Sony
A1 II 2024
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
£5699
new today at Wex Photo Video
Decision tools · Compare
A1 II vs A7S
Quick take: The A1 II has the highest resolution at 50MP; the A7S is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
A1 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work: The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
A7S — Astrophotography & Low-Light: 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
A1 II (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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 (2014)
is the right camera for you if…
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A1 IISony · 2024 | A7SSony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,699 | £303 usedBest |
| Sensor | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 50.1MPBest | 12.2MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3 | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train | Contrast-detect AF, 25 points |
| Stabilisation | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanicalBest | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~530 shots (CIPA)Best | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 743g (body only) | 474g (with battery and card)Best |
| Dimensions | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available | Electronic, 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 (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
A1 II
A7S
Portrait
9.0/10
5.3/10
Street
6.6/10
5.7/10
Travel
6.4/10
5.6/10
Wedding & Events
8.7/10
4.3/10
Vlogging & Video
6.4/10
—
Filmmaking
8.2/10
5.9/10
Documentary
8.3/10
5.6/10
Sports & Action
9.3/10
4.8/10
Landscape
8.0/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
9.2/10
5.4/10
Casual
5.3/10
3.7/10
Food
8.5/10
4.9/10
Macro
8.1/10
4.3/10
Architecture
8.4/10
4.7/10
Astrophotography
7.2/10
6.0/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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