A7R IIvs A7S
Sony
A7R II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Portrait, landscape & studio photography
View A7R II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Portrait, Landscape & Studio Photography — A7R II (2015): The A7R II transformed the A7R series — adding IBIS, 4K video, BSI sensor tech, and phase-detect AF in one generation. A landmark Sony camera.
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
Who should buy what
A7R II (2015)
- Landscape and architecture photographers who want 42MP with IBIS for handheld shooting
- Portrait and studio photographers who need high resolution with improved AF reliability
- Sony FE system users who want a capable high-resolution body at a used price
- A7R I owners who need the stabilisation, 4K, and improved AF the original lacked
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The a7r ii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R II (2015) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £600 |
| Sensor | 42.4MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 42.4MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (S35 or full-frame), 1080p/120p | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points, face detection | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 4.5 stops (first A7R with IBIS) | None |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~290 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 625g (with battery and card) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R II | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Architecture | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Street | — |
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