Nikon
Z6 III
First partially stacked full-frame sensor with 6K N-RAW internal video.
$2,499
Released Jun 2024
Sony
Alpha 7R VI
66.8MP fully-stacked full-frame high-resolution body with 30fps bursts, 8K 30p, 4K 120p, and Sony's new BIONZ XR2 engine.
$4,499
Released Jun 2026
Alpha 7R VI is 2 years newer.
Wins
Z6 III
Wins
Alpha 7R VI
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AZ6 III has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 150 frames)
- AZ6 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 7R VI has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 273)
- BAlpha 7R VI has higher Resolution (66.8 MP vs 24.5 MP)
- AZ6 III has higher ISO max (native) (64,000 vs 32,000)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z6 III
139 × 102 × 74 mm
760 g (1.68 lb / 26.81 oz)
Alpha 7R VI
133 × 97 × 83 mm
713 g (1.57 lb / 25.15 oz)
Z6 III is 9mm thinner than Alpha 7R VI but it is also 6mm wider and 5mm taller.
Z6 III is 47 g heavier than Alpha 7R VI.
Depth (front-to-back): 74mm Z6 III · 83mm Alpha 7R VI
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z6 III
139 × 102 mm
Alpha 7R VI
133 × 97 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z6 III
139 × 74 mm
Alpha 7R VI
133 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z6 III
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Alpha 7R VI
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z6 III
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Alpha 7R VI
✓ 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 III
AF low-light limit
-10 EV vs -6 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, H.265/HEVC…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138.5, 101.5, 74
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, SD UHS-II
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 150 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
AA filter
Only Z6 III supports it
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7R VI
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 132.7, 96.9, 82.9
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SDXC UHS-II
AF points / zones
759 vs 273 — higher is better
Resolution
66.8 MP vs 24.5 MP — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 5,760,000 — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
600 shots vs 380 shots — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 120 fps
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z6 III
Pros
- ✓Partially stacked CMOS reduces rolling shutter
- ✓6K N-RAW 60p internal — true filmmaking capability
- ✓5.76M dot EVF — best-in-class resolution
- ✓14fps mechanical burst
Cons
- –EN-EL15c battery life only 380 CIPA shots
- –Smaller lens ecosystem vs. Canon RF
Alpha 7R VI
Pros
- ✓66.8MP fully-stacked Exmor RS sensor
- ✓30fps blackout-free electronic burst
- ✓8K 30p and 4K 120p video
- ✓8.5-stop in-body stabilization
- ✓9.44M-dot HDR OLED EVF
Cons
- –Very expensive
- –Large files demand fast cards and storage
- –8K workflow can be heavy
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, Z6 III or Alpha 7R VI?
Z6 III scores 8.5/10 versus 5.5/10 for Alpha 7R VI — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Z6 III and Alpha 7R VI?
Z6 III is 24.5 MP and Alpha 7R VI is 66.8 MP, so the Alpha 7R VI captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z6 III and Alpha 7R VI have in-body image stabilization?
Z6 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 7R VI has in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z6 III or the Alpha 7R VI?
Z6 III reaches 120 fps electronic. Alpha 7R VI reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z6 III and Alpha 7R VI?
Z6 III weighs 760 g and Alpha 7R VI weighs 713 g, so the Alpha 7R VI is 47 g lighter.
Do the Z6 III and Alpha 7R VI record 4K video?
Z6 III: 6K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 7R VI: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the Z6 III and Alpha 7R VI weather sealed?
Z6 III: Yes. Alpha 7R VI: No.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 380 shots (CIPA) for the Z6 III and 600 shots for the Alpha 7R VI, giving the Alpha 7R VI the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z6 III launched at $2,499 and Alpha 7R VI at $4,499. The Z6 III is $2,000 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.