A7R IIIvs RX100 VI
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
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.
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
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
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 a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the rx100 vi is the most affordable; only the a7r iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R III (2017) | RX100 VI (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,799 | £700 |
| Sensor | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch BSI Stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 42.4MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p, 960fps HFR |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF | Fast Hybrid AF, 315 phase-detect points, Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops | Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 24fps |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~240 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 650g body only | 301g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 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" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) | Single SD / Memory Stick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R III | RX100 VI |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Casual | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
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