OM System
OM-3 ASTRO
Astrophotography-focused OM-3 variant with 20.4MP stacked sensor, H-alpha-friendly filter tuning, IP53 sealing, and 7.5-stop Sync IS.
$2,499
Released Jul 2025
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 11 months newer.
Wins
OM-3 ASTRO
Wins
Alpha 7R VI
TL;DR — Key differences
- AOM-3 ASTRO has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 7R VI has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
- BAlpha 7R VI has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 2,360,000)
- BAlpha 7R VI has higher Resolution (66.8 MP vs 20.4 MP)
- AOM-3 ASTRO has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 32,000)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
OM-3 ASTRO
139 × 89 × 46 mm
496 g (1.09 lb / 17.50 oz)
Alpha 7R VI
133 × 97 × 83 mm
713 g (1.57 lb / 25.15 oz)
OM-3 ASTRO is 8mm shorter and 37mm thinner than Alpha 7R VI but it is also 7mm wider.
OM-3 ASTRO is 217 g lighter than Alpha 7R VI.
Depth (front-to-back): 46mm OM-3 ASTRO · 83mm Alpha 7R VI
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
OM-3 ASTRO
139 × 89 mm
Alpha 7R VI
133 × 97 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
OM-3 ASTRO
139 × 46 mm
Alpha 7R VI
133 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
OM-3 ASTRO
17.4 × 13 mm · Compact / large-type
226 mm² area
Alpha 7R VI
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 mm² area
3.8× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
OM-3 ASTRO
Micro Four Thirds
130+
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
OM-3 ASTRO
AF low-light limit
-8 EV vs -6 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Animals…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 139.3, 88.9, 45.8
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II, SD UHS-I
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 32,000 — higher is better
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only OM-3 ASTRO supports it
Weather sealing
Only OM-3 ASTRO supports it
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7R VI
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 132.7, 96.9, 82.9
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SDXC UHS-II
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
Resolution
66.8 MP vs 20.4 MP — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
OM-3 ASTRO
Pros
- ✓Astro-tuned sensor filter
- ✓20.4MP stacked BSI Live MOS
- ✓IP53 weather sealing
- ✓7.5-stop Sync IS
Cons
- –Specialized astro variant
- –Micro Four Thirds sensor
- –Premium price
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 landscape, OM-3 ASTRO or Alpha 7R VI?
Alpha 7R VI scores 7.5/10 versus 2.5/10 for OM-3 ASTRO — 66.8MP — massive detail for large prints.
What's the resolution difference between the OM-3 ASTRO and Alpha 7R VI?
OM-3 ASTRO is 20.4 MP and Alpha 7R VI is 66.8 MP, so the Alpha 7R VI captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the OM-3 ASTRO and Alpha 7R VI have in-body image stabilization?
OM-3 ASTRO has 6.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 7R VI has in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the OM-3 ASTRO or the Alpha 7R VI?
OM-3 ASTRO reaches 120 fps electronic. Alpha 7R VI reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the OM-3 ASTRO and Alpha 7R VI?
OM-3 ASTRO weighs 496 g and Alpha 7R VI weighs 713 g, so the OM-3 ASTRO is 217 g lighter.
Do the OM-3 ASTRO and Alpha 7R VI record 4K video?
OM-3 ASTRO: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7R VI: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the OM-3 ASTRO and Alpha 7R VI weather sealed?
OM-3 ASTRO: Yes. Alpha 7R VI: No.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the OM-3 ASTRO and 600 shots for the Alpha 7R VI, giving the OM-3 ASTRO the edge.
How much does each cost?
OM-3 ASTRO launched at $2,499 and Alpha 7R VI at $4,499. The OM-3 ASTRO is $2,000 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of OM System and Sony press materials.