A7C IIvs A7S III
Sony
A7S III (2020)
Starting from £2999 new
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
View A7S III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Full-Frame Hybrid — A7C II (2023): Full-frame AI autofocus in the most compact body available — the best camera under £1,500 for hybrid shooters.
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
A7C II (2023)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact body
- Hybrid shooters who need full-frame video and IBIS in a small package
- A7C owners looking for a significant AF and video upgrade
- Portrait and wedding photographers who want a discreet full-frame backup
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 a7c ii has the highest resolution at 33mp; the a7c ii is the most affordable; only the a7s iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7C II (2023) | A7S III (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,499 | £2,999 |
| Sensor | 33MP Full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 33.0MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit internal | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~530 shots (CIPA) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording |
| Weight | 514g body only | 699g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: SD UHS-II + CFexpress Type A | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | USB-C (3.2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7C II | A7S III |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Travel | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with A7C II
Camera family history