Upgrade Guide

Sony A7S→Sony A7S II

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

You own

Sony

A7S

£600

2014

→

Upgrade to

Sony

A7S II

£799 (+£199)

2015

✅

Worthwhile

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

What's new in the A7S II

Unchanged or similar

Suitability by genre

Full spec comparison

Spec	A7S	A7S II
Price	£600	£799
Released	2014	2015	↑
Sensor	12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS	12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS
Resolution	12MP	12MP	↓
Video	1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder)	4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3
Autofocus	Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF	169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards
Stabilisation	None	5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS)
Burst Rate	5fps	5fps continuous
Battery Life	~370 shots (CIPA)	~370 shots (CIPA)
Weight	474g (with battery and card)	584g body only	↓
Weather Sealed	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder	Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification	EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification
Screen	3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots	3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots
Mount	Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)	Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards	Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot	Dual SD UHS-I slots

Compare side-by-side

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

Get a personalised upgrade score

Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the A7S II against your specific genres — not just specs.

Other upgrades from the A7S

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Camera family history