Nikon
D780
Last great Nikon DSLR — Z6 sensor with DSLR ergonomics and hybrid live view AF.
$2,299
Released Jan 2020
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 1.8 years newer.
Wins
D780
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher IBIS effectiveness (5.5 stops vs 0 stops)
- AD780 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (2260 shots vs 580 shots)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 273)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher 4K max frame rate (60 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 7 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
D780
144 × 116 × 76 mm
755 g (1.66 lb / 26.63 oz)
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
D780 is 4mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV but it is also 12mm wider and 19mm taller.
D780 is 97 g heavier than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 76mm D780 · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Sensor size, to scale
D780
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Alpha 7 IV
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
D780
Nikon F
270+
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
D780
Subject recognition
Adds People, Dogs, Cats
Codecs
Adds H.264/AVC
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 143.5, 115.5, 76
Battery life (CIPA)
2260 shots vs 580 shots — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
12 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 IV
AF low-light limit
-4 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
IBIS effectiveness
5.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
AF points / zones
759 vs 273 — higher is better
4K max frame rate
60 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Internal RAW video
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 51,200
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
D780
Pros
- ✓Z6 sensor in DSLR
- ✓Dual card slots
- ✓4K video
- ✓OVF + EVF hybrid
Cons
- –DSLR end of era
- –Heavy
- –Limited future lenses
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 vlogging, D780 or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 8.0/10 versus 3.0/10 for D780 — Fully articulating screen — see yourself while filming.
What's the resolution difference between the D780 and Alpha 7 IV?
D780 is 24.5 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D780 and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
D780 does not have IBIS, while alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D780 or the Alpha 7 IV?
D780 reaches 12 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D780 and Alpha 7 IV?
D780 weighs 755 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the Alpha 7 IV is 97 g lighter.
Do the D780 and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
D780: 4K up to 30p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the D780 and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
D780: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 2,260 shots (CIPA) for the D780 and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the D780 the edge.
How much does each cost?
D780 launched at $2,299 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The D780 is $200 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.