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sd Quattro

Sigma

sd Quattro

Foveon APS-C body delivering exceptional per-pixel detail for stills purists.

$999

Launch price

Released Feb 2016

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

Alpha 7 IV is 5.7 years newer.

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Wins

5categories

sd Quattro

WildlifeTravel

Wins

10categories

Alpha 7 IV

PortraitWildlife

3 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

sd Quattro wins 0 categories·Alpha 7 IV wins 5 categories
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 9)
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher RAW buffer depth (828 frames vs 60 frames)
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 6,400)
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
  • BAlpha 7 IV has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)

Key specs at a glance

sd QuattroAlpha 7 IV
Resolution29 MP33 MP
SensorAPS-CFull Frame
ISO max6,40051,200
Burst15 fps10 fps
4K60 fps60 fps
IBIS6-stop5.5-stop
Weight625 g658 g
Battery640 shots580 shots

Size and weight, to scale

sd Quattro front view

sd Quattro

147 × 95 × 91 mm

625 g (1.38 lb / 22.05 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)

sd Quattro is 1mm shorter than Alpha 7 IV but it is also 16mm wider and 11mm thicker.

sd Quattro is 33 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.

Depth (front-to-back): 91mm sd Quattro · 80mm Alpha 7 IV

Back view, to scale

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

sd Quattro back view

sd Quattro

147 × 95 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.

sd Quattro top view

sd Quattro

147 × 91 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

sd Quattro

23.5 × 15.5 mm · APS-C

364 mm² area

Alpha 7 IV

35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

858 mm² area

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

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

sd Quattro: mount data unavailable

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 casesd QuattroAlpha 7 IV
Portrait
6.5Good
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good
7.5Good✓ wins
Landscape
4.0Fair
7.5Good✓ wins
Travel
8.0Excellent✓ wins
7.0Good
Wildlife
9.0Excellent✓ wins
8.0Excellent
Vlogging
6.5Good
8.0Excellent✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

sd Quattro

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 147, 95.1, 90.8

  • Card types

    Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC

  • Pre-Capture / Pre-Release

    Only sd Quattro supports it

  • Burst (electronic)

    15 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better

  • EVF magnification

    1.09 × vs 0.78 × — higher is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Vehicle

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    640 shots vs 580 shots — higher is better

  • IBIS effectiveness

    6 stops vs 5.5 stops — higher is better

Reasons to choose

Alpha 7 IV

  • AF low-light limit

    -4 EV vs -1 EV — lower is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8

  • Card types

    Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II

  • AF points / zones

    759 vs 9 — higher is better

  • RAW buffer depth

    828 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better

  • ISO max (native)

    51,200 vs 6,400 — higher is better

  • Max video bit rate

    600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I

Both cameras share

  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • 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.

sd Quattro

Pros

  • Unique Foveon color
  • High acutance
  • Distinct rendering

Cons

  • Slow
  • Poor high ISO
  • SA mount limited

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 sd Quattro and Alpha 7 IV at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

sd Quattro
Alpha 7 IV
Resolution
29 MP
33 MP+14%
Sensor type
CMOS
Full Frame Exmor R CMOS
Sensor size
23.5 x 15.5 mm
35.9 × 23.9 mm
AA filter
No
Yes
sd Quattro
Alpha 7 IV
Processor
Image processor
BIONZ XR
sd Quattro
Alpha 7 IV
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
6,400
51,200+3 stops
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
204,800
sd Quattro
Alpha 7 IV
Shutter type
Electronic Rolling Shutter
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/8000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for landscape, sd Quattro or Alpha 7 IV?

Alpha 7 IV scores 7.5/10 versus 4.0/10 for sd Quattro — 33MP — ample resolution.

What's the resolution difference between the sd Quattro and Alpha 7 IV?

sd Quattro is 29 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the sd Quattro and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?

sd Quattro has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the sd Quattro or the Alpha 7 IV?

sd Quattro reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the sd Quattro and Alpha 7 IV?

sd Quattro weighs 625 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the sd Quattro is 33 g lighter.

Do the sd Quattro and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?

sd Quattro: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.

Are the sd Quattro and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?

sd Quattro: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the sd Quattro and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the sd Quattro the edge.

How much does each cost?

sd Quattro launched at $999 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The sd Quattro is $1,500 less.

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

Add any camera to get a three-way sd Quattro 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 Sigma and Sony press materials.