-resolution a7R-series cameras, and the first of their high-speed a9-series cameras. Both cameras are also on the older side of things now, and officially discontinued, but perhaps you’re looking for a good deal on the used market. If so, here’s what you need to know about the original Sony a7R and a9 cameras.
Sony a7R vs Sony a9 Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Sony a7R | Sony a9 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | October 2013 | April 2017 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | Stacked CMOS |
| Image Processor | BIONZ X | BIONZ X |
| Resolution | 36.4 MP | 24.2 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 7360×4912 | 6000×4000 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 35.9 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) | 35.6 x 23.8 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 4.9µ | 5.93µ |
| Low Pass Filter | No | Yes |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | No | Yes |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 6,400 | ISO 51,200 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-25,600 | ISO 50-204,800 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | No | No |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | No | No |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | No | No |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/32000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 4 FPS | 5 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | No electronic shutter | 20 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | Autofocus fixed at first frame for 4 FPS shooting; 12-bit raw only | Compressed 12-bit raw at 20 FPS (uncompressed 12-bit raw is available at 12 FPS) |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 16 frames (4 FPS) | 241 frames (20 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Contrast Detect | Hybrid PDAF |
| Autofocus Points | 25 | 693 |
| Low-Light AF Sensitivity (f/2 Lens, ISO 100) | 0 EV | -3 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/160 | 1/250 |
| Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | No | No |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 8 bits | 8 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 8 bits | 8 bits |
| Raw Video | No | No |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | N/A | 30 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 60 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | No | 1.2x crop at 4K 30p (4K 24/25p has no additional crop) |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) |
| Video Recording Limit | 30 min | 30 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 1 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-I) | SD (UHS-II) |
| Slot 2 Type | N/A | SD (UHS-I) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.0 in | 3.0 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 0.92 million dots | 1.44 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Single Axis | Single Axis |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.71x | 0.78x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2.36 million dots | 3.69 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 | No | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Type B 2.0 | Type B 2.0 |
| Battery Type | NP-FW50 | NP-FZ100 |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 270 frames | 480 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 340 frames | 650 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 465 g (1.03 lbs.) | 588 g (1.30 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 127 x 94 x 58 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.3″)1 | 127 x 96 x 73 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9″)1 |
| 1The Sony a7R and a9’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match typical standards today, 10mm were added to both depth measurements in this table. | ||
Summary and Recommendations
As you can see, the Sony a9 wins in almost every comparison in the table above, and that probably shouldn’t be a surprise. At the time it was announced, the a9 was Sony’s flagship camera, while the a7R was already looking a bit outdated. (After all, the a9 did come out about 3.5 years later, so some new tech is to be expected.)
Really the only advantage of the Sony a7R in this comparison is that it has a higher resolution 36 megapixel sensor, compared to the 24 megapixel sensor of the Sony a9. However, that difference isn’t enough to change the bottom line – the Sony a9 is clearly the more advanced camera here in almost every respect.
The big reason to get the a7R frankly isn’t the resolution, but the price. It’s selling for extremely low prices on KEH these days (see here). Still, there’s a reason for that – it’s honestly a pretty outdated camera. Even the a9 is a pretty outdated camera! That doesn’t make them bad, though. Buying an “outdated” camera is one of the best ways to get a highly capable camera for an excellent price.
What does the Sony a7R offer over the Sony a9?
- 1.5x the pixel count (36.4MP vs 24.2MP)
- Lighter weight (123g lighter, or about 1.3 times lighter)
What does the Sony a9 offer over the Sony a7R?
- In-body image stabilization, allowing for easier handheld photography even with non-stabilized lenses
- Two card slots, which is better for redundancy and backup
- Significantly better autofocus system and higher FPS burst rate, helpful for sports/wildlife photography
- Better battery life overall, both via the viewfinder and the rear LCD
