Welcome to this Sony a7 Vs Nikon D7000 comparison. Both cameras are known and loved by numerous photographers, but which one best meets your requirements?
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Don’t worry. In this article, we’ll be covering the pros and cons of both cameras. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Sony a7 Vs Nikon D7000 – Comparison Overview
The Sony a7 is a Pro-mirrorless camera, while the Nikon D7000 is a Semi-pro DSLR. Despite being different in type, both cameras actually have a lot of features in common.
For example, both cameras have high sensor resolutions. The Sony a7 gives you 24 megapixels, while the Nikon D7000 gives you 16 megapixels. With this number of megapixels, your images will have a lot of detail in them.
Both cameras also have weather sealing. With weather sealing, you can shoot in harsh weather conditions without your camera getting damaged.
The Sony a7 and the Nikon D7000 also have their unique features. The Sony a7 has NFC, which you can use to connect wirelessly to other nearby compatible devices. The a7 also has an articulating screen, which gives you more flexibility when shooting.
The Sony a7 is a lot lighter than the D7000. As a result, it will be easier to carry this camera about.
The Nikon D7000 on the other hand, has a higher frame rate and an extra memory card slot. The Nikon D7000 has much better battery life than the Sony a7.
This isn’t surprising, since DSLR’s normally have better batteries than mirrorless cameras. With the Nikon D7000, you get 1050 shots.
One con which both cameras share is the lack of image stabilization. This increases the chances of getting blurry photos.
When it comes to the price/value ratio, the Sony a7 is the better camera. The Nikon D7000 also gives good value for its price. However, despite being more expensive, the Sony a7 gives you more features than the Nikon D7000.
Sony a7 Vs Nikon D7000 – Comparison table
Sony a7 | Nikon D7000 | |
| Date announced | January 1, 2014 | November 30, 2010 |
| Type | Pro-mirrorless camera | Semi-pro DSLR |
| Sensor type | 24 megapixel – full frame CMOS | 16 megapixel – APSC CMOS |
| Screen type | 3-inch tilting screen | 3-inch fixed screen |
| Viewfinder | Electronic | Optical |
| Burst rate | 5 frames per second | 6 frames per second |
| Weight | 474g | 780g |
| Focus points | 117 | 39 |
| Headphone port | Yes | No |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Battery life | 340 shots | 1050 shots |
| Memory card slots | 1 | 2 |
| Face detection focus | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone port | Yes | Yes |
| Weather sealing | Yes | Yes |
| Image stabilization | No | No |
Sony a7 Vs Nikon D7000 – What situation is each best for?
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Sony a7 | Nikon D7000 |
Sports photographyThanks to certain features, the Sony a7 can be used for sports photography. The first feature which makes the Sony a7 good for sports photography is the frame rate. Admittedly, 5fps is not much. However, you can still capture a decent number of points in your subject’s movement. Another feature which makes the a7 good for sports photography is, weather sealing. Sports are held in all types of weather, but not all cameras work in them. That’s why this feature is important. With weather sealing, you can shoot in harsh weather conditions without dust and moisture damaging your camera. | Sports photographySame as the a7, but has a frame rate of 6fps. |
Sony a7 Vs Nikon D7000 – Common features
Viewfinder
The Sony a7 and the Nikon D7000 have viewfinders. However, they are a bit different. The Sony a7 has an electronic viewfinder, while the D7000 has an optical viewfinder.
So, what’s the difference? An optical viewfinder displays what comes through the mirror, while an electronic viewfinder displays the result of your settings even before the photo is taken.
Face detection focus
This feature scans the entire frame for a face, and then focuses on it. This comes in handy when doing portraits. With face detection focus, your portrait shots will always be in focus.
Weather sealing
Weather sealing is important when shooting outdoors. With weather sealing, your camera won’t be damaged by dust and moisture. This makes it easier to shoot in harsh weather conditions. Fortunately, both the a7 and the D7000 have this feature.
High sensor resolution
The Sony a7 and the Nikon D7000 have high sensor resolutions. However, the a7’s is higher. The Sony a7 gives you 24 megapixels, while the D7000 gives you 16 megapixels.
With a sensor resolution this high, your images will have a great amount of detail in them. You can get beautiful enlargements, and crop your images without losing much detail.
Sony a7 Vs Nikon D7000 – Unique features
Sony a7
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Articulating screen
With an articulating screen, you have more flexibility when shooting. You can shoot at angles you would not be able to with a fixed screen.
NFC
With NFC, you can connect wirelessly to nearby compatible devices.
117 focus points
With this many focus points, you have wider frame coverage when focusing on subjects. This improves your camera’s focusing performance.
Weighs 474g
Despite being heavier than your average mirrorless camera, the Sony a7 is a lot lighter than the D7000. As a result, it will be easier to carry the a7 about.
Nikon D7000
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Battery life of 1050 shots
For a DSLR, the good battery life isn’t really a surprise. With the Nikon D7000, you get more than 3 times the battery life of the Sony a7.
Burst rate of 6fps
This doesn’t seem like much, but it’s still better than the a7’s frame rate of 5fps. With the Nikon D7000, you can capture more points in your subject’s movement.
2 memory card slots
The Nikon D7000 has 2 memory card slots. This gives you the option of expanding your storage space.
Sony a7 Vs Nikon D7000 – Unique pros
Sony a7
Flexibility when shooting.
Lighter.
Easier connectivity.
Wider area coverage when focusing.
Nikon D7000
Longer battery life.
Extra storage space.
Sony a7 Vs Nikon D7000 – Unique cons
Sony a7
Lower frame rate.
Lower battery life.
Nikon D7000
No NFC.
Heavier.
No headphone jack.
Fewer focus points.
Lower sensor resolution.
Sony a7 Vs Nikon D7000 – Common pros
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Better framing and control.
Dust and moisture resistant.
Better image quality.
Sony a7 Vs Nikon D7000 – Common cons
No image stabilization.
Sony a7 Vs Nikon D7000 – How users feel about both
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Sony a7
Users had many mixed feelings about this camera. They liked quite a number of features which this camera offered. The first feature which users praised was the lightness and compactness.
Despite being a full-frame camera, users found the Sony a7 easy and comfortable to carry about. Users also praised the image quality of this camera. However, they were not really impressed with the camera’s results in low-light situations.
One thing which many people complained about was the poor battery life. This wasn’t really a surprise, but it was still disappointing. Many users also mentioned that the a7 was quite expensive. But despite this, they think that the a7 is a wonderful camera.
Nikon D7000
Users were quite impressed with this camera. Many users think of this camera as the ideal choice for those stepping out of beginner level photography. They found the battery outstanding. However, this wasn’t a surprise.
They also loved the D7000’s image quality. Overall, users think that the Nikon D7000 is an amazing camera which gives value worth the price.
Final note
And that brings us to the end of this comparison article. Let’s do a quick recap to wrap it up.
The Sony a7 and the Nikon D7000 are both amazing cameras. The a7 is an ideal camera for pros, while the D7000 is perfect for those leaving beginner level photography.
Both cameras offer numerous features. However, if you are looking for the most cost efficient one, go for the Sony a7.
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