Z5vs A7R VI
Sony
A7R VI (2025)
Starting from £4399 new
Best for Studio, landscape and commercial photographers needing maximum resolution
View A7R VI
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible price.
Studio, Landscape And Commercial Photographers Needing Maximum Resolution — A7R VI (2025): The A7R VI cements its place as the resolution flagship of the Sony full-frame range — 61MP, AI-driven autofocus, and 8K video make it as capable for video and action work as it is for studio and landscape photography. The price reflects its position at the top of the lineup, but the capability is hard to match.
Who should buy what
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
A7R VI (2025)
- Studio and commercial photographers who need maximum resolution for large prints and heavy cropping
- Landscape photographers who want best-in-class dynamic range and detail
- Hybrid shooters who need 8K video alongside a 61MP stills sensor
- Professionals upgrading from the A7R V who want faster AI-driven autofocus
Quick take: The a7r vi has the highest resolution at 61mp; the z5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z5 (2020) | A7R VI (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £4,399 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 61MP full-frame stacked back-illuminated CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 61.0MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 8K 30fps, 4K 120fps oversampled |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | AI processing unit — subject recognition for people, animals, birds and vehicles across the frame |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | In-body 5-axis IS, up to 8.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 8fps mechanical / 7fps electronic with full AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA, NP-FZ100) |
| Weight | 590g (with battery) | 723g (body with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 131.3 × 96.9 × 82.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | EVF, 9.44M-dot, up to 120fps |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2-inch 4-axis multi-angle touchscreen, 3.69M-dot |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual slots — CFexpress Type A / SD (UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (10Gbps), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0, 2.5GbE |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 | A7R VI |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Casual | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history