Sony camera names decoded: α for mirrorless, suffixes for resolution, video and compact bodies

Sony splits its lineup into mirrorless cameras, which take interchangeable lenses, and compact cameras with fixed lenses; both offer electronic viewfinders and rear screens. Engadget notes that most people say "alpha" or simply write "A" for the prefix, and that some models are written out as "Alpha A7 V". The article also refers to models whose names begin with RX or ZV.

Within the mirrorless range, Sony sells full-frame cameras with sensors the size of a frame of 35mm film and smaller APS-C models. Engadget says the full-frame bodies generally cost more but can blur backgrounds more strongly and produce cleaner night shots, while APS-C cameras keep interchangeable lenses, manual controls and video features at lower prices and are easier for beginners to handle.

Full-frame names carry a single digit. The A1 series is the most expensive and is aimed at professionals; its stacked sensor supports 50-megapixel images at up to 30 frames per second, 8K video at 30 fps and Sony's best electronic viewfinder. The latest body is the A1 II, where the roman numeral marks the generation.

The A9 series is also built for professionals, particularly sports photographers and journalists, with lower resolution — typically 24 megapixels — but sensors designed for speed. The A9 III has the first global shutter in a mirrorless camera, reading the whole sensor at once instead of line by line, which removes the distortion that fast-moving subjects cause on conventional rolling-shutter sensors. According to the explainer, it is Sony's fastest camera, with RAW bursts of up to 120 fps.

A7 is the mainstream line and divides into four groups. The standard A7 is the least expensive and handles both photos and video; the A7 V, introduced in early 2026, has a 33-megapixel partially stacked sensor, burst speeds of 30 fps and 4K 60 fps full-frame video. The A7R, where "R" stands for resolution, uses high-resolution sensors for detailed portraits and landscapes and can record up to 8K, though video is a secondary purpose; the current A7R VI has a 67-megapixel stacked sensor, 30 fps shooting and 8K 30 fps video. The A7S is designed for video, with low-resolution sensors and large pixels for low-light footage with minimal noise; the most recent model dates from 2020 with a 12-megapixel sensor and 4K 120 fps capture, and Engadget suggests Sony's dedicated FX video line may be why the A7S series has not been refreshed. The A7C, "C" for compact, matches the A7 and A7R internally but moves the viewfinder to the left side and trims manual controls; the A7C II from 2023 has the same specifications as the 33-megapixel A7 IV, and the A7CR corresponds to the A7R V.

For APS-C models, Sony abandoned the mix of NEX, A3000 and A5000 names it once used and has kept the A6x00 format for about a decade. Higher numbers indicate more capability and a higher price: the current examples cited are the $900 A6100, the $1,100 A6400 and the A6700.