Upgrade Guide
Sony A7S II→Sony A7 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the A7S II. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the A7 II
-
Resolution24MP vs 12MP (+12MP)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S II | A7 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Low Light | — | ||
| Wedding | — | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Sports | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7S II | A7 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £549 | |
| Released | 2015 | 2014 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 | 1080p 60fps | |
| Autofocus | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps continuous | 5fps | |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | 350 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 584g body only | 599g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.23M-dot | |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-Mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-I slots | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A7S II and A7 II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the A7 II against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the A7S II
Related buying guides
Camera family history