Z6 IIvs A7S
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.
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
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 (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The z6 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z6 II (2020) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £600 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 4K/60p, 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 273 points, Eye AF, subject tracking | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops (up to 6 stops with VR lenses) | None |
| Burst Rate | 14fps mechanical, 14fps electronic (12-bit RAW) | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 705g (body, battery, card) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | Electronic, 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 (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual card: 1× CFexpress Type B / XQD + 1× SD UHS-II | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z6 II | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Video | — | |
| Street | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history