Sony a7RVI Review Update: Is this Camera Really That Special?

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While many times we speak of a “Jack-of-all-Trades” as a positive moniker, we have largely forgotten the rest of the adage: “Master-of-None.” So, in late May when I sat at press conference unveiling the Sony a7R VI and each presenter positioned the new camera as capable of doing it all, I worried that we were looking at another Jack-of-all-Trades, Master-of-None. After taking the Sony a7RVI into the real world, shooting everything from street scenes to BMX riders to a baseball game, did we finally find a camera that can truly do it all? Here are the results of our first real-world review.

The following text are addendums to our full Sony a7r VI review. You can view the full review here at this link.

Sony’s a7R VI: Autofocus and Bursts That Rival an a1II?

Digital camera showing a photo of a person on its screen, with headphones in the background. — Above: the Sony a7R VI’s rear LCD monitor.

At this point, Sony has built its brand on its Autofocus capabilities and the a7R VI was positioned as being able to lock focus and track subjects as fast as the flagship Sony a1 II. During our testing period and in our initial hands-on, I primarily kept the a7R VI in AF-C or AF-Auto – the latter of which I only used to push the camera’s capabilities. In each mode, the Sony a7R VI would consistently and accurately find its subject and deliver useable images. During the Sony press event in May, I paired with the FE 100-400 F4.5 GM OSS and found that it was able to keep up with the chaotic movements of a NYC squirrel with ease, allowing me to shoot bursts and capture the bushy-tailed rodent in its urban majesty.

Baseball player swings at a pitch during a game while the crowd watches from the stands. — A cropped image taken with the Sony a7RVI and the Thypoch 24-50mm F2.8

During my time with the Sony a7RVI, I spent a lot of my review period with the Thypoch 24-50mm F2.8 attached to it. When I first paired the two, I was concerned about any potential degradation in image quality – after all, the a7R VI is a high-resolution camera that would in theory highlight any imperfections in the lens that’s placed in front. Instead, I found that this combination transformed the a7R VI into a 67-megapixel, everyday carry camera that can quickly focus on moving subjects. One example of this was when I used the a7R VI and the Thypoch 24-50mm at a Mets game allowing me to crop in on the field – capturing a grand slam in continuous high-speed burst. Capturing nearly every motion of the pitcher and batter at the opposite end in focus. It’s important to note that I did say “nearly” and not “all,” that’s because with subject detection turned on, the camera wanted to occasionally hunt for nearby faces instead of staying locked where the focus point was originally set.

A man rides a BMX bike in a graffiti-covered skatepark under a bridge. — Sample image taken with the Sony a7RVI and FE 50-150mm F2 GM

This was even more evident when using the Sony FE 50-150 F2 GM (on loan from Sony). During my shoot with a local BMX crew, I used the FE50-150 F2 GM almost exclusively – I wanted to pair the a7RVI to some fast native glass, and the 50-150mm GM ticked off most of the boxes. What I found was quite surprising, for some reason or another the FE 50-150 F2 seemed to struggle keeping focus on faces in the 50-75mm range, especially as my subjects moved toward the lens. I’ve experienced similar focusing issues with crop sensor cameras, like my Fujifilm X-Pro 3 and X-T2, and occasionally with my Sony a7III, but not this bad. During the shoot, I switched lenses going back to the Thypoch 24-50mm and the focusing issues corrected themselves.

One thing I have to mention: Focus Tracking was solid through and through. This really makes me wonder if there wasn’t some kind of focusing issue with the loaner lens itself rather than an issue with the camera itself. Even with the BMX bikers, AF Tracking was constantly and seamlessly going back and forth between locking on faces and tracking the body as it moved across the frame.

A Sony camera with a lens sits in an open camera bag next to another camera with a large white lens. — The Sony a7RVI with the Viltrox AF35mm F1.2 LAB

In practice, I found that the Sony a7R VI was largely able to keep up with its subjects, including people of color in complex lighting. Though it wasn’t perfect, it was a very good experience shooting with the camera in scenarios that went far beyond the landscape and portrait genre that high-megapixel cameras are most known for.

Real-World Use Notes

Sony’s a7RVI managed to eke out even more battery life thanks to its redesigned NP-SA100 battery. The new battery design is rated for over 700 shots per charge based on CIPA standards. In real-world testing one charge was enough for multiple days of casual shooting and a full day shoot. While this might make your stash of existing NP-FZ100 batteries obsolete, you’ll be happy to know that the newer, larger battery pack, didn’t create any changes to the body’s ergonomics. In fact, while the chassis is ever so slightly larger, the truth is that there is no noticeable difference in size and best of all, no changes to the camera’s memory card slots.

A Sony camera with a Tamron lens sits next to black headphones on a white printed cloth. — Product image of the Sony a7R VI

In terms of its build quality, I have to give Sony kudos for its rugged construction. In my experience, the a7R VI was able to take being handled without kid gloves. While I don’t ever advocate torturing your gear for its own sake, I can say with certainty that the a7RVI was able to handle jolts and bumps like a champ. When shooting with the BMX crew, I found myself tripping on a ramp at the skate park and did have the bottom plate of the camera make contact with the ramp’s lip. As panic rushed to my face and I checked on the camera, I was relieved to see that all that came of that interaction was a little chipped paint. Although I had nothing but sunny weather during my review period, based on how the camera was able to dust off a tumble, I’m confident that some rain won’t be a problem.

Image Quality

The Sony a7R series has long been sought out for its high-resolution images that allow you to either crop in tightly, retain details, or both. The a7RVI gives photographers more of the same with a slight bump in total resolution over its predecessor. During the Mets game, I was easily able to take what otherwise been a wide shot of the stadium into a tight shot of the field.

Stone relief of five adults and two children beneath an arched entryway with decorative text below.

Additionally, with a lens like the Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB, I was able to get architectural details of a local church with the ability to crop into the details of the façade without even the slightest bit of degradation in the final image. This of course speaks to the capabilities of Sony’s high-resolution sensors and if you’re a photographer that is looking for the sharpest resolution in a full-frame sensor camera, then the Sony a7RVI will be

A person sits beside a BMX bike, focusing on the bikes rear wheel and chain. — An unedited sample image taken with the Sony a7R VI and the FE 50-150 F2 GM

If there’s one thing that left me very underwhelmed were the SooC JPEGs from this camera. While I’m very aware that the primary audience that would be interested in this camera will most likely want to spend time in their photo editor, it’s still worth noting that some photographers would rather not spend much time post processing.

Below are some unedited sample images for reference:

A female dancer in a black outfit poses gracefully under dramatic stage lighting, with arms extended overhead.

A dancer in black attire strikes an expressive pose under dramatic stage lighting.

A man in a suit and a woman in a vintage dress sit on a red couch in front of a curtained window.

Woman in a black blazer dress and black tights sits confidently on a beige sofa in a modern room.

A woman in a black dress sits on a beige sofa near a lamp and gold vases in a modern room.

Woman in a black outfit with gold buttons sitting on a beige couch in a modern living room setting.

A woman in a black dress with gold buttons sits on a beige sofa in a modern, stylish room.

A woman in a sparkly gown stands in a mirrored room with geometric black-and-white patterns.

A woman in a silver dress stands in a mirrored room with geometric patterns on the floor and walls.

People gather and talk in a brick courtyard seen through open double doors on a sunny day.

A squirrel stands on a rock in a sunlit area with green grass and purple flowers in the background.

A ballerina in black dancewear poses gracefully in a studio with musicians playing strings in the background.

A ballerina practices at a barre while two musicians play string instruments in the background.

Ballet dancer in black poses at barre; musicians play string instruments in the background, indoors.

Ballet dancer in black leotard poses gracefully at barre, musicians play strings in the background.

A ballerina dances in front of a string quartet in a bright room with large arched windows.

A ballet dancer in a black leotard poses with one arm raised, looking upward in a bright studio.

A ballet dancer in a black leotard raises one arm gracefully, with soft natural light in the background.

Woman in a black leotard dances ballet, arm raised gracefully, with soft light in the background.

A small bird perches on a wire fence near a black lamp post in a grassy park.

A bearded man in a suit sits on a leather couch with two women at a vintage-themed gathering.

A robin stands on a cobblestone path near a garden bed with green plants and a black metal fence.

A person rides a BMX bike along the edge of a graffiti-covered skatepark bowl under an overpass.

A person rides a BMX bike on the edge of a skate bowl with cars and a fence in the background.

A person fixes the front wheel of a BMX bike while kneeling on a concrete surface.

A person with a prosthetic leg sits beside a BMX bike, focusing on the bikes rear wheel and chain.

Silhouette of a person on a BMX bike jumping off a ledge in a skatepark under a bridge.

Assorted decorated cupcakes displayed on pink trays behind a glass bakery case.

A tray of decorated cupcakes displayed in a bakery case, with a chocolate cake in the background.

A red brick building with graffiti, scaffolding, and a modern apartment building beside it.

A BMX rider performs a mid-air trick under a bridge at a skatepark on a sunny day.

A vendor carries a box of Nathan’s hot dogs at a crowded baseball stadium during a game.

A vendor in a neon shirt carries a Nathan’s box at a crowded baseball stadium during a game.

A lively baseball stadium crowd watches performers dancing on the field near the dugout during a game.

A crowded baseball stadium with a game in progress on a sunny day.

Baseball game in a crowded stadium, with performers dancing near the field and fans watching closely.

A packed stadium watches a baseball game as the pitcher throws the ball toward the batter.

Citi Field stadium exterior with parked cars and trees in the foreground.

A split ergonomic keyboard sits on a desk next to a tablet displaying the time and a digital camera.

Here are the edited images. All images here were edited with our Journalism Presets:

A woman in athletic wear poses gracefully on stage, showing strength and flexibility under dramatic lighting.

A ballerina in a black leotard gracefully extends her arm in a dance studio with soft natural light.

A bearded man in glasses and a tan suit sits holding a drink, looking thoughtful in a dimly lit room.

A vintage film projector with two reels, set in front of a movie poster and retro decor.

A woman in a formal double-breasted jacket sits on a sofa in a stylish, modern living room.

A bronze eagle sculpture with outstretched wings above two stacks of black cannonballs on a white wall.

A bronze eagle with spread wings atop gray clouds, flanked by stacks of black cannonballs on a white wall.

A squirrel stands on a rock in a sunlit garden with purple flowers and green plants.

A small sparrow perches on a black metal fence, with grass and plants in the background.

A woman in an elegant dress and gloves stands behind a man in a suit holding a drink, looking serious.

A robin stands on a paved path near a metal fence and some green plants.

Three people pose on rocky ground while another takes a photo, with city buildings and trees in the background.

A person in a hoodie performs a wheelie on a BMX bike under a bridge near parked cars.

A person performs a BMX trick in an urban skatepark under a bridge, captured in black and white.

A person on a BMX bike performs a trick in an urban skate park under a bridge.

A man rides a BMX bike in an urban skatepark under a bridge, with graffiti on the walls.

A skateboarder rides up the edge of a skatepark bowl near a fence in black and white.

A person rides a BMX bike under a graffiti-covered overpass in an urban area.

Close-up of a BMX bike’s rear wheel with green chain and stunt peg on a paved surface.

A person performs a BMX trick on a ledge under a graffiti-covered overpass in black and white.

Person performing a trick on a BMX bike at a skate park under a bridge on a sunny day.

Chocolate cupcakes with frosting and toppings on a tray in a bakery display case.

A woman stands on a city sidewalk near shops and cars, photographed through a reflective surface.

Black and white street scene with shops, pedestrians, and cars in motion, including an OPEN sign.

A person on a BMX bike performs a trick under a bridge at an urban skate park.

Fans stand and watch a baseball game from a shaded area, overlooking the field in a crowded stadium.

A vendor holding a Nathans box over his head at a crowded baseball stadium, facing the field.

Vendor in a neon shirt holds a Nathan’s box above his head at a crowded baseball stadium during a game.

A cheering child in a blue cap raises arms at a crowded baseball stadium, surrounded by excited fans.

Baseball player at bat during a game, catcher and umpire positioned, crowd watching in the stands.

A crowded stadium with fans watching a baseball game on a sunny day.

Crowd watches a baseball game in a stadium; people in foreground, players and field visible in background.

Cheerleaders perform flips on a baseball field as fans watch from the crowded stadium stands.

A crowded baseball stadium with a game in progress, fans watching from the stands on a sunny day.

Black-and-white photo of the exterior of Bad Luck Bar, with blinds and stickers on the doorframe.

A black Lumix GH6 camera sits on a wooden surface, viewed from above.

The Big Picture: The Sony a7R VI Gets a lot Right, but far From Perfect

A woman stands on a city sidewalk near shops and a trash bin, with cars parked along the street. — An edited sample image taken with the Thypoch 24-50mm F2.8 and the Sony a7R VI

There’s a lot to like in the new Sony a7R VI. For one the 67-megapixel sensor (I’m being generous and giving them the additional 0.2 megapixels for simplicity – it’s officially a 66.8-megapixel sensor) truly is the reason why you’re reading this review in the first place. It’s extremely versatile and when paired with Sony’s Bionz XR2 processing engine, it can perform certain functions, like autofocusing and high-burst capture, at a rate that would’ve been nearly impossible a decade ago. During my testing I found that in terms of a high-resolution camera where I could potentially crop in when needed, or take advantage of the ability to create images that could easily be turned into a large format print, the a7R VI is only rivaled by medium format cameras. Right now, the Sony a7R VI sits atop the high-res, full-frame category, but using a camera as a creative tool requires more than a spec sheet. In a lot of ways, the a7R VI feels a bit stale in terms of user experience and the images that come straight out of the camera feel a little flat – even with improvements /additions to Sony’s Creative Looks profiles.

We’re giving the Sony a7R VI four out of five stars. Want to try one for yourself? Purchase one for $4498 on Amazon.

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