Upgrade Guide
Sony A7S→Sony A7S II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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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
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Generation1 year newer (2015 vs 2014)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (12MP)
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 | A7S II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.5 | ||
| Street | -0.4 | ||
| Travel | -0.4 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | +0.3 | ||
| Documentary | +0.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.4 | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wildlife | +0.2 | ||
| Casual | -0.2 | ||
| Food | +0.3 | ||
| Macro | +0.5 | ||
| Architecture | +0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.8 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7S | A7S II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £303 used | £381 used | |
| 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 | Contrast-detect AF, 25 points | Contrast-detect AF, 169 points; limited by modern standards | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 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
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A7S and A7S 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 A7S II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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