A1vs A7S II
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
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 Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting — A1 (2021): 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
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 (2021)
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
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 has the highest resolution at 50mp; the a7s ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A1 (2021) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £799 |
| Sensor | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 50.1MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | ~430 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 737g (with battery) | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A1 | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Street | — |
More comparisons with A1
Camera family history