Nikon
ZR
Compact Nikon RED full-frame 6K cinema camera with R3D NE RAW, 32-bit float audio, 7.5-stop VR, and Z mount.
$2,199
Released Sep 2025
Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Released Oct 2021
ZR is 3.9 years newer.
Wins
ZR
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZR has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 10 fps)
- AZR has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
- AZR 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
ZR
134 × 81 × 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)
ZR is 16mm shorter and 31mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV but it is also 3mm wider.
ZR is 28 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 49mm ZR · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
ZR
134 × 81 mm
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
ZR
134 × 49 mm
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 80 mm
Sensor size, to scale
ZR
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
ZR
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
ZR
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 80.5, 49
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, XQD, MicroSD UHS-I
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds R3D NE, N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ…
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only ZR supports it
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 60 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…
Burst (mechanical)
10 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
Resolution
33 MP vs 24.5 MP — 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
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
ZR
Pros
- ✓6K/60p R3D NE RAW
- ✓32-bit float audio
- ✓7.5-stop stabilization
- ✓Compact 535g cinema body
Cons
- –No built-in EVF
- –Cinema-first ergonomics
- –Single CFexpress plus MicroSD workflow
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, ZR or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 9.0/10 versus 7.5/10 for ZR — 33MP — ample resolution for portraits.
What's the resolution difference between the ZR and Alpha 7 IV?
ZR 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 ZR and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
ZR 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 ZR or the Alpha 7 IV?
ZR reaches 120 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the ZR and Alpha 7 IV?
ZR weighs 630 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the ZR is 28 g lighter.
Do the ZR and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
ZR: 6K (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the ZR and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
ZR: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
How much does each cost?
ZR launched at $2,199 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The ZR is $300 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.