Decision tools · Compare

D6 vs A1

Quick take: The A1 has the highest resolution at 50MP; the D6 is the most affordable.

16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

D6 — Professional Sports, Press & Wildlife Photography: Nikon's final and finest DSLR — the D6 brought 105 all-cross-type AF points, 14fps, and built-in LAN to the F mount. The last word in optical viewfinder photography.

A1 — Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting: 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.

Who should buy what
D6 (2020)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Sports, wildlife, and press photographers who prefer an optical viewfinder
  • Professional Nikon shooters with a substantial F-mount lens collection
  • Photojournalists who need built-in LAN for wire transmission
  • Nikon system professionals seeking a used flagship at under-new-price value
A1 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
  • Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
  • Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
  • A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification D6Nikon · 2020A1Sony · 2021
Price £6,799£4,799Best
Sensor 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS
Resolution 20.8MP50.1MPBest
Video 4K UHD 30fps8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p
Autofocus Multi-CAM 3500FX III — 105 AF points, all cross-typeReal-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points
Stabilisation —IBIS — up to 5.5 stops
Burst Rate 14fps mechanical30fps electronic with full AF/AEBest
Battery Life ~3580 shots (CIPA)Best~430 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1450g (body only)737g (with battery and card)Best
Dimensions 160 × 163.5 × 92mm128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverageEVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps
Screen 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.36M dots3.0" fully tilting touchscreen
Mount Nikon F mountSony FE mount (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD slotsDual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Ethernet (built-in), USB 3.1USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
D6
A1
Portrait
6.4/10
8.2/10
Street
4.1/10
6.1/10
Travel
4.2/10
6.0/10
Wedding & Events
7.3/10
7.9/10
Filmmaking
5.7/10
7.8/10
Documentary
6.0/10
7.6/10
Sports & Action
7.0/10
8.8/10
Landscape
5.5/10
7.6/10
Wildlife
6.7/10
8.7/10
Casual
3.0/10
4.8/10
Food
4.6/10
7.4/10
Macro
4.6/10
7.3/10
Architecture
5.1/10
7.9/10
Astrophotography
6.5/10
6.8/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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