Upgrade Guide
Sony RX1R→Sony A7S II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The A7S II improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most RX1R owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the A7S II
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Battery life~370 shots (CIPA) vs ~220 shots (CIPA)
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Generation2 years newer (2015 vs 2013)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution12MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
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 | RX1R | A7S II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.8 | ||
| Street | -1.3 | ||
| Travel | +0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.1 | ||
| Documentary | +1.9 | ||
| Landscape | +0.7 | ||
| Casual | +0.1 | ||
| Food | +1.0 | ||
| Macro | +1.7 | ||
| Architecture | +0.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | +2.1 | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | RX1R | A7S II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £427 used | £381 used | |
| Released | 2013 | 2015 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP full-frame CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/60 | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 | |
| Autofocus | 25-point contrast-detect AF with face detection | Contrast-detect AF, 169 points; limited by modern standards | |
| Stabilisation | Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps (2.5fps with AF-S per frame) | 5fps continuous | |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 482g (with battery and card) | 584g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Optional EVF (FDA-EV1MK) or optical finder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | |
| Mount | Fixed Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm f/2 | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / Memory Stick slot | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See RX1R and A7S II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the A7S II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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