Canon EOS R6 Mark III vs Sony α7 IV: connectivity and tethering compared
Full-frame all-rounders for weddings, events and portraits. This comparison is about one thing: how fast each body gets a finished frame to where it's needed — its USB-C port, Wi-Fi, built-in FTP, Ethernet and card slots, and how it tethers to a phone with CloudTether.
By the CloudTether team · Updated
Side by side
| Canon EOS R6 Mark III | Sony α7 IV | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware (maker's specs) | ||
| Sensor format | Full-frame | Full-frame |
| RAW files | CR3 | ARW |
| USB port | USB-C, SuperSpeed Plus USB (USB 3.2 Gen 2) | USB-C, SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps (USB 3.2), plus a Micro USB (USB 2.0) port |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 + 5 GHz (IEEE 802.11ac on 5 GHz) | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4 + 5 GHz (some regional models are 2.4 GHz only) |
| Built-in FTP | Built-in FTP, FTPS and SFTP | Built-in (FTP Transfer Func.) |
| Wired Ethernet | Not stated on the maker's spec page | Wired LAN over a USB-LAN adapter |
| Card slots | CFexpress Type B + SD (UHS-II) | CFexpress Type A / SD + SD (UHS-II) |
| Tethering to a phone with CloudTether | ||
| CloudTether over USB | Supported by the protocol, not yet tested by us (same code as our verified Canon body) | Supported by the protocol, not yet tested by us (same code as our verified Sony body) |
| CloudTether over Wi-Fi | Supported by the camera, not yet tested by us | Supported by the camera, not yet tested by us |
| Rated send | Yes — only shots you rate in camera | No — every frame is sent |
| Camera setting for a USB tether | None — turn the camera's Wi-Fi off before USB | USB Connection Mode → Remote Shooting, plus Remote Shoot Function On |
| Cable to a USB-C phone | USB-C to USB-C data cable | USB-C to USB-C data cable |
“Not stated” means the maker's spec page doesn't list it — we don't fill gaps with guesses. Wi-Fi bands can vary by region.
Verdict: which delivers faster?
On the hardware that moves files they're close: both have a 10 Gbps USB-C port, 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, built-in FTP and two card slots (CFexpress Type B + SD on the Canon, CFexpress Type A/SD + SD on the Sony). Canon lists FTPS and SFTP alongside FTP on the R6 Mark III.
The tethering difference is in the details. The R6 Mark III needs no USB mode — just its Wi-Fi off — and supports rated send, so only the frames you star leave the camera. The α7 IV needs two settings (USB Connection Mode → Remote Shooting, and the Remote Shoot Function on) and sends every frame. Neither exact body has been tested by us: the R6 Mark III is newer than our Canon test bodies, the α7 IV runs the same code as our verified Sony.
Pick the EOS R6 Mark III if…
…you want to send only rated shots to a client gallery during the day, or the simplest USB setup.
Pick the α7 IV if…
…you're already on Sony E-mount and fine with every frame being sent (JPEG only keeps it light).
Setting each one up for tethering
Canon EOS R6 Mark III
Canon EOS R6 Mark III vs Sony α7 IV: FAQ
Which is faster to tether to a phone, the EOS R6 Mark III or the α7 IV?
Their USB-C ports are the same class on paper (10 Gbps per the makers' specs). To a phone, the phone's own port usually sets the limit — standard USB-C iPhones and many Android phones run at USB 2 — and a JPEG still arrives in a fraction of a second (a median 0.06 s from an EOS R5 Mark II in our logs).
Can both tether to a phone over Wi-Fi with CloudTether?
EOS R6 Mark III: supported by the camera, not yet tested by us; α7 IV: supported by the camera, not yet tested by us. Canon Wi-Fi is the wireless tether we've verified; USB is the dependable path on every body.
Which one can send only the shots I rate?
The EOS R6 Mark III. Rated send works over Canon and Nikon tethering only; over Sony tethering every frame is sent — use JPEG only to keep uploads light.
Do the EOS R6 Mark III and α7 IV have built-in FTP?
EOS R6 Mark III: built-in FTP, FTPS and SFTP; α7 IV: built-in (FTP Transfer Func.). In-camera FTP is a separate path from a phone tether — CloudTether can also deliver to an FTP/SFTP server from the phone, on any body.
Sources
Hardware specs from each maker's own specification page or online manual (checked 2026-11-15). CloudTether status from our own testing — see supported cameras.
Canon EOS R6 Mark III
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