cameraquiz.com

Sony A7 V vs A7R VI: Which Should You Buy?

Sony's two newest full-frame bodies share a lot, but one costs $1,600 more. Here is what the extra money buys and who should skip it.

The Sony A7 V ($2,899) is Sony's all-round hybrid camera. The Sony A7R VI ($4,499) is its high-resolution flagship, and unlike earlier R-series bodies it is also fast. Both shoot 30fps with no viewfinder blackout and both earned a DPReview Gold award. The question is whether you need 66.8 megapixels and a better viewfinder badly enough to pay about 55% more.

Resolution: the real difference

The A7R VI's 66.8MP sensor resolves far more detail than the A7 V's 33MP, which matters for landscapes, studio and product work, big prints and heavy cropping. DPReview calls it the best image quality of any current full-frame camera. The cost is file size: expect much bigger files and more storage and editing power. For portraits, weddings, travel and everyday shooting, 33MP is plenty, and the A7 V's files are easier to live with.

Speed: closer than you would expect

Both cameras shoot 30fps electronic and 10fps mechanical with up to one second of pre-capture, so the A7R VI is no longer the slow one. Reviewers still note it isn't a sports camera (the Nikon Z8 and Canon R5 II are faster for action), and its rolling shutter is more pronounced than rivals'. The A7 V is also not a global-shutter camera, so both can show distortion on fast pans.

Video: the A7 V is the more practical hybrid

The A7 V records full-width 4K60 oversampled from 7K, which is excellent for most video work. The A7R VI adds 8K30 (with a 1.2x crop) and full-width 4K120, but DPReview found its 4K footage noticeably soft, and neither camera records internal RAW video or open-gate. If video matters more than stills, the A7 V is the better value, and a Canon R6 III or Nikon Z6 III is worth a look for RAW video.

Viewfinder, slots and battery

The A7R VI wins on the viewfinder (9.44M dots at 0.9x versus 3.69M at 0.78x) and on cards: two CFexpress A/SD slots instead of one combo slot plus a plain SD slot. Battery life is about the same, and both are roughly 700g.

What reviewers say

• DPReview on the A7 V: 91%, Gold, "perhaps the best all-round camera Sony has yet made" outside its pro bodies. Weak points: busy menus, a tiring grip, and no open-gate or internal RAW video.
• DPReview on the A7R VI: 92%, Gold. Best image quality of any current full-frame, but soft 4K, convoluted menus, more rolling shutter than peers, and not a true sports camera. For landscape and studio work, upgrading from the A7R V isn't essential.
• RTINGS on the A7 V: 8.6 overall (RTINGS hasn't reviewed the A7R VI yet).
• Engadget on the A7R VI: 9.2/10, praised the speed boost, marked it down for price and soft 4K.

Which one should you buy?

• Buy the A7 V ($2,899) if you want one camera for photos and video, shoot people, events, travel or sports-lite, or don't print huge. It is the better value for most buyers.
• Buy the A7R VI ($4,499) if you shoot landscapes, studio, architecture or fine art, crop heavily, or want the best viewfinder and two fast card slots.
• Neither if your main need is fast action (Nikon Z8, Canon R5 II) or RAW video (Canon R6 III, Nikon Z6 III).

Prices are approximate and change often, so check B&H for today's price.