Z6 IIvs A7S II
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
All-Round Full-Frame Photography — Z6 II (2020): The Z6 II is the Nikon most photographers should buy. It's balanced across every discipline — stills, video, autofocus, weather sealing — without overpaying for megapixels you don't need. The Z-mount glass is superb.
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
Z6 II (2020)
- Nikon DSLR users ready to move to mirrorless
- Photographers who need a reliable all-rounder without specialising
- Video creators wanting 4K/60p in a weather-sealed body
- Enthusiasts who shoot everything from portraits to travel
A7S II (2015)
- Filmmakers and videographers who want legendary low-light performance at a used-price discount
- Documentary shooters working in unpredictable available light conditions
- A7S III shooters who want a second Sony FE body for backup or B-camera use
- Budget-conscious video producers who want full-frame 4K with S-Log at an accessible price
Quick take: The z6 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7s ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z6 II (2020) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £799 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/60p, 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 273 points, Eye AF, subject tracking | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops (up to 6 stops with VR lenses) | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 14fps mechanical, 14fps electronic (12-bit RAW) | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 705g (body, battery, card) | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.1M dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual card: 1× CFexpress Type B / XQD + 1× SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z6 II | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Street | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Z6 II
Camera family history