First-Time Film Photographers & Casual Everyday Shooting — Ektar H35 (2022): A delightful entry point into film — affordable, simple, and produces genuinely lovely half-frame pairs. The best value film camera on the market.
Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking — A7S II (2015): A landmark in mirrorless history — the first Sony with IBIS and internal 4K, its low-light video capability still impresses today at a used-market price.
Who should buy what
A7S II (2015)
Quick take: The ektar h35 is the most affordable; only the a7s ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Ektar H35 (2022) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £40 | £799 |
| Sensor | 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm) | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 12.1MP |
| Video | N/A — film camera | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (~1m to ∞) | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | N/A — film camera | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | Manual wind-on | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | 1× AA alkaline battery | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | ~125g (without battery) | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 105 × 62 × 37mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | 35mm film (ISO 100–400 recommended) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 35mm 135-format film cartridge | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Ektar H35 | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Low Light | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Ektar H35
Camera family history