A7Svs A9 II
Sony
A9 II (2019)
Starting from £3299 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & photojournalism
View A9 II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
Professional Sports, Wildlife & Photojournalism — A9 II (2019): The A9 II polished the A9's groundbreaking formula — 20fps blackout-free, improved subject tracking, and a LAN port made it the professional sports standard.
Who should buy what
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
A9 II (2019)
- Sports photographers who need 20fps with reliable eye and body tracking
- Photojournalists who need LAN transfer and instant wireless file delivery
- Wildlife photographers who want the fastest Sony AF in a proven body
- A9 owners who need the improved ergonomics, weather sealing, and Ethernet
Quick take: The a9 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7S (2014) | A9 II (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £600 | £3,299 |
| Sensor | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 12.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF | 693 phase-detect + 425 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | None | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 20fps (blackout-free with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~500 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 678g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | 128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet (LAN), HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S | A9 II |
|---|---|---|
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history