The new Sony A7R VI is incredible — but its arrival means the A7R V has hit its cheapest-ever price, and it might be a smarter buy right now
The Sony A7R VI is, without question, one of the most impressive cameras ever made. Our Cameras Editor Tim Coleman called it the first perfect mirrorless camera he’s used after 15 years in the business, and I’m not about to argue with that.
But its arrival last week has had a great side effect for anyone who doesn’t want to spend flagship money on their next mirrorless camera. The Sony A7R V, its 61MP predecessor, has just hit its lowest-ever price of $3,298 at both Amazon and Adorama, down $500 from its previous price — and I think that makes it one of the more compelling camera deals you’ll find in the Memorial Day sales.
The Adorama deal in particular is worth a closer look, because on top of that price drop it comes with three free items bundled in: a 256GB memory card, a spare battery, and a camera bag. These extras have a combined value of almost $400; pretty generous additions in my book.
So why is the A7R V worth your attention when its superior replacement is already out there? The short answer is that the gap between these two cameras is narrower than the gulf in their prices (now more than $1000) suggests.
The A7R VI’s headline upgrade is its new 66.8MP stacked sensor, which brings faster readout speeds, reduced rolling shutter and up to 30fps burst shooting. Those are major improvements, but they’re also improvements that many A7R buyers simply don’t need. The ‘R’ series has always been aimed at photographers who value resolution above all else: landscape shooters, portrait and studio photographers, and anyone producing large-scale prints or requiring extensive cropping latitude. For that audience, the A7R V’s 61MP sensor remains outstanding. You’re talking about a measly 6MP difference between the two cameras; in practice, that’s barely visible even at 100% magnification.
The A7R V is still a rock-solid premium camera
The resolution story goes deeper than raw megapixel count, too. The A7R V even has a trick up its sleeve that the VI doesn’t vastly improve upon: a multi-shot high-resolution mode that combines 16 frames into a single 241MP composite image (complete with automatic compensation for minor subject movement). It’s a feature that could offer real professional applications in commercial, architectural and fine-art photography, and one of those things that tends to make you feel slightly silly for thinking you needed more pixels.
Elsewhere, the A7R V’s autofocus system — which was a major overhaul over the A7R IV when it launched — holds up extremely well today. Its AI-powered subject recognition covers humans, animals, birds, insects, vehicles and aircraft, with eye, face and body-shape detection. Yes, the A7R VI refines this further, but the V is no slouch, and it remains capable of serious wildlife and portrait work.
Dynamic range checks in at 15 stops — the VI adds one more, but a one-stop difference is negligible in most real-world situations. Eight stops of in-body stabilization, a 9.44M-dot OLED EVF and a 4-axis fully articulating touchscreen LCD round out a spec sheet that was class-leading at launch and remains highly competitive today.
There’s also one practical consideration that’s easy to overlook: the A7R VI introduces a brand-new NP-SA100 battery that’s incompatible with Sony‘s existing NP-FZ100 battery ecosystem. So, if you already own Sony batteries, the A7R V may slot straight into your existing kit better than its successor.
One caveat that need mentioning is that the A7R V’s conventional (non-stacked) sensor means it’s more susceptible to rolling shutter, and its modest burst shooting buffer won’t satisfy sports or action photographers. But those shooters were never the A7R V’s target audience — and at $3,298, with three free accessories thrown in at Adorama, I believe this camera is an extraordinary deal for the type of photographer it was built for.
More of today’s best Memorial Day sales
- Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
- Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
- Best Buy: 60% off appliances, TVs, laptops & more
- Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
- Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
- DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses, 66% off bundles
- Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
- Lowe’s: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
- Nectar: up to 50% off mattresses, deals from $369
- Saatva: up to $550 off luxury mattresses
- Samsung: up to $1,600 off appliances
- Target: 30% off clothing, patio & furniture
- Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
- Wayfair: 50% off furniture, grills, rugs & more
The Sony A7R VI is, without question, one of the most impressive cameras ever made. Our Cameras Editor Tim Coleman called it the first perfect mirrorless camera he’s used after 15 years in the business, and I’m not about to argue with that. But its arrival last week has had…
