A7S IIvs Sony A9 III
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S II
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
Who should buy what
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
Sony A9 III (2023)
- Professional sports photographers who need zero blackout and 120fps burst
- Wildlife photographers who demand the most advanced Sony AF available
- Photojournalists who need flash sync at any shutter speed
- A9 II owners upgrading to the world's first full-frame global shutter
Quick take: The sony a9 iii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the a7s ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7S II (2015) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 12.1MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 5fps continuous | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 584g body only | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-I slots | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S II | Sony A9 III |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with A7S II
Camera family history