A7R IIIvs A7S II
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
VS
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking — A7S II (2015): A landmark in mirrorless history — the first Sony with IBIS and internal 4K, its low-light video capability still impresses today at a used-market price.
Who should buy what
A7R III (2017)
- Landscape and studio photographers who need 42MP resolution at a used-price discount vs A7R IV
- Canon/Nikon DSLR professionals considering a mirrorless switch at a lower investment
- Commercial and product photographers who want full-frame resolution with IBIS for handheld work
- Portrait photographers who want the sharpest possible full-frame files for large print work
A7S II (2015)
- Filmmakers and videographers who want legendary low-light performance at a used-price discount
- Documentary shooters working in unpredictable available light conditions
- A7S III shooters who want a second Sony FE body for backup or B-camera use
- Budget-conscious video producers who want full-frame 4K with S-Log at an accessible price
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the a7s ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R III (2017) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,799 | £799 |
| Sensor | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 42.4MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 650g body only | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R III | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports | ||
| Low Light | — |
More comparisons with A7R III
Camera family history