A7R VIvs A7S III
Sony
A7R VI (2025)
Starting from £4399 new
Best for Studio, landscape and commercial photographers needing maximum resolution
View A7R VI
Sony
A7S III (2020)
Starting from £2999 new
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
View A7S III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking — A7S III (2020): If video is your primary discipline, the A7S III is the camera. 4K/120p at 10-bit in a weather-sealed body with a 9.44M dot EVF is an extraordinary package. The 12MP sensor isn't limiting for video — and it's usable at ISO 409,600 in a pinch.
Who should buy what
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
A7S III (2020)
- Filmmakers and videographers who need 4K/120p at 10-bit
- Event videographers who shoot in dark venues regularly
- Documentary filmmakers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Hybrid shooters where video is primary and stills are secondary
Quick take: The a7r vi has the highest resolution at 61mp; the a7s iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R VI (2025) | A7S III (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,399 | £2,999 |
| Sensor | 61MP full-frame stacked back-illuminated CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 61.0MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 8K 30fps, 4K 120fps oversampled | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | AI processing unit — subject recognition for people, animals, birds and vehicles across the frame | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | In-body 5-axis IS, up to 8.5 stops | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 8fps mechanical / 7fps electronic with full AF/AE tracking | 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~530 shots (CIPA, NP-FZ100) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording |
| Weight | 723g (body with battery and card) | 699g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 131.3 × 96.9 × 82.8mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 9.44M-dot, up to 120fps | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.2-inch 4-axis multi-angle touchscreen, 3.69M-dot | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots — CFexpress Type A / SD (UHS-II) | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | USB-C (10Gbps), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0, 2.5GbE | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R VI | A7S III |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Casual | — | |
| Video | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with A7R VI
Camera family history