Sony
A7S II 2015
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
£799
list price · used from £400 at eBay
Decision tools · Compare
A7S II vs A7S III
Quick take: The A7S II is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 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 III 2020
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
£3389
new today at Clifton Cameras
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?
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.
A7S III — Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking: 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
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
A7S III (2020)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A7S IISony · 2015 | A7S IIISony · 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £799Best | £3,389 |
| Sensor | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 12.1MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, 169 points; limited by modern standards | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 5fps continuous | 10fps mechanicalBest |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recordingBest |
| Weight | 584g (body only)Best | 699g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-I slots | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
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
A7S II
A7S III
Portrait
5.8/10
7.5/10
Street
5.3/10
6.2/10
Travel
5.4/10
6.2/10
Wedding & Events
5.6/10
7.5/10
Filmmaking
6.2/10
8.2/10
Documentary
5.8/10
7.7/10
Sports & Action
5.2/10
7.4/10
Landscape
5.0/10
5.5/10
Wildlife
5.6/10
7.5/10
Casual
3.5/10
4.9/10
Food
5.2/10
6.8/10
Macro
4.8/10
5.8/10
Architecture
4.8/10
5.5/10
Astrophotography
6.8/10
7.8/10
Vlogging & Video
—
6.1/10
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 A7S II
Camera family history