Nikon
Z5 II
Affordable full-frame Z mount body with EXPEED 7 AF, 7.5-stop IBIS, 30fps electronic burst, and 4K video.
$1,699
Released Jan 2025
Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Released Oct 2021
Z5 II is 3.3 years newer.
Wins
Z5 II
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AZ5 II has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 10 fps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 273)
- AZ5 II has higher Burst (mechanical) (14 fps vs 10 fps)
- AZ5 II has higher IBIS effectiveness (7.5 stops vs 5.5 stops)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Resolution (33 MP vs 24.5 MP)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z5 II
134 × 101 × 72 mm
700 g (1.54 lb / 24.69 oz)
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
Z5 II is 8mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV but it is also 3mm wider and 4mm taller.
Z5 II is 42 g heavier than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 72mm Z5 II · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Sensor size, to scale
Z5 II
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
Z5 II
Nikon Z
90+
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
Z5 II
AF low-light limit
-10 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 100.5, 72
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only Z5 II supports it
Burst (mechanical)
14 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
IBIS effectiveness
7.5 stops vs 5.5 stops — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 IV
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
AF points / zones
759 vs 273 — higher is better
Internal RAW video
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A
Resolution
33 MP vs 24.5 MP — higher is better
Weight
658 g vs 700 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓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
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z5 II
Pros
- ✓Full-frame value
- ✓EXPEED 7 AF
- ✓7.5-stop IBIS
- ✓Dual SD card slots
Cons
- –Not a stacked sensor
- –4K 60p crop
- –Entry-level controls
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, Z5 II or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 8.0/10 versus 5.5/10 for Z5 II — Fully articulating screen — see yourself while filming.
What's the resolution difference between the Z5 II and Alpha 7 IV?
Z5 II 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 Z5 II and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
Z5 II has 7.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z5 II or the Alpha 7 IV?
Z5 II reaches 30 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z5 II and Alpha 7 IV?
Z5 II weighs 700 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the Alpha 7 IV is 42 g lighter.
Do the Z5 II and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
Z5 II: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z5 II and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
Z5 II: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
How much does each cost?
Z5 II launched at $1,699 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The Z5 II is $800 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.