Nikon
Zf
Retro-styled 24.5MP full-frame mirrorless with classic dials, EXPEED 7 AF, 8-stop IBIS, and 4K 60p video.
$2,049
Released Sep 2023
Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Released Oct 2021
Zf is 1.9 years newer.
Wins
Zf
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AZf has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 10 fps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 273)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Battery life (CIPA) (580 shots vs 380 shots)
- AZf has higher IBIS effectiveness (8 stops vs 5.5 stops)
- AZf has higher Burst (mechanical) (14 fps vs 10 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Zf
144 × 103 × 49 mm
630 g (1.39 lb / 22.22 oz)
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
Zf is 31mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV but it is also 13mm wider and 7mm taller.
Zf is 28 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 49mm Zf · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Sensor size, to scale
Zf
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
Zf
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
Zf
AF low-light limit
-10 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds H.265/HEVC 8-bit, H.265/HEVC 10-bit, H.264/AVC 8-bit
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 144, 103, 49
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only Zf supports it
Card types
Adds MicroSD UHS-I
IBIS effectiveness
8 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
Battery life (CIPA)
580 shots vs 380 shots — higher is better
Resolution
33 MP vs 24.5 MP — higher 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.
Zf
Pros
- ✓Beautiful retro design
- ✓273-point hybrid AF
- ✓8-stop IBIS
- ✓Fully articulated touchscreen
Cons
- –No grip extension standard
- –Mixed SD + MicroSD card slots
- –24.5MP only
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, Zf or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 9.0/10 versus 7.5/10 for Zf — 33MP — ample resolution for portraits.
What's the resolution difference between the Zf and Alpha 7 IV?
Zf 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 Zf and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
Zf has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Zf or the Alpha 7 IV?
Zf reaches 30 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Zf and Alpha 7 IV?
Zf weighs 630 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the Zf is 28 g lighter.
Do the Zf and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
Zf: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Zf and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
Zf: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 380 shots (CIPA) for the Zf and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the Alpha 7 IV the edge.
How much does each cost?
Zf launched at $2,049 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The Zf is $450 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.