Sony
Alpha 1
Original 50MP stacked flagship for sports and wildlife pros.
$6,499
Launch priceReleased Jan 2021
Sony
Alpha 7R IV
61MP resolution king before the A7R V era.
$3,499
Launch priceReleased Sep 2019
Alpha 1 is 1.4 years newer.
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Wins
Alpha 1
Wins
Alpha 7R IV
7 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- AAlpha 1 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- AAlpha 1 has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 10 fps)
- AAlpha 1 has higher EVF refresh rate (240 Hz vs 120 Hz)
- AAlpha 1 has higher RAW buffer depth (200 frames vs 120 frames)
- AAlpha 1 has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 5,760,000)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
Alpha 1
129 × 97 × 81 mm
737 g (1.62 lb / 26.00 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 7R IV
129 × 96 × 78 mm
665 g (1.47 lb / 23.46 oz)
Alpha 1 is 1mm taller and 3mm thicker than Alpha 7R IV.
Alpha 1 is 72 g heavier than Alpha 7R IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 81mm Alpha 1 · 78mm Alpha 7R IV
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Alpha 1
129 × 97 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7R IV
129 × 96 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Alpha 1
129 × 81 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7R IV
129 × 78 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Alpha 1
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 mm² area
Alpha 7R IV
35.7 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
850 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Alpha 1
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Alpha 7R 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
Alpha 1
AF low-light limit
-4 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 96.9, 80.8
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S-I, H.265
Internal RAW video
Only Alpha 1 supports it
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A
EVF refresh rate
240 Hz vs 120 Hz — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7R IV
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 96.4, 77.5
Codecs
Adds AVCHD
Battery life (CIPA)
670 shots vs 530 shots — higher is better
Resolution
61 MP vs 50.1 MP — higher is better
Weight
665 g vs 737 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 32,000
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 94 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Alpha 1
Pros
- ✓50MP stacked
- ✓30fps burst
- ✓8K video
- ✓Pro AF
Cons
- –Superseded by A1 II
- –Very expensive
- –Large files
Alpha 7R IV
Pros
- ✓61MP detail
- ✓Great for studio
- ✓Pixel shift mode
Cons
- –Slower AF than A7R V
- –Large files
- –Rolling shutter in video
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Alpha 1 and Alpha 7R IV at major authorized retailers.
Sony Alpha 1
Sony Alpha 7R IV
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, Alpha 1 or Alpha 7R IV?
Alpha 1 scores 9.5/10 versus 5.0/10 for Alpha 7R IV — 8K recording for future-proof footage.
What's the resolution difference between the Alpha 1 and Alpha 7R IV?
Alpha 1 is 50.1 MP and Alpha 7R IV is 61 MP, so the Alpha 7R IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Alpha 1 and Alpha 7R IV have in-body image stabilization?
Alpha 1 has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 7R IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Alpha 1 or the Alpha 7R IV?
Alpha 1 reaches 30 fps electronic. Alpha 7R IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Alpha 1 and Alpha 7R IV?
Alpha 1 weighs 737 g and Alpha 7R IV weighs 665 g, so the Alpha 7R IV is 72 g lighter.
Do the Alpha 1 and Alpha 7R IV record 4K video?
Alpha 1: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 7R IV: 4K up to 30p.
Are the Alpha 1 and Alpha 7R IV weather sealed?
Alpha 1: Yes. Alpha 7R IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 530 shots (CIPA) for the Alpha 1 and 670 shots for the Alpha 7R IV, giving the Alpha 7R IV the edge.
How much does each cost?
Alpha 1 launched at $6,499 and Alpha 7R IV at $3,499. The Alpha 7R IV is $3,000 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way Alpha 1 vs Alpha 7R IV vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.
Product images courtesy of Sony press materials.