Upgrade Guide
Sony ZV-1F→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 4 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most ZV-1F owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the A7S II
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate5fps continuous vs 3.5fps (continuous AF)
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Battery life~370 shots (CIPA) vs 260 shots (CIPA, estimated)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution12MP (down from 20MP — 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 | ZV-1F | A7S II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +2.2 | ||
| Street | -1.0 | ||
| Travel | -1.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.0 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | +2.4 | ||
| Documentary | +0.8 | ||
| Landscape | +0.5 | ||
| Casual | -3.6 | ||
| Food | -1.0 | ||
| Macro | +0.6 | ||
| Architecture | +0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | +3.1 | ||
| Fun & simple | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | ZV-1F | A7S II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £799 | |
| Released | 2022 | 2015 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect AF with subject tracking (people, animals, birds) | Contrast-detect AF, 169 points; limited by modern standards | |
| Stabilisation | None (digital Active SteadyShot only) | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) | |
| Burst Rate | 3.5fps (continuous AF) | 5fps continuous | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 260 shots (CIPA, estimated) | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 256g (with battery and card) | 584g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | None (screen only) | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | |
| Screen | Fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | |
| Mount | Fixed 20mm f/2 lens (wide-angle, vlogging-focused) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-I) | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See ZV-1F and A7S II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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