Nikon
D780
Last great Nikon DSLR — Z6 sensor with DSLR ergonomics and hybrid live view AF.
$2,299
Launch priceReleased Jan 2020
Sony
Alpha 7 V
33MP partially stacked Exmor RS hybrid with BIONZ XR2 AI, 30fps blackout-free burst, 7.5-stop IBIS, and 4K 60p oversampled from 7K.
$2,899
Launch priceReleased Dec 2025
Alpha 7 V is 5.9 years newer.
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Wins
D780
Wins
Alpha 7 V
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 V has higher IBIS effectiveness (7.5 stops vs 0 stops)
- BAlpha 7 V has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- AD780 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (2260 shots vs 630 shots)
- BAlpha 7 V has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 273)
- BAlpha 7 V has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 12 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
D780
144 × 116 × 76 mm
755 g (1.66 lb / 26.63 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 7 V
130 × 96 × 82 mm
695 g (1.53 lb / 24.52 oz)
D780 is 6mm thinner than Alpha 7 V but it is also 13mm wider and 19mm taller.
D780 is 60 g heavier than Alpha 7 V.
Depth (front-to-back): 76mm D780 · 82mm Alpha 7 V
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
D780
144 × 116 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7 V
130 × 96 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
D780
144 × 76 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7 V
130 × 82 mm
Sensor size, to scale
D780
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Alpha 7 V
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
D780
Nikon F
270+
native lenses available
Alpha 7 V
✓ 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 630 shots — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 V
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
7.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 130.3, 96.4, 82.4
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
AF points / zones
759 vs 273 — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 12 fps — higher is better
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 V
Pros
- ✓33MP partially stacked sensor — ~4.5× faster readout than α7 IV
- ✓Blackout-free 30 fps with full AF/AE (electronic shutter)
- ✓7.5-stop central / 6.5-stop peripheral IBIS (CIPA 2024)
- ✓759-point phase-detect AF down to EV -4 with AI subject recognition
- ✓7K oversampled 4K 60p (full-frame, no pixel binning) + 4K 120p
- ✓Pre-Capture and dual USB-C (10 Gbps + USB 2.0)
- ✓Up to 16 stops dynamic range
Cons
- –Premium price vs α7 IV
- –4K 120p typically requires APS-C / Super 35 crop
- –Heavier than α7 IV (695 g vs 659 g with battery)
- –Complex menu and feature set
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the D780 and Alpha 7 V at major authorized retailers.
Nikon D780
Sony Alpha 7 V
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, D780 or Alpha 7 V?
Alpha 7 V scores 10.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for D780 — 30fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the D780 and Alpha 7 V?
D780 is 24.5 MP and Alpha 7 V is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 V captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D780 and Alpha 7 V have in-body image stabilization?
D780 does not have IBIS, while alpha 7 V has 7.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D780 or the Alpha 7 V?
D780 reaches 12 fps electronic. Alpha 7 V reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D780 and Alpha 7 V?
D780 weighs 755 g and Alpha 7 V weighs 695 g, so the Alpha 7 V is 60 g lighter.
Do the D780 and Alpha 7 V record 4K video?
D780: 4K up to 30p. Alpha 7 V: 4K up to 120p.
Are the D780 and Alpha 7 V weather sealed?
D780: Yes. Alpha 7 V: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 2,260 shots (CIPA) for the D780 and 630 shots for the Alpha 7 V, giving the D780 the edge.
How much does each cost?
D780 launched at $2,299 and Alpha 7 V at $2,899. The D780 is $600 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.