Buzz
Design and Build
In terms of design, it appears that the Sony A7R III is slightly smaller in width, height, and depth compared to the Nikon Z7:
- Nikon Z7: 134mm x 101mm x 67.5mm
- Sony A7R III: 127mm x 96mm x 62.7mm
Both A7R III and Z7 have the same 35mm/full-frame format and use back-illuminated (BSI) image sensors without an AA filter. The resolution is slightly different: A7R III has 42.4MP while Z7 has 45.7MP. Sony A7R III and Nikon Z7 both use BSI CMOS sensors, similar to the Nikon D850. This provides excellent low-light performance, while shooting in 14-bit RAW or 8-bit JPEG.
Sony A7R III and Nikon Z7 share similar video recording features. Both record in 4K UHD resolution at 3840 × 2160 with frame rates of 30p / 25p / 24p as well as FHD 1920 × 1080 at 120p / 100p / 60p / 60i / 50p / 50i / 30p / 25.
Both cameras offer Zebra tools (for exposure checking) and focus peaking (for focusing) during video recording. They use MP4 video format internally, but Nikon Z7 can also record in MOV, whereas Sony A7R III provides XAVC S and AVCHD alternatives. Both cameras offer Log formats for extended dynamic range, named differently as N-Log (Nikon) and S-Log (Sony) at 100mbps (12MBps). S-Log
Viewfinder and LCD screen
A minor similarity is that both camera LCD screens have a 4:3 aspect ratio and are touch-capable. An unfortunate commonality is the lack of a tilting/rotating screen; both cameras only have a fixed screen. This means neither screen can flip out or be viewed at a 180-degree angle.
Looking at the OLED screen resolution, we quickly see Nikon Z7 truly shining. Nikon Z7 boasts a resolution of 2,073,600 dots, a significantly higher resolution of 633,600 dots (44%) compared to A7R III's LCD screen resolution of 1,440,000 dots. Beyond the higher resolution, Nikon also provides a larger 3.2-inch rear LCD screen, while Sony's camera offers only a 3.0-inch screen.
Nikon Z7 and Sony A7R III EVFs also feature a 4:3 aspect ratio and have the same resolution.
Card Slots
Sony A7R III features dual card slots supporting MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC cards. Slot 1 supports up to UHS-II, while slot 2 is limited to UHS-I. Nikon includes a single card slot in the camera at a time when dual card slots are considered an expected feature, especially in high-end models.
Z7 is rated at 330 shots according to CIPA standards, somewhat disappointing when using the same battery found inside the D850 rated for over 1000 shots. Meanwhile, A7R III performs better. Its official rating is about 530 shots.
Lenses
Certainly, Sony has a clear advantage: the FE system has been around for over four years, offering no less than 28 native lenses and not to mention products from third-party brands like Sigma, Tamron, Samyang, and Zeiss. Meanwhile, Nikon just launched the Z series with 4 lenses, and more lenses are slated for release in 2019 and 2020. Nikon has designed its own adapter, the FTZ, to make 93 lenses fully compatible with the new camera.
Z7 seems to be a rather latecomer to the feast table of full-frame mirrorless but still holds appeal for many. Hopefully, the Z system will continue to spur competition in the mirrorless market and prove a worthy challenge to the E-mount series.
