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A7R IV vs A7S II

Quick take: The A7R IV has the highest resolution at 61MP; 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.

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 IV — Landscape, Studio, Commercial: 61MP in a mirrorless body — the resolution benchmark.

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 IV (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Landscape photographers who print large
  • Studio shooters needing maximum detail
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 IVSony · 2019A7S IISony · 2015
Price £2,199£799Best
Sensor Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS 35mm12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS
Resolution 61.0MPBest12.1MP
Video 4K 30fps4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3
Autofocus 567-point phase-detect, real-time trackingContrast-detect AF, 169 points; limited by modern standards
Stabilisation 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS)
Burst Rate 10fpsBest5fps continuous
Battery Life 670 shots (CIPA)Best~370 shots (CIPA)
Weight 665g (body only)584g (body only)Best
Dimensions 128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5mm126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dotEVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification
Screen 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.44M-dot3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots
Mount Sony E-MountSony FE mount (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards Dual SD UHS-II slotsDual SD UHS-I slots
Connectivity Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 4.1, USB-C 3.2USB 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 IV
A7S II
Portrait
8.1/10
5.8/10
Street
6.2/10
5.3/10
Travel
6.2/10
5.2/10
Wedding & Events
7.8/10
5.6/10
Filmmaking
6.4/10
6.2/10
Documentary
6.9/10
5.8/10
Sports & Action
7.4/10
5.2/10
Landscape
7.9/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
7.7/10
5.6/10
Casual
4.8/10
3.5/10
Food
7.4/10
5.2/10
Macro
6.5/10
4.8/10
Architecture
8.1/10
4.8/10
Astrophotography
6.9/10
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 →

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