Question on the A7RVI
p.1 #1Question on the A7RVI
I am thinking of upgrading from the A7R5 to the A7R6. I shoot wildlife , mainly birds and hummingbirds and macro insects.I am interested if anyone has upgraded how they fine the auto focus compares and if you can shoot in silent mode for birds or insects with fast moving wings. Are there other advantages to making the switch that I am not aware of.
Thanks in advance for your insights and thoughts.
Birdie
Thanks in advance for your insights and thoughts.
Birdie
Aug 26, 2026 at 05:18 PM
p.1 #2Question on the A7RVI
birdied wrote:
I am thinking of upgrading from the A7R5 to the A7R6. I shoot wildlife , mainly birds and hummingbirds and macro insects.I am interested if anyone has upgraded how they fine the auto focus compares and if you can shoot in silent mode for birds or insects with fast moving wings. Are there other advantages to making the switch that I am not aware of.
Thanks in advance for your insights and thoughts.
Birdie
I got a lot of distortion in my hummingbird shots, and I was unconvinced that the AF lived up to the hype; I ended up selling my A7R VI and going back to an A1 II.
The A7R V couldn't shoot hummingbirds at all in electronic shutter mode, so in that regard the A7R VI is a nice upgrade.
I am thinking of upgrading from the A7R5 to the A7R6. I shoot wildlife , mainly birds and hummingbirds and macro insects.I am interested if anyone has upgraded how they fine the auto focus compares and if you can shoot in silent mode for birds or insects with fast moving wings. Are there other advantages to making the switch that I am not aware of.
Thanks in advance for your insights and thoughts.
Birdie
I got a lot of distortion in my hummingbird shots, and I was unconvinced that the AF lived up to the hype; I ended up selling my A7R VI and going back to an A1 II.
The A7R V couldn't shoot hummingbirds at all in electronic shutter mode, so in that regard the A7R VI is a nice upgrade.
Aug 26, 2026 at 07:00 PM
p.1 #3Question on the A7RVI
Roberta, if you shoot a fair amount of hummingbirds, as Cliff said, the electronic shutter of the A7RVI will occasionally make some "artistic" hummingbird wings, such as an extra wing
. Not every shot, maybe 15-20% of the shots may show various degree of distortion. But you still have plenty of goods shots left to pick from. I tried mine on hummingbirds and saw the rolling shutter effect in some shots. I am not using it for hummingbirds now. I use the A1II for that. For insects and other birds, I think it should be fine.
. Not every shot, maybe 15-20% of the shots may show various degree of distortion. But you still have plenty of goods shots left to pick from. I tried mine on hummingbirds and saw the rolling shutter effect in some shots. I am not using it for hummingbirds now. I use the A1II for that. For insects and other birds, I think it should be fine.Aug 26, 2026 at 07:16 PM
p.1 #4Question on the A7RVI
birdied wrote:
I am thinking of upgrading from the A7R5 to the A7R6. I shoot wildlife , mainly birds and hummingbirds and macro insects.I am interested if anyone has upgraded how they fine the auto focus compares and if you can shoot in silent mode for birds or insects with fast moving wings. Are there other advantages to making the switch that I am not aware of.
Thanks in advance for your insights and thoughts.
Birdie
Sounds like you would be much better off with an A1, A1ii or A9/A9iii.
While there are many improvements over the A7R5 its not going to be ideal for hummingbirds in flight or fast moving insect wings unless you don't mind using mechanical shutter.
I am thinking of upgrading from the A7R5 to the A7R6. I shoot wildlife , mainly birds and hummingbirds and macro insects.I am interested if anyone has upgraded how they fine the auto focus compares and if you can shoot in silent mode for birds or insects with fast moving wings. Are there other advantages to making the switch that I am not aware of.
Thanks in advance for your insights and thoughts.
Birdie
Sounds like you would be much better off with an A1, A1ii or A9/A9iii.
While there are many improvements over the A7R5 its not going to be ideal for hummingbirds in flight or fast moving insect wings unless you don't mind using mechanical shutter.
Aug 26, 2026 at 09:02 PM
p.1 #5Question on the A7RVI
duncangr wrote:
unless you don't mind using mechanical shutter.
Real men only use a mechanical shutter. Did you know that addiction to electronic shutters is the leading cause of divorce in the United States?
unless you don't mind using mechanical shutter.
Real men only use a mechanical shutter. Did you know that addiction to electronic shutters is the leading cause of divorce in the United States?
Aug 26, 2026 at 09:31 PM
p.1 #6Question on the A7RVI
old-gregg wrote:
Real men only use a mechanical shutter. Did you know that addiction to electronic shutters is the leading cause of divorce in the United States?
A7RV has mechanical shutter too...
duncangr wrote
unless you don't mind using mechanical shutter.A7RV has mechanical shutter too...
Aug 27, 2026 at 03:39 AM
p.1 #7Question on the A7RVI
old-gregg wrote:
Real men only use a mechanical shutter. Did you know that addiction to electronic shutters is the leading cause of divorce in the United States?
I wondered what the reason was for Nikon market share falling to single digits.
duncangr wrote
unless you don't mind using mechanical shutter.I wondered what the reason was for Nikon market share falling to single digits.
Aug 27, 2026 at 05:06 AM
p.1 #8Question on the A7RVI
birdied wrote:
I am thinking of upgrading from the A7R5 to the A7R6. I shoot wildlife , mainly birds and hummingbirds and macro insects.I am interested if anyone has upgraded how they fine the auto focus compares and if you can shoot in silent mode for birds or insects with fast moving wings. Are there other advantages to making the switch that I am not aware of.
As others have said...sure, get an A1ii if you want the ultimate (except for resolution).
But I upgraded from the A7R5 to the A7R6 and can tell you that I find it a huge upgrade for birds. The electronic shutter is a game changer for several reasons: it enable pre-capture, eliminates finder blackout, enables faster capture speeds, and eliminates one more possible source of vibration (when shooting 800mm, any little help is welcome). Also the AF seems better at finding the desired critter and holding on to it.
And of course, even more cropability from 67mpx.
Yes, with very fast birds (hummers) you'll see funky wings sometimes, and with fast panning you may see slanted backgrounds. But even after deleting those, I'm still left with many more 'good' images than before.
I'm a rank beginner when it comes to shooting birds, but I've been very happy with what I've been able to get with the a7R6.
I am thinking of upgrading from the A7R5 to the A7R6. I shoot wildlife , mainly birds and hummingbirds and macro insects.I am interested if anyone has upgraded how they fine the auto focus compares and if you can shoot in silent mode for birds or insects with fast moving wings. Are there other advantages to making the switch that I am not aware of.
As others have said...sure, get an A1ii if you want the ultimate (except for resolution).
But I upgraded from the A7R5 to the A7R6 and can tell you that I find it a huge upgrade for birds. The electronic shutter is a game changer for several reasons: it enable pre-capture, eliminates finder blackout, enables faster capture speeds, and eliminates one more possible source of vibration (when shooting 800mm, any little help is welcome). Also the AF seems better at finding the desired critter and holding on to it.
And of course, even more cropability from 67mpx.
Yes, with very fast birds (hummers) you'll see funky wings sometimes, and with fast panning you may see slanted backgrounds. But even after deleting those, I'm still left with many more 'good' images than before.
I'm a rank beginner when it comes to shooting birds, but I've been very happy with what I've been able to get with the a7R6.
ILCE-7RM6 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 400mm f/6.3 1/1250s 2500 ISO -0.7 EV
ILCE-7RM6 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 795mm f/8.0 1/2000s 5000 ISO 0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 400mm f/6.3 1/1250s 800 ISO -0.7 EV
ILCE-7RM6 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/1250s 800 ISO -0.7 EV
Aug 27, 2026 at 07:32 AM
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p.1 #9Question on the A7RVI
Thanks so much everyone for the information. I really don't want to give up those extra megapixels as I usually have to crop heavily !
Birdie
Birdie
Aug 27, 2026 at 08:46 AM
p.1 #10Question on the A7RVI
old-gregg wrote:
Real men only use a mechanical shutter.
Somehow I don't think that will impress Roberta...
duncangr wrote
unless you don't mind using mechanical shutter.Somehow I don't think that will impress Roberta...
Aug 27, 2026 at 09:36 AM
p.1 #11Question on the A7RVI
Even at 15 frames per second, it’s amazing how many separate compositions you have to choose from, and invariably a few that look great. However, if birds in flight was a main subject for me, I’d definitely choose the A1ii over the A7R6 — actually make that in addition to the A7R6, as I really like this camera!
Aug 27, 2026 at 09:38 AM
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p.1 #12Question on the A7RVI
I'd rather have a 50mp image with biologically accurate wings than a 67mp photo with an extra wing or two in 20% of my shots. Just my personal preference
Aug 27, 2026 at 09:40 AM
p.1 #13Question on the A7RVI
The frames that catch the wings at either end of their motion at the moment when they stop and change direction, there's little to no distortion, but it increases as you move away from those wing positions - so you can have lots of keepers, but they may all look similar.
Aug 27, 2026 at 09:48 AM
p.1 #14Question on the A7RVI
Jack Flesher wrote:
Even at 15 frames per second, it’s amazing how many separate compositions you have to choose from, and invariably a few that look great. However, if birds in flight was a main subject for me, I’d definitely choose the A1ii over the A7R6 — actually make that in addition to the A7R6, as I really like this camera!
I agree. While the A7RVI is a fabulous camera, even for wildlife, if I shoot a lot of BIF, hummingbirds (which Reberta does, I believe), I would pick the A1II if I have a choice. You just can't beat physics (sensor read speed and AF calculations/second). But the A7RVI can still give you plenty of keepers to choose from. So some distorted images may not be that big a deal after all.
Even at 15 frames per second, it’s amazing how many separate compositions you have to choose from, and invariably a few that look great. However, if birds in flight was a main subject for me, I’d definitely choose the A1ii over the A7R6 — actually make that in addition to the A7R6, as I really like this camera!
I agree. While the A7RVI is a fabulous camera, even for wildlife, if I shoot a lot of BIF, hummingbirds (which Reberta does, I believe), I would pick the A1II if I have a choice. You just can't beat physics (sensor read speed and AF calculations/second). But the A7RVI can still give you plenty of keepers to choose from. So some distorted images may not be that big a deal after all.
Aug 27, 2026 at 11:06 AM
p.1 #15Question on the A7RVI
Thanks everyone. Budget considerations limit the amount I am willing to spend for a camera . I will just have to make do with the RVI. 
. It will be fun to see what it does and there is always the mechanical shutter.
Birdie
. It will be fun to see what it does and there is always the mechanical shutter. Birdie
Aug 28, 2026 at 01:56 PM
p.1 #16Question on the A7RVI
I want a print of that second hummingbird! Wow!
MikeEvangelist wrote:
As others have said...sure, get an A1ii if you want the ultimate (except for resolution).
But I upgraded from the A7R5 to the A7R6 and can tell you that I find it a huge upgrade for birds. The electronic shutter is a game changer for several reasons: it enable pre-capture, eliminates finder blackout, enables faster capture speeds, and eliminates one more possible source of vibration (when shooting 800mm, any little help is welcome). Also the AF seems better at finding the desired critter and holding on to it.
And of course, even more cropability from 67mpx.
Yes, with very fast birds (hummers) you'll...Show more →
MikeEvangelist wrote:
birdied wrote
I am thinking of upgrading from the A7R5 to the A7R6. I shoot wildlife , mainly birds and hummingbirds and macro insects.I am interested if anyone has upgraded how they fine the auto focus compares and if you can shoot in silent mode for birds or insects with fast moving wings. Are there other advantages to making the switch that I am not aware of.But I upgraded from the A7R5 to the A7R6 and can tell you that I find it a huge upgrade for birds. The electronic shutter is a game changer for several reasons: it enable pre-capture, eliminates finder blackout, enables faster capture speeds, and eliminates one more possible source of vibration (when shooting 800mm, any little help is welcome). Also the AF seems better at finding the desired critter and holding on to it.
And of course, even more cropability from 67mpx.
Yes, with very fast birds (hummers) you'll...Show more →
Aug 28, 2026 at 02:24 PM