Upgrade Guide
Sony A7S II→Sony RX100 VII
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Strong upgrade
The RX100 VII improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most A7S II owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the RX100 VII
-
Resolution20MP vs 12MP (+8MP)
-
Burst rate20fps AF/AE tracking (90fps short burst) vs 5fps continuous
-
Generation4 years newer (2019 vs 2015)
Unchanged or similar
-
Weather sealingNot present in new body
-
StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
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 | RX100 VII | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.2 | ||
| Street | +1.9 | ||
| Travel | +1.9 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.7 | ||
| Filmmaking | -1.3 | ||
| Documentary | -0.3 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.5 | ||
| Landscape | -0.7 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.9 | ||
| Casual | +2.8 | ||
| Food | +0.2 | ||
| Macro | -0.9 | ||
| Architecture | -0.2 | ||
| Astrophotography | -2.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7S II | RX100 VII | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £1,099 | |
| Released | 2015 | 2019 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS BSI CMOS (stacked) | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 20MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 | 4K/30p HLG, FHD/960fps super slow-motion | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, 169 points; limited by modern standards | 357-point phase-detect + 425 contrast, Eye AF, tracking | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) | 3-stop Optical SteadyShot | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps continuous | 20fps AF/AE tracking (90fps short burst) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 584g (body only) | 302g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | Pop-up EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-I slots | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A7S II and RX100 VII 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 RX100 VII against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the A7S II
Related buying guides
Camera family history