Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Released Oct 2021
Alpha 7 IV is 3.9 years newer.
Wins
CL
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
5 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 49)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher RAW buffer depth (828 frames vs 60 frames)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 6 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
CL
138 × 98 × 88 mm
520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
CL is 7mm wider, 2mm taller, and 8mm thicker than Alpha 7 IV.
CL is 138 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 88mm CL · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Sensor size, to scale
CL
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
Alpha 7 IV
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
CL
Leica L
80+
native lenses available
Alpha 7 IV
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
CL
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only CL supports it
Burst (electronic)
15 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Vehicle
Weight
520 g vs 658 g — lower is better
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 580 shots — higher is better
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 5.5 stops — higher is better
AF frame coverage
100 % vs 94 % — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 IV
AF low-light limit
-4 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
AF points / zones
759 vs 49 — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
828 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
AA filter
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 60 fps
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
CL
Pros
- ✓Beautiful design
- ✓Compact
- ✓L-mount
Cons
- –Older
- –24MP APS-C
- –Limited lens selection
Alpha 7 IV
Pros
- ✓33MP — more detail for cropping and print
- ✓10-bit 4K 60p (Super35 crop) / 4K 30p full-frame
- ✓Full-size HDMI port
- ✓759 phase-detect AF points
Cons
- –4K 60p requires Super35 crop
- –10fps burst lags behind R6 II at 40fps
- –Complex menu system
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for portraits, CL or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 9.0/10 versus 6.5/10 for CL — 33MP — ample resolution for portraits.
What's the resolution difference between the CL and Alpha 7 IV?
CL is 24.2 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the CL and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
CL has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the CL or the Alpha 7 IV?
CL reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the CL and Alpha 7 IV?
CL weighs 520 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the CL is 138 g lighter.
Do the CL and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
CL: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the CL and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
CL: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the CL and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the CL the edge.
How much does each cost?
CL launched at $2,795 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The Alpha 7 IV is $296 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Leica and Sony press materials.