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 1.3 years newer.
Wins
Z5
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 273)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 4.5 fps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Burst (electronic) (10 fps vs 4.5 fps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher 4K max frame rate (60 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Resolution (33 MP vs 24.3 MP)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z5
134 × 101 × 70 mm
590 g (1.30 lb / 20.81 oz)
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
Z5 is 10mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV but it is also 3mm wider and 4mm taller.
Z5 is 68 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 70mm Z5 · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Sensor size, to scale
Z5
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
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
Subject recognition
Adds People, Dogs, Cats
Codecs
Adds H.264/AVC
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 100.5, 69.5
Weight
590 g vs 658 g — lower is better
EVF magnification
0.8 × vs 0.78 × — higher is better
EVF resolution
3,690,000 vs 3,686,400 — 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…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
AF points / zones
759 vs 273 — higher is better
Burst (mechanical)
10 fps vs 4.5 fps — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
10 fps vs 4.5 fps — higher is better
4K max frame rate
60 fps vs 30 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
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z5
Pros
- ✓Dual slots at entry price
- ✓IBIS
- ✓Full-frame
Cons
- –Older AF
- –4K crop
- –Slow burst
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 wildlife, Z5 or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 8.0/10 versus 2.5/10 for Z5 — Bird AF subject recognition.
What's the resolution difference between the Z5 and Alpha 7 IV?
Z5 is 24.3 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z5 and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
Z5 has 5-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z5 or the Alpha 7 IV?
Z5 reaches 4.5 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z5 and Alpha 7 IV?
Z5 weighs 590 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the Z5 is 68 g lighter.
Do the Z5 and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
Z5: 4K up to 30p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z5 and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
Z5: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 470 shots (CIPA) for the Z5 and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the Alpha 7 IV the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z5 launched at $1,399 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The Z5 is $1,100 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.