Z6 IIIvs A1
VS
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Hybrid Video & Action — Z6 III (2024): Partial-stacked FF sensor for near-zero blackout, 6K RAW video, and 60fps burst — Nikon's most capable hybrid.
Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting — A1 (2021): 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
Z6 III (2024)
- Hybrid photographers who want partially-stacked sensor speed with full-frame quality
- Z6 II owners ready for a major AF and video upgrade
- Sports and action shooters who want 6K RAW video and fast burst
- Professionals who want a versatile full-frame Z body for any situation
A1 (2021)
- 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
Quick take: The a1 has the highest resolution at 50mp; the z6 iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z6 III (2024) | A1 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-frame Partial-stacked CMOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 6K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, N-Log, 10-bit | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle/aircraft) | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 6.0 stops | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 760g body only | 737g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 101.5 × 74.0mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.90× magnification | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z6 III | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with Z6 III
Camera family history