Upgrade Guide
Sony A7S II→Sony A7R VI
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A7S II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the A7R VI
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Resolution61MP vs 12MP (+49MP)
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Burst rate8fps mechanical / 7fps electronic with full AF/AE tracking vs 5fps continuous
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Battery life~530 shots (CIPA, NP-FZ100) vs ~370 shots (CIPA)
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Generation10 years newer (2025 vs 2015)
Unchanged or similar
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StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S II | A7R VI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | -1.0 | ||
| Low Light | — | ||
| Wedding | — | ||
| Portrait | +2.0 | ||
| Street | +3.0 | ||
| Sports | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Casual | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7S II | A7R VI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £4,399 | |
| Released | 2015 | 2025 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS | 61MP full-frame stacked back-illuminated CMOS | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 61MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 | 8K 30fps, 4K 120fps oversampled | |
| Autofocus | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards | AI processing unit — subject recognition for people, animals, birds and vehicles across the frame | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) | In-body 5-axis IS, up to 8.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps continuous | 8fps mechanical / 7fps electronic with full AF/AE tracking | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA, NP-FZ100) | ↑ |
| Weight | 584g body only | 723g (body with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF, 9.44M-dot, up to 120fps | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 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 UHS-I slots | Dual slots — CFexpress Type A / SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
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