A1 IIvs A7S II
Sony
A1 II (2025)
Starting from £6500 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
View A1 II
VS
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?
Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work — A1 II (2025): The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
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
A1 II (2025)
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
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 a1 ii has the highest resolution at 50mp; the a7s ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A1 II (2025) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,500 | £799 |
| Sensor | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 50.1MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/240p super slow-motion | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | ~530 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 743g body only | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Sony E-mount (full-frame) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A1 II | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | — |
More comparisons with A1 II
Camera family history