A7vs A7R VI
Sony
A7R VI (2025)
Starting from £4399 new
Best for Studio, landscape and commercial photographers needing maximum resolution
View A7R VI
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
Studio, Landscape And Commercial Photographers Needing Maximum Resolution — A7R VI (2025): The A7R VI cements its place as the resolution flagship of the Sony full-frame range — 61MP, AI-driven autofocus, and 8K video make it as capable for video and action work as it is for studio and landscape photography. The price reflects its position at the top of the lineup, but the capability is hard to match.
Who should buy what
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
A7R VI (2025)
- Studio and commercial photographers who need maximum resolution for large prints and heavy cropping
- Landscape photographers who want best-in-class dynamic range and detail
- Hybrid shooters who need 8K video alongside a 61MP stills sensor
- Professionals upgrading from the A7R V who want faster AI-driven autofocus
Quick take: The a7r vi has the highest resolution at 61mp; the a7 is the most affordable; only the a7r vi is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 (2013) | A7R VI (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £299 | £4,399 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS | 61MP full-frame stacked back-illuminated CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 61.0MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 8K 30fps, 4K 120fps oversampled |
| Autofocus | 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points | AI processing unit — subject recognition for people, animals, birds and vehicles across the frame |
| Stabilisation | None | In-body 5-axis IS, up to 8.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 8fps mechanical / 7fps electronic with full AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA, NP-FZ100) |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 723g (body with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | 131.3 × 96.9 × 82.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF, 9.44M-dot, up to 120fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) | 3.2-inch 4-axis multi-angle touchscreen, 3.69M-dot |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual slots — CFexpress Type A / SD (UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C (10Gbps), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0, 2.5GbE |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 | A7R VI |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Casual | — |
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