SONY Cameras
Sony A7R Review
Sony A7 and A7R were the first commercially available full-frame mirrorless cameras. While other brands focused exclusively on full-frame DSLRs, Sony made a name for themself by being a pioneer in the mirrorless world. Both models share the same body design but differ in sensor resolution and intended use. The A7, with a 24 MP sensor, was a versatile all-rounder for everyday shooting, while the A7R, with a 36 MP sensor, targeted photographers who needed more resolution.
SONY E-Mount
Sony introduced the E-mount in 2010 alongside their first mirrorless cameras, giving them a huge head start. Over a decade later, there are over 100 native lenses and more than 200 if you include third-party options. Because the mount hasn’t changed, old lenses still work with newer cameras, creating a huge second-hand market. Compare that to Canon and Nikon, which only introduced new mounts in 2018, Sony users have had years to build and upgrade their kits without starting from scratch. For beginners entering the Sony system that means more options and much better prices.
SONY A7R Price
Sony A7R Specifications
General
Sony A7R features a 36.4 MP full-frame sensor and Sony’s BIONZ X processor. Notably this marks the first time a full-frame sensor was used in a mirrorless camera.
The camera is very compact. At the time, all other brands were releasing much larger DSLR cameras.
The A7R is weather-sealed to some degree (weather-resistant), but not nearly as well as more modern models.
There is no built-in image stabilization (IBIS) and no digital stabilization.
The A7R has a tilting LCD screen and only one SD card slot, which accepts only older UHS-I SD cards. There are 3 customizable buttons and 3 customizable dials.
Sony A7 and A7R use the same batteries as Sony APS-C cameras. Battery life is very poor, so users need to purchase a few additional batteries for prolonged shooting.
Some users note that the lens mount is not as well-made as on newer Sony models and the lens rotates slightly when attached (this issue was fixed in all subsequent models).
Autofocus
Nowadays, Sony cameras are known to have one of the best AF systems in the industry, but this was not the case with the original A7R.
The A7R has just 25 points for contrast-detection AF. Even the A7 (released alongside the A7R) had additional 117 points for phase-detection AF spread out across the center of the frame and that resulted in better autofocus performance when compared to the A7R.
At the time of its release, it could not compete with DSLRs or with Sony APS-C cameras. Even in good lighting conditions, images are often out of focus and AF performance also degrades when you enter video mode.
Photography
Images offer a lot of detail thanks to the 33 MP sensor, but are often softer than images taken with newer cameras with a similar megapixel count.
There is also a slight yellow or green hue, especially noticeable in skin tones. Low-light performance was also definitely not as impressive as with the A7 that featured a 24 MP sensor.
Sony A7R can shoot at up to 4 fps in 12-bit RAW. 14-bit RAW is available only in Single Shot Mode. The buffer allows around 4 seconds of shooting and clearing it can take a while (you cannot enter the menu or playback mode during this process).
The A7R does not have a fully electronic shutter mode. It relies primarily on a mechanical shutter, with an option for an electronic front curtain shutter (EFCS).
Video
Video is known to be one of the A7R’s weakest areas. There is no 4K video recording, as it was far from the standard in 2013.
Full HD (1080p) recording is available at up to 60 fps, but the quality is not impressive and rolling shutter distortion is very noticeable due to the high-resolution sensor with slower readout speed.
There is no built-in image stabilization (IBIS) and no digital stabilization. The A7R relies only on optical stabilization available in certain lenses.
The camera has a 30-minute maximum clip length, which was standard for most cameras at the time. Battery life allows for about 1 hour of video recording.
| Feature | Sony A7R |
|---|---|
| Release Date | October 2013 |
| Megapixels | 36.4 MP |
| Image Resolution | 7360 × 4912 |
| Sensor Size | Full Frame |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Image Processor | BIONZ X |
| IBIS | No |
| Weather Sealing | Weather Resistant |
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Body Type | Mirrorless |
| PHOTO | |
| Native ISO | 100 – 25,600 |
| Expandable ISO | 50 – 51,200 |
| Shutter Speed | 1/8000 – 30s |
| Burst Rate (Mechanical) | 4 fps 12-bit RAW (14-bit RAW only in 'Single Shooting' Mode) |
| Burst Rate (Electronic) | / |
| Buffer | ~ 15 RAW |
| Shutter Types | Mechanical, EFCS |
| Silent Shooting | No |
| Exposure Compensation | ±5 EV |
| High-Res (Sensor Shift) | No |
| Pre-Capture Mode | No |
| VIDEO | |
| 4K Video | No |
| Max Frame Rate | 1080p 60fps |
| Bit Depth | 8-bit |
| Recording Limit | 29m 59s |
| Timelapse Recording | No |
| AUTOFOCUS | |
| AF System | just Contrast Detection |
| AF Points | 25 |
| AF Coverage | ~ 70% Frame Coverage |
| AF Joystick | No |
| DISPLAY / VIEWFINDER | |
| Articulated Screen | Tilting |
| Touch Screen | No |
| LCD Size | 3.0" |
| LCD Resolution | 921,600 |
| EVF Resolution | 2,359,296 |
| EVF Refresh Rate | 60 fps |
| EVF Coverage | 100% |
| EVF Magnification | 0.71× |
| MORE INFO | |
| Card Slot 1 | SD (UHS-I) |
| Card Slot 2 | / |
| Sensor Protection System | No |
| USB | Micro USB |
| USB Charging | Yes |
| HDMI | Type D (Micro HDMI) |
| Microphone Port | 3.5 mm |
| Headphone Port | 3.5 mm |
| Built-in Flash | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Battery | NP-FW50 |
| Battery Life | ~ 340 frames |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | only Wi-FI |
| Dimensions | 127 × 94 × 55 mm |
| Weight | 465 g |
Sony A7R Alternatives
SONY A7R III
SONY A7R II
Sony A7R II (2015) was a huge upgrade over the original A7R. It introduced a new 42 MP full-frame backside-illuminated sensor and vastly improved autofocus system. It also added in-body image stabilization, 4K video recording and it introduced a new more durable and more ergonomic weather-sealed body.
Sony A7R III (2017) kept the same 42 MP BSI sensor, but introduced improved autofocus tracking, dual SD card slots, higher burst rates up to 10 fps, a much bigger buffer, expanded video capabilities and USB Type-C connectivity.
Sony A7R IIIA replaced the A7R III in April 2021. This is still the same camera, it just upgrades to a higher-resolution LCD screen.
SONY A7R Price
Final Verdict
Sony A7R was Sony’s first attempt at a high-resolution mirrorless camera. Since competing brands did not release any comparable high-resolution mirrorless models for quite some time afterward, the A7R effectively had no real competition in terms of specifications. Even so, most users still preferred the standard Sony A7 due to its lower price and, at least on paper, its slightly more practical autofocus system.
Today, all of the original A7R’s features feel extremely outdated and by modern standards the camera no longer even offers particularly high resolution. Even the Sony A7R II quickly replaced the original model by introducing a much more modern 42 MP backside-illuminated sensor design.
If you are looking for a relatively affordable high-resolution Sony camera on the used market, a newer and more modern model such as the Sony A7R III represents a far better option. Keep in mind that the A7R III also faces strong competition from high-resolution cameras made by other brands.