A7 IIvs A7S III
VS
Sony
A7S III (2020)
Starting from £2999 new
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
View A7S III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel, Portrait — A7 II (2014): The camera that proved full-frame IBIS was possible in a compact body.
Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking — A7S III (2020): If video is your primary discipline, the A7S III is the camera. 4K/120p at 10-bit in a weather-sealed body with a 9.44M dot EVF is an extraordinary package. The 12MP sensor isn't limiting for video — and it's usable at ISO 409,600 in a pinch.
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)
A7S III (2020)
- Filmmakers and videographers who need 4K/120p at 10-bit
- Event videographers who shoot in dark venues regularly
- Documentary filmmakers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Hybrid shooters where video is primary and stills are secondary
Quick take: The a7 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7 ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 II (2014) | A7S III (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £2,999 |
| Sensor | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 1080p 60fps | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 350 shots (CIPA) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording |
| Weight | 599g (body only) | 699g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.7 × 59.7mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.23M-dot | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Sony E-Mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, NFC, Micro USB, Micro HDMI | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 II | A7S III |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with A7 II
Camera family history