A7 IVvs RX100 VI
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
Travel & Vlogging — RX100 VI (2018): The RX100 VI trades fast apertures for a remarkable 24-200mm zoom range — giving it more versatility than any previous model. 4K/30p, 24fps burst, a pop-up EVF, and an articulating screen round out an exceptional compact package. Variable aperture limits low-light performance at the long end, but for travel and events where reach matters, there is no practical alternative at this size.
Who should buy what
A7 IV (2021)
- Working photographers who want a reliable full-frame all-rounder
- Portrait, wedding, and event photographers needing 33MP and fast AF
- A7 III owners ready for a major upgrade in resolution, AF, and video
- Hybrid shooters who want 4K/60p and 33MP stills in one dependable body
RX100 VI (2018)
- Travel photographers who need versatile reach in a pocketable body
- Vloggers and content creators who need 4K and an articulating screen
- Event photographers who want discreet, capable wide-to-tele coverage
- Wildlife and sports enthusiasts who want a compact travel option
Quick take: The a7 iv has the highest resolution at 33mp; the rx100 vi is the most affordable; only the a7 iv is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 IV (2021) | RX100 VI (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,299 | £700 |
| Sensor | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch BSI Stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 33.0MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p, 960fps HFR |
| Autofocus | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition | Fast Hybrid AF, 315 phase-detect points, Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 24fps |
| Battery Life | ~580 shots (CIPA) | ~240 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 659g body only | 301g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm | 101.6 × 58.1 × 42.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | Pop-up EVF, 2.35M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II | Single SD / Memory Stick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 IV | RX100 VI |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Portraits | — | |
| Outdoor Portraits | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Casual | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | — |
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