Upgrade Guide
Sony A7 II→Sony A7S
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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The A7S offers little measurable spec improvement over the A7 II. Spend the money on glass instead.
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution12MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
-
StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 II | A7S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -2.0 | ||
| Street | -1.0 | ||
| Travel | -1.0 | ||
| Landscape | -2.0 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +2.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Astrophotography | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7 II | A7S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £600 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2014 | |
| Sensor | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p 60fps | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) | |
| Autofocus | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops | None | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 5fps | |
| Battery Life | 350 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 599g (body only) | 474g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot | Electronic, 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 (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
Compare side-by-side
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