Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Released Oct 2021
Alpha 7 IV is 3.2 years newer.
Wins
Z6
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 273)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher 4K max frame rate (60 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Battery life (CIPA) (580 shots vs 310 shots)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Resolution (33 MP vs 24.5 MP)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z6
134 × 101 × 68 mm
585 g (1.29 lb / 20.64 oz)
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
Z6 is 12mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV but it is also 3mm wider and 4mm taller.
Z6 is 73 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 68mm Z6 · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Sensor size, to scale
Z6
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
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
Subject recognition
Adds People
Codecs
Adds H.264/AVC
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 100.5, 67.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD
Burst (mechanical)
12 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
12 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Weight
585 g vs 658 g — lower is better
EVF magnification
0.8 × vs 0.78 × — higher 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
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
AF points / zones
759 vs 273 — higher is better
Animal / bird AF
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
4K max frame rate
60 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Internal RAW video
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
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
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z6
Pros
- ✓Historic value
- ✓Solid hybrid
- ✓Affordable used
Cons
- –Very dated now
- –Single slot
- –Limited video
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
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, Z6 or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 8.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for Z6 — Bird AF subject recognition.
What's the resolution difference between the Z6 and Alpha 7 IV?
Z6 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 and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
Z6 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 or the Alpha 7 IV?
Z6 reaches 12 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z6 and Alpha 7 IV?
Z6 weighs 585 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the Z6 is 73 g lighter.
Do the Z6 and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
Z6: 4K up to 30p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z6 and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
Z6: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 310 shots (CIPA) for the Z6 and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the Alpha 7 IV the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z6 launched at $1,999 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The Z6 is $500 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.