GR IIIx HDFvs A7S II
Ricoh
GR IIIx HDF (2024)
Starting from £999 new
Best for Street & documentary photography with a distinctive aesthetic
View GR IIIx HDF
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?
Street & Documentary Photography With A Distinctive Aesthetic — GR IIIx HDF (2024): The GR IIIx with a built-in dream filter — for photographers who want the GR's legendary APS-C quality with an added layer of analogue magic.
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
GR IIIx HDF (2024)
- GR IIIx fans who want the HDF bloom effect without using post-processing
- Street photographers who want a distinctive, instantly recognisable aesthetic
- Film photography enthusiasts who want to replicate analogue optical character digitally
- GR III owners ready to upgrade to the 40mm equivalent perspective
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 gr iiix hdf has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7s ii is the most affordable; only the a7s ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | GR IIIx HDF (2024) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 1920 × 1080 / 60fps | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Phase/contrast hybrid CDAF with Snap Focus | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | 3-axis Shake Reduction (SR) — 4 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 4fps continuous | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | ~200 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 262g body only | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 122.5 × 69.5 × 35.2mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None — rear LCD only | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD touchscreen, 1.037M dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Fixed GR Lens 26.1mm f/2.8 (40mm equivalent) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | GR IIIx HDF | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with GR IIIx HDF
Camera family history