Nikon
Z6 II
24MP hybrid workhorse before the Z6 III generation.
$1,999
Launch priceReleased Oct 2020
Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Launch priceReleased Oct 2021
Alpha 7 IV is 1 year newer.
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Wins
Z6 II
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
4 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 273)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Battery life (CIPA) (580 shots vs 410 shots)
- AZ6 II has higher Burst (mechanical) (14 fps vs 10 fps)
- AZ6 II has higher Burst (electronic) (14 fps vs 10 fps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Resolution (33 MP vs 24.5 MP)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to shareZ6 II
134 × 101 × 70 mm
615 g (1.36 lb / 21.69 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
Z6 II is 10mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV but it is also 3mm wider and 4mm taller.
Z6 II is 43 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 70mm Z6 II · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z6 II
134 × 101 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z6 II
134 × 70 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 80 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z6 II
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Alpha 7 IV
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z6 II
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Alpha 7 IV
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
Z6 II
Subject recognition
Adds People, Dogs, Cats
Codecs
Adds H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 100.5, 69.5
AF low-light limit
-4.5 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD
Burst (mechanical)
14 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
14 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Weight
615 g vs 658 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 IV
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
AF points / zones
759 vs 273 — higher is better
Internal RAW video
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A
Battery life (CIPA)
580 shots vs 410 shots — higher is better
Resolution
33 MP vs 24.5 MP — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 51,200
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 60 fps
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z6 II
Pros
- ✓Proven hybrid
- ✓Dual slots
- ✓Good video
Cons
- –Superseded by Z6 III
- –24MP
- –Older AF
Alpha 7 IV
Pros
- ✓33MP — more detail for cropping and print
- ✓10-bit 4K 60p (Super35 crop) / 4K 30p full-frame
- ✓Full-size HDMI port
- ✓759 phase-detect AF points
Cons
- –4K 60p requires Super35 crop
- –10fps burst lags behind R6 II at 40fps
- –Complex menu system
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Z6 II and Alpha 7 IV at major authorized retailers.
Nikon Z6 II
Sony Alpha 7 IV
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, Z6 II or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 8.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for Z6 II — Bird AF subject recognition.
What's the resolution difference between the Z6 II and Alpha 7 IV?
Z6 II is 24.5 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z6 II and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
Z6 II has 5-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z6 II or the Alpha 7 IV?
Z6 II reaches 14 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z6 II and Alpha 7 IV?
Z6 II weighs 615 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the Z6 II is 43 g lighter.
Do the Z6 II and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
Z6 II: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z6 II and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
Z6 II: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 410 shots (CIPA) for the Z6 II and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the Alpha 7 IV the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z6 II launched at $1,999 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The Z6 II is $500 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way Z6 II vs Alpha 7 IV vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.