Decision tools · Compare

A7 II vs A7 IV

Quick take: The A7 IV has the highest resolution at 33MP; the A7 II 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.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

A7 II — Travel, Portrait: The camera that proved full-frame IBIS was possible in a compact body.

A7 IV — Portrait & Wedding Photography: 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)
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 IV (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
  • 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification A7 IISony · 2014A7 IVSony · 2021
Price £549Best£1,799
Sensor Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS
Resolution 24.3MP33.0MPBest
Video 1080p 60fps4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone
Autofocus 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition
Stabilisation 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops
Burst Rate 5fps10fps mechanical, 30fps electronicBest
Battery Life 350 shots (CIPA)~580 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 599g (body only)Best659g (body only)
Dimensions 126.9 × 95.7 × 59.7mm131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dotEVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification
Screen 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch)3.0" vari-angle touchscreen
Mount Sony E-MountSony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards SD / Memory Stick Pro DuoSlot 1 CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II, slot 2 SD UHS-II
Connectivity Wi-Fi, NFC, Micro USB, Micro HDMIUSB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

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 IV
Portrait
6.8/10
8.2/10
Street
5.9/10
6.5/10
Travel
5.9/10
6.5/10
Wedding & Events
5.5/10
7.9/10
Documentary
5.7/10
7.4/10
Sports & Action
5.8/10
7.5/10
Landscape
5.8/10
6.7/10
Wildlife
6.7/10
7.8/10
Casual
3.8/10
5.3/10
Food
6.0/10
7.6/10
Macro
5.5/10
7.3/10
Architecture
5.7/10
6.8/10
Astrophotography
6.4/10
7.3/10
Vlogging & Video
—
6.2/10
Filmmaking
—
7.2/10

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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