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OM System

OM-3 ASTRO

Astrophotography-focused OM-3 variant with 20.4MP stacked sensor, H-alpha-friendly filter tuning, IP53 sealing, and 7.5-stop Sync IS.

$2,499

Launch price

Released Jul 2025

vs
Alpha 7 IV

Sony

Alpha 7 IV

33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.

$2,499

Launch price

Released Oct 2021

OM-3 ASTRO is 3.7 years newer.

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Wins

9categories

OM-3 ASTRO

Sports & ActionTravel

Wins

4categories

Alpha 7 IV

PortraitWildlife

4 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

OM-3 ASTRO wins 2 categories·Alpha 7 IV wins 3 categories
  • AOM-3 ASTRO has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 10 fps)
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
  • AOM-3 ASTRO has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 51,200)
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher Resolution (33 MP vs 20.4 MP)

Key specs at a glance

OM-3 ASTROAlpha 7 IV
Resolution20.4 MP33 MP
SensorMFTFull Frame
ISO max102,40051,200
Burst120 fps10 fps
4K60 fps60 fps
IBIS6.5-stop5.5-stop
Weight496 g658 g
Battery640 shots580 shots

Size and weight, to scale

OM-3 ASTRO

139 × 89 × 46 mm

496 g (1.09 lb / 17.50 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

Alpha 7 IV front view

Alpha 7 IV

131 × 96 × 80 mm

658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)

OM-3 ASTRO is 8mm shorter and 34mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV but it is also 8mm wider.

OM-3 ASTRO is 162 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.

Depth (front-to-back): 46mm OM-3 ASTRO · 80mm Alpha 7 IV

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

OM-3 ASTRO

139 × 89 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

Alpha 7 IV back view

Alpha 7 IV

131 × 96 mm

Top view, to scale

Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.

OM-3 ASTRO

139 × 46 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

Alpha 7 IV top view

Alpha 7 IV

131 × 80 mm

Sensor size, to scale

OM-3 ASTRO

17.4 × 13 mm · Compact / large-type

226 mm² area

Alpha 7 IV

35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

858 mm² area

3.8× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

OM-3 ASTRO

Micro Four Thirds

130+

native lenses available

60 first-party70 third-party

Alpha 7 IV

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

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

Use caseOM-3 ASTROAlpha 7 IV
Portrait
4.0Fair
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Sports & Action
10.0Excellent✓ wins
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
5.5Fair
7.5Good✓ wins
Landscape
2.5Limited
7.5Good✓ wins
Travel
8.0Excellent✓ wins
7.0Good
Wildlife
6.5Good
8.0Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
7.5Good
8.0Excellent✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

OM-3 ASTRO

  • AF low-light limit

    -8 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds People, Birds, Animals…

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 139.3, 88.9, 45.8

  • Burst (electronic)

    120 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better

  • ISO max (native)

    102,400 vs 51,200 — higher is better

  • Pre-Capture / Pre-Release

    Only OM-3 ASTRO supports it

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-I

  • Codecs

    Adds MOV

Reasons to choose

Alpha 7 IV

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Human, Animal, Bird…

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8

  • Max video bit rate

    600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I

  • AA filter

    Only Alpha 7 IV supports it

  • Internal RAW video

    Only Alpha 7 IV supports it

  • Card slots

    2 vs 1 — higher is better

  • Card types

    Adds CFexpress Type A

Both cameras share

  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • Burst (mechanical)Both 10 fps
  • 4K max frame rateBoth 60 fps
  • In-body stabilization (IBIS)Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
  • Weather sealingBoth support weather sealing

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

OM-3 ASTRO

Pros

  • Astro-tuned sensor filter
  • 20.4MP stacked BSI Live MOS
  • IP53 weather sealing
  • 7.5-stop Sync IS

Cons

  • Specialized astro variant
  • Micro Four Thirds sensor
  • Premium price

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

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the OM-3 ASTRO and Alpha 7 IV at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

OM-3 ASTRO
Alpha 7 IV
Resolution
20.4 MP
33 MP+62%
Sensor type
4/3 Stacked BSI Live MOS
Full Frame Exmor R CMOS
Sensor size
17.4 x 13.0 mm
35.9 × 23.9 mm
AA filter
No
Yes
OM-3 ASTRO
Alpha 7 IV
Processor
TruePic X
BIONZ XR
OM-3 ASTRO
Alpha 7 IV
ISO min (native)
80−20 less
100
ISO max (native)
102,400+1 stop
51,200
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
204,800
OM-3 ASTRO
Alpha 7 IV
Shutter type
Computerised focal-plane shutter + electronic shutter
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/32000 sec
1/8000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for portraits, OM-3 ASTRO or Alpha 7 IV?

Alpha 7 IV scores 9.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for OM-3 ASTRO — 33MP — ample resolution for portraits.

What's the resolution difference between the OM-3 ASTRO and Alpha 7 IV?

OM-3 ASTRO is 20.4 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the OM-3 ASTRO and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?

OM-3 ASTRO has 6.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the OM-3 ASTRO or the Alpha 7 IV?

OM-3 ASTRO reaches 120 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the OM-3 ASTRO and Alpha 7 IV?

OM-3 ASTRO weighs 496 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the OM-3 ASTRO is 162 g lighter.

Do the OM-3 ASTRO and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?

OM-3 ASTRO: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.

Are the OM-3 ASTRO and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?

OM-3 ASTRO: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the OM-3 ASTRO and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the OM-3 ASTRO the edge.

How much does each cost?

Both launched at $2,499.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way OM-3 ASTRO vs Alpha 7 IV vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.

Product images courtesy of OM System and Sony press materials.