Decision tools · Compare
A7 II vs A7 III
Quick take: The A7 II has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A7 II is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·14 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?
A7 II — Travel, Portrait: The camera that proved full-frame IBIS was possible in a compact body.
A7 III — All-Round Photography & Video: Still one of the best all-round cameras money can buy — particularly strong used. The A7 III proved that full-frame doesn't have to mean compromises, and nothing at this price point has meaningfully beaten it.
Who should buy what
A7 II (2014)
is the right camera for you if…
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want full-frame on a budget
- Film shooters adapting vintage lenses (IBIS helps enormously)
A7 III (2018)
is the right camera for you if…
- Enthusiast photographers upgrading from APS-C for the first time
- Working photographers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Anyone who shoots in low light regularly
- Hybrid shooters needing both stills and video performance
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A7 IISony · 2014 | A7 IIISony · 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £549Best | £1,099 |
| Sensor | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MPBest | 24.2MP |
| Video | 1080p 60fps | 4K/30p (6K oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fps with AF/AE trackingBest |
| Battery Life | 350 shots (CIPA) | ~710 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 599g (body only) | 565g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.7 × 59.7mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Sony E-Mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo | Dual SD (UHS-II slot 1, UHS-I slot 2) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, NFC, Micro USB, Micro HDMI | USB-C (USB 3.2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 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
A7 II
A7 III
Portrait
6.8/10
7.6/10
Street
5.9/10
6.2/10
Travel
5.7/10
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
5.5/10
7.5/10
Documentary
5.7/10
6.8/10
Sports & Action
5.8/10
7.3/10
Landscape
5.8/10
6.2/10
Wildlife
6.7/10
7.5/10
Casual
3.8/10
5.4/10
Food
6.0/10
6.6/10
Macro
5.5/10
5.8/10
Architecture
5.7/10
6.1/10
Astrophotography
6.4/10
7.4/10
Filmmaking
—
6.4/10
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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