Z7 IIvs A7C II
Which should you buy?
Landscape & Studio / High-Resolution — Z7 II (2020): The Z7 II is a landscape and studio camera first, everything else second. 45.7MP with weather sealing and dual card slots is a compelling package. If you need resolution, it delivers. If you don't, the Z6 II is the smarter buy.
Full-Frame Hybrid — A7C II (2023): Full-frame AI autofocus in the most compact body available — the best camera under £1,500 for hybrid shooters.
Who should buy what
Z7 II (2020)
- Landscape photographers who print large or need to crop significantly
- Studio and commercial photographers requiring maximum resolution
- Architecture photographers where detail is non-negotiable
- Fine-art photographers who shoot primarily from a tripod
A7C II (2023)
- You want full-frame image quality in the most compact body possible
- You travel constantly and need a serious camera that doesn't weigh down your bag
- You're a portrait or lifestyle photographer who shoots on the move
- You create content for social media or YouTube and want full-frame quality in a vlog-friendly form
Quick take: The z7 ii has the highest resolution at 46mp; the a7c ii is the most affordable; only the z7 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z7 II (2020) | A7C II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,699 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | 45.7MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 33MP Full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 45.7MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 4K/60p, 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit internal |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 493 points, Eye AF, subject tracking | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops (up to 6 stops with VR lenses) | 5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~420 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 705g (body, battery, card) | 514g body only |
| Dimensions | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.1M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual card: 1× CFexpress Type B / XQD + 1× SD UHS-II | Dual slots: SD UHS-II + CFexpress Type A |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (3.2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
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