Sony
A7R III 2017
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
£1799
list price · used from £668 at Wex Photo Video
Decision tools · Compare
A7R III vs A7S II
Quick take: The A7R III has the highest resolution at 42MP; the A7S II is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Sony
A7S II 2015
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
£799
list price · used from £400 at eBay
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
A7R III — Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography: The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
A7S II — Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking: 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)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A7R IIISony · 2017 | A7S IISony · 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,799 | £799Best |
| Sensor | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 42.4MPBest | 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 | Contrast-detect AF, 169 points; 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 trackingBest | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA)Best | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 650g (body only) | 584g (body only)Best |
| 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 |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
A7R III
A7S II
Portrait
7.8/10
5.8/10
Street
6.1/10
5.3/10
Travel
6.1/10
5.2/10
Wedding & Events
7.5/10
5.6/10
Filmmaking
6.3/10
6.2/10
Documentary
6.7/10
5.8/10
Sports & Action
7.3/10
5.2/10
Landscape
7.4/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
7.6/10
5.6/10
Casual
4.7/10
3.5/10
Food
7.0/10
5.2/10
Macro
6.2/10
4.8/10
Architecture
7.5/10
4.8/10
Astrophotography
7.0/10
6.8/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
Next
More comparisons with A7R III
Camera family history