Upgrade Guide
Sony A7 II→Sony A7S II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the A7 II. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the A7S II
-
Generation1 year newer (2015 vs 2014)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution12MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 II | A7S II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -2.0 | ||
| Street | -4.0 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +4.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Low Light | — | ||
| Wedding | — | ||
| Sports | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7 II | A7S II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £799 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2015 | ↑ |
| Sensor | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p 60fps | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 | |
| Autofocus | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 5fps continuous | |
| Battery Life | 350 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 599g (body only) | 584g body only | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.23M-dot | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | |
| Mount | Sony E-Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
Compare side-by-side
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