Upgrade Guide
Sony A7S II→Sony Sony FX5
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
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 Sony FX5
-
Resolution17MP vs 12MP (+5MP)
-
Burst rate10fps vs 5fps continuous
-
Generation11 years newer (2026 vs 2015)
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 | A7S II | Sony FX5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.1 | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Travel | +0.8 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.4 | ||
| Filmmaking | +2.5 | ||
| Documentary | +2.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.6 | ||
| Landscape | +0.1 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.2 | ||
| Casual | +1.6 | ||
| Food | +2.2 | ||
| Macro | +0.4 | ||
| Architecture | +1.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.1 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7S II | Sony FX5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £4,699 | |
| Released | 2015 | 2026 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS | 16.6MP full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 17MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 | 5K/60p open-gate, 4K/120p, internal RAW/X-OCN, 10-bit Log, triple base ISO | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, 169 points; limited by modern standards | AI-powered hybrid phase-detect AF (759 points) with subject tracking | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) | IBIS with Dynamic Active Mode | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps continuous | 10fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~105 min actual recording, ~170 min continuous (LCD) | ↓ |
| Weight | 584g (body only) | 734g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | Optional detachable EVF (DVF-EL1), OLED | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | Fully articulating touchscreen (4-axis arm) | |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-I slots | CFexpress Type A + SDXC (dual) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A7S II and Sony FX5 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 Sony FX5 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the A7S II
Related buying guides
Camera family history