• 35mm 855.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • 35mm 858.0mm2
  • 45.7 megapixels
  • ISO 64 - 25,600

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Differences

Sony A7 advantages over Nikon Z7

  • Less expensive
    $819 vs $3097
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.97 vs 4.35 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Thinner
    48 mm vs 67 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    769g vs 1175g
    Lighter weight
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    50 vs 26 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Nikon Z7 advantages over Sony A7

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~1.50 vs 2.1 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,668 vs 2,248 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Newer
    7 years vs 12 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More dots on screen
    2100k vs 922k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.80x vs 0.71x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    45.7 vs 24.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 28 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.0 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    9.0 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    102400 vs 51200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Both provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Both provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

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Buy the Sony A7
Body Only
  • Body Only
  • Kit with 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 lens
All A7 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon Z7
Body Only
  • Body Only
  • Kit with 24-70mm f/4 S lens
  • Kit with 24-70mm f/4 S lens and FTZ adapter
All Z7 Deals

Review Excerpt

  • Incredibly small body for a fully-featured, full-frame camera; Very high resolution; Hybrid autofocus is reasonably fast and confident; Significantly better burst-shooting performance than A7R; Excellent image quality even at very high sensitivities; Faster x-sync than A7R; Accepts existing Alpha-mount and E-mount lenses, and can optionally crop to APS-C image circle.

  • Grass-is-greener syndrome when compared to its higher-res sibling; Moderate performance; Loud shutter (but electronic first-curtain helps); Mediocre battery life when using electronic viewfinder; Weak low-light autofocus considering its price; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.

  • Read our Sony A7 Review

  • Familiar design in a compact form; Rugged build quality; Gorgeous EVF; Excellent image quality; Good autofocus; In-body image stabilization; Good 4K video recording.

  • Single card slot; Not as good at subject tracking as some Nikon DSLR cameras; Limited native lens selection (although adapter works well); Limited buffer depths.

  • Read our Nikon Z7 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7R

Sony A7
Sony A7R
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $1000
  • 35mm
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More pixels

Compare Sony A7 vs Sony A7R

Nikon Z7
Sony A7R
  • $2147
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $1000
  • 35mm
  • In-camera panoramas
  • NFC

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Sony A7R

Compared to Sony A7 II

Sony A7
Sony A7 II
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • $1148
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A7 vs Sony A7 II

Nikon Z7
Sony A7 II
  • $2147
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
  • $1148
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Sony A7 II

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A7
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $3999
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Nikon Z7
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $2147
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $3999
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • Fast startup

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Compared to Nikon Z6

Sony A7
Nikon Z6
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1396
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7 vs Nikon Z6

Nikon Z7
Nikon Z6
  • $2147
  • 35mm
  • More pixels
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
  • $1396
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Nikon Z6

Compared to Canon EOS R

Sony A7
Canon EOS R
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1499
  • 35mm
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7 vs Canon EOS R

Nikon Z7
Canon EOS R
  • $2147
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Fast startup
  • $1499
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Nikon Z7 vs Canon EOS R

Compare Other Cameras?