Upgrade Guide
Sony A7→Sony A7 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A7. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the A7 II
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
-
Generation1 year newer (2014 vs 2013)
Unchanged or similar
-
ResolutionSimilar (24MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | A7 | A7 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.2 | ||
| Street | -0.3 | ||
| Travel | -0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.2 | ||
| Documentary | +0.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wildlife | +0.2 | ||
| Casual | -0.1 | ||
| Food | +0.3 | ||
| Macro | +0.5 | ||
| Architecture | +0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.8 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7 | A7 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £151 used | £288 used | |
| Released | 2013 | 2014 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p 60fps | |
| Autofocus | 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 5fps | |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | 350 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 599g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-Mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the A7 II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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