A7vs A7 II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Camera History & Full-Frame Introduction — A7 (2013): The camera that changed photography — the world's first compact full-frame mirrorless, the A7 launched a product family that redefined what was possible.
Travel, Portrait — A7 II (2014): The camera that proved full-frame IBIS was possible in a compact body.
Who should buy what
A7 (2013)
- Photographers interested in the camera that launched the full-frame mirrorless era
- Budget-conscious buyers who want to experience full-frame image quality at minimal cost
- Sony FE system users who want the original A7 for sentimental or historical value
- Those adapting vintage lenses who want full-frame with phase-detect AF at low cost
A7 II (2014)
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want full-frame on a budget
- Film shooters adapting vintage lenses (IBIS helps enormously)
Quick take: The a7 is the most affordable; only the a7 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 (2013) | A7 II (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £299 | £549 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p 60fps |
| Autofocus | 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | 350 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 599g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.23M-dot |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-Mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | Wi-Fi, NFC, Micro USB, Micro HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 | A7 II |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history