Sony a9 vs Sony NEX-7

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a9 and Sony NEX-7. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

These cameras are both manufactured by Sony.

Type of camera

Both these cameras are Mirrorless cameras. No difference there.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Sony a9 has a "Sony Full Frame"-sensor while Sony NEX-7 has a "Sony APS-C"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)

Resolution

Both these cameras have the exact same resolution. Sony a9 has a 24 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Sony NEX-7 has 24 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

ISO range

Sony a9 has a larger ISO-range than Sony NEX-7. Sony a9 has an ISO range that stretches from 100 to 51200 while Sony NEX-7 has 100 to 16000.

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a9
Lens compatibility chart for Sony NEX-7

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a9 can shoot up to 20 pictures per seconds and Sony NEX-7 can shoot up to 10 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

In this case, both Sony a9 and Sony NEX-7 can shoot movies.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Sony a9 weighs 673 gr (equal to 1.48 lb) which is 68% heavier than Sony NEX-7 and its 400 gr (or 0.88 lb).

Sony a9 vs Sony NEX-7 Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a9 and Sony NEX-7, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
Name	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
Manufacturer	Sony	Sony
Release Date and Price	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
Release Year	2017	2011
Release Date	2017-04-19	2011-08-24
MSRP	4499 USD	699 USD
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Camera Type	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
Camera Type	Mirrorless	Mirrorless
Sensor	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
Sensor Size	Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm)	APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm)
Sensor Type	Stacked CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	6000 x 4000 pixels	6000 x 4000 pixels
Megapixels	24 MP	24 MP
Image Processor	Bionz X	Bionz
Image	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
ISO Range	100 - 51200	100 - 16000
White Balance Presets	10	6
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	Yes (Sensor-Shift (5-axis))	No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Tracking Single Continuous Touch Face Detection LiveView	Contract Detect (sensor) Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous LiveView
Focus Points	693	25
Lens Mount	Sony E See Compatible Lenses	Sony E See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	Full frame No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 mm	APS-C Sensor (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
Articulated LCD	Tilting	Tilting
Screen size	3”	3”
Screen dots	1440000	921000
Touch screen	Yes	No
Screen type	TFT LCD	N/A
Live view	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder Type	Electronic	Electronic
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.78x	1.09× (0.73× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder Resolution	3686400	N/A
Photography features	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
Frames per second	20 fps	10 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/8000 seconds	1/4000 seconds
Built-in Flash	No	Yes
Built-in Flash Range	N/A	6 meters
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	No	No
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Highlight Weighted Spot Average	Multi Center Weighted Spot
Exposure Compensation	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV steps)
Videography features	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
Video recording	Yes	Yes
Video format	MPEG4 H.264 AVCHD	MPEG4 AVCHD
Video resolution	1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160	1440 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Built-in Microphone	Yes	Yes
Built-in Speakers	Yes	Yes
Storage	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
Memory Card	SD/SDHC	Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC
Connectivity	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
HDMI Output	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	Yes	No
Headphone Port	Yes	No
Wireless	Yes Built-in (802.11/b/g/n with NFC)	Yes Eye-Fi Connected
Remote Control	Yes (Wired or wireless)	Yes (InfraRed (optional))
GPS	No	No
Body & Dimensions	Sony a9	Sony NEX-7
Enviromentally sealed	Yes	No
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	NP-FZ100	Lithium-Ion NP-FW50 rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	650 shots	430 shots
Width	127 mm	120 mm
Height	96 mm	67 mm
Depth	63 mm	43 mm
Weight	673 gram	400 gram