Z6vs A7
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel, Portrait, Video — Z6 (2018): Nikon's proof of concept — and a genuinely excellent camera.
Camera History & Full-Frame Introduction — A7 (2013): The camera that changed photography — the world's first compact full-frame mirrorless, the A7 launched a product family that redefined what was possible.
Who should buy what
Z6 (2018)
- Nikon DSLR users making their first move to mirrorless
- Photographers who want full-frame Nikon glass on a budget
A7 (2013)
- Photographers interested in the camera that launched the full-frame mirrorless era
- Budget-conscious buyers who want to experience full-frame image quality at minimal cost
- Sony FE system users who want the original A7 for sentimental or historical value
- Those adapting vintage lenses who want full-frame with phase-detect AF at low cost
Quick take: The z6 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7 is the most affordable; only the z6 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z6 (2018) | A7 (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £749 | £299 |
| Sensor | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K 30fps (full-width), 1080p 120fps | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 273-point phase-detect hybrid AF | 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | None |
| Burst Rate | 12fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | 310 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 585g (body only) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134.0 × 100.5 × 67.5mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.80× 3.69M-dot | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.1M-dot | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) |
| Mount | Nikon Z-Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single XQD / CFexpress Type B | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C 3.1, HDMI | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z6 | A7 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with Z6
Camera family history