A7R IIvs A7R VI
Sony
A7R II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Portrait, landscape & studio photography
View A7R II
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?
Portrait, Landscape & Studio Photography — A7R II (2015): The A7R II transformed the A7R series — adding IBIS, 4K video, BSI sensor tech, and phase-detect AF in one generation. A landmark Sony camera.
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
A7R II (2015)
- Landscape and architecture photographers who want 42MP with IBIS for handheld shooting
- Portrait and studio photographers who need high resolution with improved AF reliability
- Sony FE system users who want a capable high-resolution body at a used price
- A7R I owners who need the stabilisation, 4K, and improved AF the original lacked
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 a7r ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R II (2015) | A7R VI (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £4,399 |
| Sensor | 42.4MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R | 61MP full-frame stacked back-illuminated CMOS |
| Resolution | 42.4MP | 61.0MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (S35 or full-frame), 1080p/120p | 8K 30fps, 4K 120fps oversampled |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points, face detection | AI processing unit — subject recognition for people, animals, birds and vehicles across the frame |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 4.5 stops (first A7R with IBIS) | In-body 5-axis IS, up to 8.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 8fps mechanical / 7fps electronic with full AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~290 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA, NP-FZ100) |
| Weight | 625g (with battery and card) | 723g (body with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm | 131.3 × 96.9 × 82.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF, 9.44M-dot, up to 120fps |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (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 | A7R II | A7R VI |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Architecture | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Casual | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with A7R II
Camera family history