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Sony A7S vs A7S II

The Sony Alpha A7S and the Sony Alpha 7S II are two professional cameras that were announced, respectively, in April 2014 and September 2015. Both the A7S and the A7S II are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 12 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Sony A7S
versus
Sony A7S II
Sony A7S   Sony A7S II
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
12 MP – Full Frame sensor 12 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/60p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-102,400 (50 - 409,600) ISO 100-102,400 (50 - 409,600)
Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots) Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots)
3.0" LCD – 921k dots 3.0" LCD – 1229k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen) Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
5 shutter flaps per second 5 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
380 shots per battery charge370 shots per battery charge
127 x 94 x 48 mm, 489 g 127 x 96 x 60 mm, 627 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha A7S and the Sony Alpha 7S II? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Sony A7S and the Sony A7S II is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Sony A7S vs Sony A7S II
Compare A7S versus A7S II top
Comparison A7S or A7S II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A7S II is somewhat larger (2 percent) than the Sony A7S. Moreover, the A7S II is markedly heavier (28 percent) than the A7S. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Sony FE Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A7S 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 489 g 380 Y Apr 2014 US$ 2 499ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7S II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 627 g 370 Y Sep 2015 US$ 2 999ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon Df 144 mm 110 mm 67 mm 760 g 1400 Y Nov 2013 US$ 2 749ebay.com
4.
 
Sony A7 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 474 g 340 Y Oct 2013 US$ 1 699ebay.com
5.
 
Sony A7 II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 599 g 350 Y Nov 2014 US$ 1 999ebay.com
6.
 
Sony A7 IV 131 mm 96 mm 80 mm 659 g 580 Y Oct 2021 US$ 2 499 amazon.com
7.
 
Sony A7R 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 465 g 340 Y Oct 2013 US$ 2 299ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A7R II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 625 g 290 Y Jun 2015 US$ 3 199ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A7R IV 129 mm 96 mm 78 mm 665 g 670 Y Jul 2019 US$ 3 499ebay.com
10.
 
Sony A7S III 127 mm 97 mm 81 mm 699 g 600 Y Jul 2020 US$ 3 499 amazon.com
11.
 
Sony RX1 113 mm 65 mm 70 mm 482 g 270 n Sep 2012 US$ 2 799ebay.com
12.
 
Sony RX1R 113 mm 65 mm 70 mm 482 g 270 n Jun 2013 US$ 2 799ebay.com
13.
 
Sony RX1R II 113 mm 65 mm 72 mm 507 g 220 n Oct 2015 US$ 3 299ebay.com
14.
 
Sony ZV-E1 121 mm 72 mm 54 mm 483 g 570 Y Mar 2023 US$ 2 199 amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The A7S was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 17 percent) than the A7S II, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the A7S II is 1 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Sony A7S and Sony A7S II sensor measures

Even though the A7S has a slightly larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 12 megapixels. This implies that the A7S has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 8.45μm versus 8.40μm for the A7S II), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. It should, however, be noted that the A7S II is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 5 months) than the A7S, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The Sony Alpha A7S has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 102400, which can be extended to ISO 50-409600. The Sony Alpha 7S II offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

A7S versus A7S II MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony A7S Full Frame 12.0 4240 28321080/60p23.913.2370287
2.
 
Sony A7S II Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/30p23.613.3299385
3.
 
Nikon Df Full Frame 16.2 4928 3280none24.613.1327989
4.
 
Sony A7 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.814.2224890
5.
 
Sony A7 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.913.6244990
6.
 
Sony A7 IV Full Frame 32.7 7008 46724K/60p25.414.7337997
7.
 
Sony A7R Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60p25.614.1274695
8.
 
Sony A7R II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.013.9343498
9.
 
Sony A7R IV Full Frame 60.2 9504 63364K/30p26.014.8334499
10.
 
Sony A7S III Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/120p23.713.9252086
11.
 
Sony RX1 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p25.114.3253493
12.
 
Sony RX1R Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p25.013.6253791
13.
 
Sony RX1R II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53041080/60p25.813.9320497
14.
 
Sony ZV-E1 Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/60p25.414.6318196
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the A7S II provides a better video resolution than the A7S. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the A7S is limited to 1080/60p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The A7S and the A7S II are similar in the sense that both feature an electronic viewfinder, which is helpful when framing images in bright sunlight. Moreover, their viewfinders offer an identical resolution of 2400k dots. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Sony A7S and Sony A7S II along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Sony A7S2400 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
2.
 
Sony A7S II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
3.
 
Nikon Dfoptical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s n n
4.
 
Sony A72400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
5.
 
Sony A7 II2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
6.
 
Sony A7 IV3686 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
7.
 
Sony A7R2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 4.0/s n n
8.
 
Sony A7R II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
9.
 
Sony A7R IV5760 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
10.
 
Sony A7S III9440 n3.0 / 1440 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
11.
 
Sony RX1optional n3.0 / 1229 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
12.
 
Sony RX1Roptional n3.0 / 1229 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Sony RX1R II2360 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/4000s 5.0/s n n
14.
 
Sony ZV-E1none n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that differentiates the A7S II and the A7S is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The A7S II reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the A7S offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the A7S and the A7S II write their files to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Alpha A7S and Sony Alpha 7S II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony A7SYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
2.
 
Sony A7S IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
3.
 
Nikon DfY- / ---mini2.0---
4.
 
Sony A7Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
5.
 
Sony A7 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
6.
 
Sony A7 IVYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
7.
 
Sony A7RYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
8.
 
Sony A7R IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
9.
 
Sony A7R IVYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
10.
 
Sony A7S IIIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
11.
 
Sony RX1Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
12.
 
Sony RX1RYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
13.
 
Sony RX1R IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
14.
 
Sony ZV-E1Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.2Y-Y

Both the A7S and the A7S II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The A7S was replaced by the Sony A7S II, while the A7S II was followed by the Sony A7S III. Further information on the features and operation of the A7S and A7S II can be found, respectively, in the Sony A7S Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A7S II Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Sony A7S and the Sony A7S II? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Advantages of the Sony Alpha A7S:

  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 138g or 22 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (17 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in April 2014).


Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha 7S II:

  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.78x vs 0.71x).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1229k vs 921k dots).
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 5 months) more recently.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A7S II emerges as the winner of the match-up (5 : 3 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

A7S 03:05 A7S II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony A7S and the Sony A7S II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the A7S or the A7S II. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A7S4/5....86/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2014 US$ 2 499ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7S II5/5+....4.5/55/5 Sep 2015 US$ 2 999ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon Df4/5....81/1004/54/5 Nov 2013 US$ 2 749ebay.com
4.
 
Sony A75/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 US$ 1 699ebay.com
5.
 
Sony A7 II5/5+4/582/1004.5/55/5 Nov 2014 US$ 1 999ebay.com
6.
 
Sony A7 IV5/5+ +4.5/589/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2021 US$ 2 499 amazon.com
7.
 
Sony A7R5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2013 US$ 2 299ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A7R II5/5+ +5/590/1005/55/5 Jun 2015 US$ 3 199ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A7R IV5/5+4.5/591/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2019 US$ 3 499ebay.com
10.
 
Sony A7S III4.5/5+ +5/591/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2020 US$ 3 499 amazon.com
11.
 
Sony RX15/5....79/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 2 799ebay.com
12.
 
Sony RX1R5/5......4/54.5/5 Jun 2013 US$ 2 799ebay.com
13.
 
Sony RX1R II5/5....82/100..4.5/5 Oct 2015 US$ 3 299ebay.com
14.
 
Sony ZV-E1..+4/5....4.5/5 Mar 2023 US$ 2 199 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Sony A7S vs Sony A7S II

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Sony A7S Sony A7S II
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date April 2014 September 2015
    Launch Price USD 2,499 USD 2,999
    Sensor Specs Sony A7S Sony A7S II
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 35.8 x 23.9 mm 35.6 x 23.8 mm
    Sensor Area 855.62 mm2 847.28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 43 mm 42.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.0x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4240 x 2832 pixels 4240 x 2832 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 8.45 μm 8.40 μm
    Pixel Density 1.40 MP/cm2 1.42 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 102,400 ISO 100 - 102,400 ISO
    ISO Boost 50 - 409,600 ISO 50 - 409,600 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ X BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 87 85
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.9 23.6
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.2 13.3
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 3702 2993
    Screen Specs Sony A7S Sony A7S II
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.71x 0.78x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2400k dots 2400k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 921k dots 1229k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Shooting Specs Sony A7S Sony A7S II
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 5 shutter flaps/s 5 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic ShutterYESYES
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Sony A7S Sony A7S II
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Body Specs Sony A7S Sony A7S II
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Sony NP-FW50 Sony NP-FW50
    Battery Life (CIPA)380 shots per charge370 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 127 x 94 x 48 mm
    (5.0 x 3.7 x 1.9 in)
    127 x 96 x 60 mm
    (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4 in)
    Camera Weight 489 g (17.2 oz) 627 g (22.1 oz)
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