Nikon
Z8
Z9 internals in a compact body — 45.7MP stacked sensor, 8K 60p, no blackout burst.
$3,999
Released May 2023
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 3.1 years newer.
Wins
Z8
Wins
Alpha 7R VI
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AZ8 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 150 frames)
- AZ8 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 7R VI has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 3,690,000)
- BAlpha 7R VI has higher Battery life (CIPA) (600 shots vs 340 shots)
- AZ8 has lower ISO min (native) (64 vs 100)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z8
144 × 119 × 83 mm
820 g (1.81 lb / 28.92 oz)
Alpha 7R VI
133 × 97 × 83 mm
713 g (1.57 lb / 25.15 oz)
Z8 is 11mm wider and 22mm taller than Alpha 7R VI.
Z8 is 107 g heavier than Alpha 7R VI.
Depth (front-to-back): 83mm Z8 · 83mm Alpha 7R VI
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z8
144 × 119 mm
Alpha 7R VI
133 × 97 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z8
144 × 83 mm
Alpha 7R VI
133 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z8
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
Z8
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
Z8
AF low-light limit
-9 EV vs -6 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 144, 118.5, 83
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
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only Z8 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
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 3,690,000 — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
600 shots vs 340 shots — higher is better
AF points / zones
759 vs 493 — higher is better
Resolution
66.8 MP vs 45.7 MP — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓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
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z8
Pros
- ✓45.7MP stacked CMOS from Z9 — class-leading
- ✓8K 60p N-RAW internal
- ✓No mechanical shutter wear — fully electronic
- ✓20fps at full 45.7MP resolution
Cons
- –EN-EL15c battery life only 340 CIPA shots
- –No built-in grip (unlike Z9)
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, Z8 or Alpha 7R VI?
Z8 scores 9.0/10 versus 5.5/10 for Alpha 7R VI — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Z8 and Alpha 7R VI?
Z8 is 45.7 MP and Alpha 7R VI is 66.8 MP, so the Alpha 7R VI captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z8 and Alpha 7R VI have in-body image stabilization?
Z8 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 7R VI has in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z8 or the Alpha 7R VI?
Z8 reaches 120 fps electronic. Alpha 7R VI reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z8 and Alpha 7R VI?
Z8 weighs 820 g and Alpha 7R VI weighs 713 g, so the Alpha 7R VI is 107 g lighter.
Do the Z8 and Alpha 7R VI record 4K video?
Z8: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 7R VI: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the Z8 and Alpha 7R VI weather sealed?
Z8: Yes. Alpha 7R VI: No.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 340 shots (CIPA) for the Z8 and 600 shots for the Alpha 7R VI, giving the Alpha 7R VI the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z8 launched at $3,999 and Alpha 7R VI at $4,499. The Z8 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.