Upgrade Guide

Sony A7S II→Sony A9 II

Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.

You own

Sony

A7S II

£799

2015

→

Upgrade to

Sony

A9 II

£3299 (+£2,500)

2019

✅

Worthwhile

Clear improvements over the A7S II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.

What's new in the A9 II

Suitability by genre

Full spec comparison

Spec	A7S II	A9 II
Price	£799	£3,299
Released	2015	2019	↑
Sensor	12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS	24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS
Resolution	12MP	24MP	↑
Video	4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3	4K/30p, 1080p/120p
Autofocus	169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards	693 phase-detect + 425 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking
Stabilisation	5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS)	IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5.5 stops
Burst Rate	5fps continuous	20fps (blackout-free with full AF/AE)	↑
Battery Life	~370 shots (CIPA)	~500 shots (CIPA)	↑
Weight	584g body only	678g (with battery and card)	↓
Weather Sealed	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder	EVF, 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 mount (full-frame E-mount)	Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards	Dual SD UHS-I slots	Dual SD UHS-II slots

Compare side-by-side

See A7S II and A9 II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

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Other upgrades from the A7S II

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