Z6 IIIvs A1 II
Sony
A1 II (2025)
Starting from £6500 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
View A1 II
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 Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work — A1 II (2025): The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
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 II (2025)
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Quick take: The a1 ii 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 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199 | £6,500 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-frame Partial-stacked CMOS | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 6K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, N-Log, 10-bit | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/240p super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle/aircraft) | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 6.0 stops | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 760g body only | 743g body only |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 101.5 × 74.0mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.90× magnification | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z6 III | A1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Travel | — |
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