A7S IIvs Sony RX100 VII
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S II
Sony
Sony RX100 VII (2019)
Starting from £1099 new
Best for Travel & versatility
View Sony RX100 VII
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.
Travel & Versatility — Sony RX100 VII (2019): The most versatile compact camera ever made — 24-200mm zoom, 20fps burst, and 960fps slow-motion in a jacket pocket.
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 RX100 VII (2019)
- Travel photographers who want the most capable 1-inch compact available
- Vloggers who need fast AF and a flip screen in a jacket-pocket body
- Photographers who want a high-quality compact backup to a mirrorless system
- Anyone who wants professional AF performance without carrying a large camera
Quick take: The sony rx100 vii has the highest resolution at 20mp; the a7s ii is the most affordable; only the a7s ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7S II (2015) | Sony RX100 VII (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £1,099 |
| Sensor | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS BSI CMOS (stacked) |
| Resolution | 12.1MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 | 4K/30p HLG, FHD/960fps super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards | 357-point phase-detect + 425 contrast, Eye AF, tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) | 3-stop Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 5fps continuous | 20fps AF/AE tracking (90fps short burst) |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 584g body only | 302g with battery and card |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm | 101.6 × 58.1 × 42.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | Pop-up EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-I slots | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S II | Sony RX100 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
More comparisons with A7S II
Camera family history