A7 IIvs A7 IV
VS
Which should you buy?
Travel, Portrait — A7 II (2014): The camera that proved full-frame IBIS was possible in a compact body.
Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
Who should buy what
A7 II (2014)
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want full-frame on a budget
- Film shooters adapting vintage lenses (IBIS helps enormously)
A7 IV (2021)
- Working photographers who want a reliable full-frame all-rounder
- Portrait, wedding, and event photographers needing 33MP and fast AF
- A7 III owners ready for a major upgrade in resolution, AF, and video
- Hybrid shooters who want 4K/60p and 33MP stills in one dependable body
Quick take: The a7 iv has the highest resolution at 33mp; the a7 ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 II (2014) | A7 IV (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £2,299 |
| Sensor | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 1080p 60fps | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 350 shots (CIPA) | ~580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 599g (body only) | 659g body only |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.7 × 59.7mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.23M-dot | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, NFC, Micro USB, Micro HDMI | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 II | A7 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Portraits | — | |
| Outdoor Portraits | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with A7 II
Camera family history