All-Round & Video — A6700 (2023): Best-in-class autofocus and 4K/120p video in a compact APS-C body — the standout camera under £1,000.
Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
Who should buy what
A6700 (2023)
A7R III (2017)
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the a6700 is the most affordable; only the a7r iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A6700 (2023) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 26MP APS-C Exmor R BSI CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 26.0MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition (human/animal/bird/vehicle) | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~570 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 493g body only | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 122.0 × 69.0 × 75.1mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II / CFexpress Type A slot | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C (3.2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A6700 | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with A6700
Camera family history