Z6vs A7R
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel, Portrait, Video — Z6 (2018): Nikon's proof of concept — and a genuinely excellent camera.
Studio, Tripod Landscape & Camera History — A7R (2013): The world's first 36MP full-frame mirrorless — a landmark camera that launched the A7R series, despite contrast-detect AF and significant shutter shock limitations.
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
A7R (2013)
- Collectors and photographers interested in the camera that started the A7R lineage
- Studio photographers who work on a tripod and can manage contrast-detect AF
- Landscape photographers who prioritise resolution over autofocus performance
- Sony FE system users who want a historical body at a very low used price
Quick take: The a7r has the highest resolution at 36mp; the a7r is the most affordable; only the z6 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z6 (2018) | A7R (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £749 | £349 |
| Sensor | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 36.4MP |
| Video | 4K 30fps (full-width), 1080p 120fps | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 273-point phase-detect hybrid AF | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | None |
| Burst Rate | 12fps | 4fps |
| Battery Life | 310 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 585g (body only) | 465g (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 | A7R |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Architecture | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
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