A7R IIIvs A7R VI
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
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?
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.
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 III (2017)
- Landscape and studio photographers who need 42MP resolution at a used-price discount vs A7R IV
- Canon/Nikon DSLR professionals considering a mirrorless switch at a lower investment
- Commercial and product photographers who want full-frame resolution with IBIS for handheld work
- Portrait photographers who want the sharpest possible full-frame files for large print work
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 iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R III (2017) | A7R VI (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,799 | £4,399 |
| Sensor | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 61MP full-frame stacked back-illuminated CMOS |
| Resolution | 42.4MP | 61.0MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p | 8K 30fps, 4K 120fps oversampled |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF | AI processing unit — subject recognition for people, animals, birds and vehicles across the frame |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops | In-body 5-axis IS, up to 8.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 8fps mechanical / 7fps electronic with full AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA, NP-FZ100) |
| Weight | 650g body only | 723g (body with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 131.3 × 96.9 × 82.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF, 9.44M-dot, up to 120fps |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting | 3.2-inch 4-axis multi-angle touchscreen, 3.69M-dot |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) | Dual slots — CFexpress Type A / SD (UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack | USB-C (10Gbps), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0, 2.5GbE |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R III | A7R VI |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Casual | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with A7R III
Camera family history