Recently I compared the Sony a6700 over the A7RV and I specifically decided to favor the a6700 for being smaller, lighter, and having the same autofocus systems as the A7RV.
With the release of the A7CR, the buying decision is much more complicated, and that’s primarily because of the smaller footprint and weight of the A7CR.
Most people gravitate to full frame cameras because they perform better in low light, have better dynamic range, and have better bokeh. However, the Sony’s newest aps-c sensors have an improved backside illuminated sensor and it comes pretty close to the light capturing ability of full frame.
When it comes down to it, the main benefit of a full frame sensor is bokeh with large aperture lenses. This is still a limitation of APS-C, but it really only matters for lenses at f4 and smaller.
That’s why in recent years aps-c has become much more compelling, mostly due to their smaller size bodies and lenses.
Build quality and handling
In terms of build quality, the a6700 and A7CR are both weather resistant and with a similar solid feel and weight. The a6700 at 14 ounces is only a couple ounces lighter.
The main difference here is the ergonomics. The A7RC has an improved grip over the previous A7C, and it includes an accessory to improve the grip for people with larger hands.
With that said, the a6700 has a much better grip. It feels more like the a7 series.
I really don’t know why Sony decided to make the grip smaller with the A7Cii and A7CR, but I have a feeling it has to do with weight.
A larger grip means more added weight and size, and to make the A7CR 50% the size of the A7RV they made compromises with the grip handle.
Benefits of the a6700 over the a7CR
The obvious benefits of the a6700 include the grip handle, frames per second, autofocus, and price.
It has the exact same autofocus system, and it shoots 10 FPS vs 8 FPS with the A7CR. I don’t think 8 FPS is a deal breaker but it is something to consider if you shoot action or sports.
The a6700 is also about half the price of the A7CR at a starting price of $1399. The A7CR is $2999.
Sony a6700
The a6700 is my camera of choice for its performance, autofocus, and size. With ability to shoot in 10 bit 4k with 26 mp images, it’s one of the most powerful compact cameras.
Another important benefit of the Sony a6700 is weight. The A7CR is similar in size, but full frame lenses tend to be much larger than aps-c.
In some cases a full frame lens can be twice the weight. For example the Sony 100-400 weighs 3 lbs while the Sony 70-350 (aps-c) weighs 22 ounces. That’s less than half the weight and longer focal length for aps-c shooters.
Yes the full frame version has a better maximum aperture, but sometimes I’d rather be shooting with something a little lighter.
You might also consider using the A7CR in aps-c mode with an aps-c lens. I actually think this is a great idea, but you still lose the ability to shoot in full frame.
Benefits of the A7CR over the a6700
The main benefit of the A7CR over the a6700 is the ability to shoot in full frame with 61 MP and crop mode at 26 MP. The a6700 can only shoot in crop mode (aps-c) at 26 MP.
With the A7CR you get more lens options for both full frame and aps-c. That gives you a huge advantage over aps-c, because of the ability to zoom/crop without compromise.
Another advantage with shooting full frame is the added lens options. You can use full frame lenses on aps-c, but you can’t get that wide field of view and Sony has a lot more excellent full frame lenses that you will find in their aps-c lineup.
The list of benefits for the A7CR really isn’t that much. The really benefits come from shooting with the A7RV which includes a better LCD, 9 million dot EVF, improved grip, better weight distribution for longer lenses, more custom buttons, a joystick, and an anti-dust function for the sensor.
But with all those premium options, the A7RV is also heavier and 50% larger than the A7CR and a6700.
What are the CONS of the a6700
The one major con of the a6700 is the inability to shoot in full frame. For some that’s a deal breaker, but this can easily be offset by wider lenses or lenses with larger apertures.
That’s really my only con. Sure there’s better low light and dynamic range in full frame, but it’s not huge with the new backlit illuminated sensor.
What are the CONS of the A7CR?
The main con of the A7CR is the price. It’s almost twice the price of the a6700 and it’s really not that less than the A7RV.
The only other cons I can think of are the slightly smaller grip and the 8 FPS instead of the 10 FPS on the a6700.
Other than that, the A7CR is a great performer, and that’s why for me, the key reason to get this camera over the a6700 is to shoot in both full frame and aps-c mode.
Which camera should you get?
For me, this is a really hard decision. I’ve written about why I prefer the a6700 over the A7CR and it mostly has to do with weight and price.
With the A7CR, this is a more challenging decision because of the new smaller size and weight that I prefer. When I owned an A7C, I used it more than my A7IV, and it was mostly due to the smaller size.
If price wasn’t an issue, I would probably get the A7CR, but the reason I’m getting the a6700 is because I think it’s a much better value.
Sony a6700
- Aps-c vs Full Frame
- $1400 vs $3000
- 2.36 vs 9 million dot EVF
- 26 vs 64 Megapixels
Sony a7CR
For me, the only thing it’s missing is the ability to shoot full frame and the better EVF on the A7RV.
But at $1400, the a6700 is an incredible value, and I’d rather shoot with a smaller camera body and lenses than a full frame camera with heavier lenses and a much higher price.
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