Studio, Tripod Landscape & Camera History — A7R (2013): The world's first 36MP full-frame mirrorless — a landmark camera that launched the A7R series, despite contrast-detect AF and significant shutter shock limitations.
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 (2013)
A7R VI (2025)
Quick take: The a7r vi has the highest resolution at 61mp; the a7r is the most affordable; only the a7r vi is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R (2013) | A7R VI (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £349 | £4,399 |
| Sensor | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) | 61MP full-frame stacked back-illuminated CMOS |
| Resolution | 36.4MP | 61.0MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 8K 30fps, 4K 120fps oversampled |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) | 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 | 4fps | 8fps mechanical / 7fps electronic with full AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA, NP-FZ100) |
| Weight | 465g (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 | A7R | A7R VI |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Architecture | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Street | — | |
| 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