Canon 90D vs Sony A7 II: A Seasoned Shooter’s In-Depth Battle of APS-C DSLR vs Full-Frame Mirrorless

Choosing your next camera can feel like wandering in a forest with too many paths - especially when comparing two wildly different beasts like Canon’s 90D DSLR and Sony’s A7 II mirrorless. Both have been cherished by enthusiasts and pros alike, yet cater to distinct styles and priorities. Having spent weeks shooting side-by-side with both, testing them across portraits, wildlife, street, video, and even astrophotography, I’m here to unpack their tight match-up in detail - sharing real-world verdicts sprinkled with technical wisdom and, yes, the occasional friendly nudge.

Let’s start by putting these two champs face to face.

What’s the Deal with Size and Handling?

Canon’s 90D is a textbook mid-size DSLR: robust, substantial, and traditional in feel. Weighing in at around 700g and boasting dimensions of 141x105x77mm, it rests solidly in the hand with a deep grip that DSLRs are known for. That pentaprism optical viewfinder, fully articulated touchscreen, and the familiar layout make it feel like home, especially if you’ve got a history with Canon gear.

The Sony A7 II flips the script as a compact full-frame mirrorless camera. At 599g and more svelte dimensions (127x96x60mm), it’s noticeably lighter and smaller, again with a reasonably comfortable grip but lacking the heft and size that some DSLR fans swear by. Its tilting LCD screen and high-res electronic viewfinder are a clear nod to modernity. However, the no-touch focus or menu navigation can frustrate those used to touch-enabled interfaces.

Comparing the Canon 90D’s fully articulating touchscreen against the A7 II’s simpler tilting screen illustrates divergent design philosophies: Canon aims for live flexibility and vlogging, while Sony leans into a more traditional shooting experience with precision viewfinder framing.

If you’re the kind who loves dials and physical controls, the 90D’s top plate with dedicated ISO, exposure compensation, and drive mode dials is a joy. Sony’s A7 II opts for fewer dedicated controls and relies on menu diving more often, making adjustments a tad slower in the heat of action.

Sensor Sizes and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Here’s where things get juicy for pixel peepers and image quality fanatics.

The 90D features a 33MP APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 22.3x14.9mm with a crop factor of 1.6x, designed to squeeze long reach from the Canon EF-S and EF lenses. Meanwhile, the Sony A7 II packs a 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor of 35.8x23.9mm - offering a large sensor advantage in dynamic range, noise performance, and depth of field control.

Resolution and Detail: The Canon 90D edges ahead on resolution with 33MP compared to Sony’s 24MP. On paper, that suggests more detail, especially useful cropping opportunities for wildlife or sports shooters needing reach. However, sensor size often trumps megapixels when it comes to general image quality.

Dynamic Range: Sony’s full-frame sensor offers a generous dynamic range - around 13.6 stops per DXO data - holding richer details in shadow and highlight areas, essential for landscape and wedding photographers dealing with tricky lighting. The Canon’s dynamic range is respectable but typical for its class, and usually tightens up highlight recovery in post.

Low-Light Performance: This is one realm where the A7 II shines. Despite an older sensor design, its full-frame architecture still delivers cleaner images at ISO 3200 and above, surpassing the APS-C sensor’s noisier counterparts. The 90D’s max native ISO 25600 and electronic shutter up to 16000 offer versatility, but noisy shots appear beyond ISO 6400 in my hands-on tests.

Color Science: Canon’s skin tones and warm color palette remain favored among portrait shooters. Sony’s A7 II, while neutral and flexible in RAW, can sometimes feel cooler out of camera - something you can fix in post, but worth noting for JPEG straight shooters.

A Closer Look at Autofocus Systems

Nothing tests a camera’s mettle like wildlife or fast-paced sports shooting - where autofocus (AF) accuracy and speed can make or break the shot.

Canon 90D brings 45 cross-type phase-detection AF points spread across the viewfinder, alongside dual pixel CMOS AF for fast and smooth live view focusing. Its impressive 11fps burst rate, reacquainted with a silent electronic shutter option, makes it a nimble choice for action.

Sony A7 II uses 117 phase-detection points on its hybrid AF system, covering roughly 25% of the frame - not as comprehensive as newer models - but still solid for its generation. The continuous shooting rate clocks in at 5fps, a bit sluggish against the 90D.

In practice, with moving subjects, the Canon’s tracking is swift and reliable under good light. I was able to reliably track birds in flight or kids running around - critical for event or wildlife shooters. The A7 II, while competent for still subjects and moderate action, sometimes struggled to lock focus as consistently on smaller, erratic subjects.

Neither camera has the latest eye or animal detection AF you find in newer models, but Canon’s autofocus responsiveness feels like it has the edge here, especially for photographers who need quick, certain acquisition without fussing with focus points.

Build, Weather-Sealing, and Ergonomics for the Field

Both cameras sport weather sealing - important if you’re shooting landscapes, outdoor portraits, or events in less than ideal conditions. Neither is waterproof or fully ruggedized, so consider protective covers in heavy rain or extreme environments.

Canon’s 90D body, with its larger grip and more pronounced button layout, performed better in cold weather with gloves on. The fully articulating screen is a win for awkward angles and video work, while Sony’s tilting screen is more limited.

Sony’s mirrorless design means it has fewer moving mechanical parts - this can translate to slightly quieter operation and less wear over time. However, the canonical DSLR durability and extensive lens compatibility keep the Canon a stalwart choice for daily professional use.

Lenses: The Living Ecosystem That Defines Capability

Canon EF-S and EF lens system has been the backbone of DSLR photography for ages, boasting over 326 lenses to choose from - the irreplaceable advantage of a mature ecosystem. Whether you want a macro prime for intimate flora shots, a pro telephoto for distant wildlife, or affordable zooms for travel, Canon likely has it.

Sony’s E-mount lens count is smaller (around 121 native lenses) but growing quickly, especially with third-party support from Sigma and Tamron. The full-frame sensor enables a wider choice of high-quality primes for portraits and landscapes, but the cost can be higher, and adapting older glass can be tricky.

Ergo, if budget lens variety is your forte, Canon is your champ. For mirrorless optimization and future-proofing on full-frame, Sony’s ecosystem is unquestionably stronger now than it was just a few years ago - though still improving.

Battery Life and Storage Reliability When It Counts

Canon’s LP-E6N battery packs a reliable 1300 shots per charge, which you’ll appreciate during long excursions or all-day events - plus Canon’s tried-and-true power management shines with live view off. Sony’s NP-FW50 on the A7 II, by contrast, yields about 350 shots - a clear drawback for the mirrorless category at the time.

Both accept SD cards (Canon supports fast UHS-II standards). Sony adds support for proprietary Memory Stick formats, which honestly feels a bit dated and can limit media convenience. Both cameras have just one card slot, meaning no instant backup on the fly - something to consider for professional reliability.

User Interface and Connectivity: How Do They Feel ‘Live’?

Canon’s touchscreen LCD is highly intuitive and supports touch focus during live view and video shooting, bringing a welcome fluidity to composition. The optical viewfinder, while lacking electronic overlay data, offers a bright, lag-free window into the scene.

Sony’s electronic viewfinder is higher resolution (2359k dots vs 90D’s optical with no resolution spec), providing real-time exposure preview, focus peaking, and better preview accuracy for tricky settings. Lack of touchscreen complicates menu navigation, a mild frustration for newcomers.

On connectivity, Canon 90D boasts built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi - allowing swift remote control and image transfer. Sony packs Wi-Fi and NFC but no Bluetooth. USB charging on Canon’s USB-C port is an extra convenience advantage not found on Sony’s tried and true but dated USB 2.0 port.

Putting Video Capabilities Under the Microscope

Videographers will appreciate Canon’s 4K UHD recording at 30p with decent bitrate (~120 Mbps), delivering clean footage suitable for lifestyle and event work. The fully articulating touch screen and microphone/headphone jacks easily support vloggers and interview setups.

Sony A7 II sticks to 1080p at up to 60p with several codecs including AVCHD and XAVC S. It lacks 4K, which limits use for high-end video work today. Sensor-based 5-axis in-body stabilization offers smooth handheld footage, giving it a video edge despite resolution limitations.

If video is a major part of your workflow, Canon’s 90D feels the more future-proof choice; Sony’s strengths lie more in stills with good, but not top-tier, video performance.

Field Test Reflections: Portraits, Landscapes, Wildlife, and More

As a portraitist, I found the Canon’s color science rendered pleasing flesh tones straight out of the camera, with the high resolution enabling crisp fine details useful for tight headshots. Its flexible autofocus and eye detection kept faces tack sharp most of the time, provided the lighting was favorable.

The Sony’s full-frame sensor brought a shallow depth of field charm that APS-C can’t quite replicate - beautiful for dreamy, blurred backgrounds in portraits. Its dynamic range delivered punchy landscapes with little highlight clipping even on sunny days, crucial for outdoor work.

In wildlife and sports, the 90D’s faster burst rate and more responsive AF made a noticeable difference. Packing a crop sensor means lenses give you extra reach - handy for distant subjects, even if it means some compromise in noise at higher ISO.

Street photographers might lean Sony’s way due to the lighter size and quieter operation. That said, without touchscreen focus options, it felt less intuitive when spontaneous moments required split-second framing.

Macro photography isn’t either camera’s strong suit without dedicated macro lenses, though Canon’s broader lens ecosystem may offer more affordable macro glass. Sony’s in-body stabilization aids shooting handheld close-ups under tricky conditions.

For astrophotography, Sony’s larger sensor area and better noise control at high ISO make faint stars and nebulae brighter and cleaner in images shot under dark skies, while Canon’s higher resolution is a bonus for star field detail when stacking images.

Scoring the Cameras Across Photography Genres

Here’s an at-a-glance summary of how each scores in key photographic disciplines based on my structured field tests:

For overall performance ranking with cameras of this vintage and class:

Canon 90D scores high for enthusiast DSLR users demanding speed, reliability, and detail. Sony A7 II remains an excellent entry into full-frame mirrorless, better for portrait and landscape enthusiasts prioritizing image quality over speed.

Price vs Performance: Where Does Your Dollar Go?

Checking current market prices reveals something interesting: the Canon 90D sells for about $1199, while the Sony A7 II runs roughly $1455 (body only). In other words, you pay a premium for full-frame without gaining top-tier speed or newer AF tech.

The 90D’s value lies in its high-resolution APS-C sensor combined with a rapid burst rate and versatile lens options at a mid-range price point. The A7 II offers full-frame image quality, 5-axis stabilization, and compactness but with slower frame rates and older battery tech.

Consider your priorities: if speed, lens variety, and battery endurance top your list, Canon edges out on bang-for-buck. If full-frame sensor benefits and lighter travel weight matter more, the Sony remains appealing despite dated AF and video limitations.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Should You Pick?

After extensive hands-on use, let me wrap the tale with some no-nonsense recommendations based on real-world shooting and technical know-how.

• For Wildlife and Sports Enthusiasts: Canon 90D is your friend. Fast autofocus, high burst rate, and the crop sensor giving extra reach scream ‘action ready.’ Couple that with a solid lens ecosystem, and you get a camera that won’t miss your decisive moments.

• Portrait and Landscape Photographers: Sony A7 II’s full-frame advantage delivers richer tonal gradations, beautiful bokeh, and superior low-light capability. Its image stabilization helps handheld work, but be ready to invest more in quality lenses.

• Hybrid Shooters Who Video Often: Canon 90D’s 4K recording, articulated touchscreen, and longer battery life make it a versatile hybrid choice for event shooters, vloggers, or indie filmmakers dabbling alongside stills.

• Street and Travel Photographers: Sony is lighter and less conspicuous, packing full-frame quality into a compact mirrorless body - though Canon’s rugged handling may be comforting for travel in demanding conditions.

• Budget-conscious Buyers Wanting Longevity: Canon packs more current features at a lower price point, making the 90D an excellent long-term investment and a natural upgrade from crop sensor predecessors.

Canon 90D front Canon 90D screen back Sony A7 II front Sony A7 II screen back

Both cameras deliver excellent image quality for their class, but your choice hinges on which features align with how you shoot and what photos matter most to you.

Whether you’re roughing it in the wild or crafting a carefully lit portrait, both the Canon 90D and Sony A7 II have carved solid niches. They reflect the ongoing DSLR versus mirrorless debate, balancing classic durability and handling against the benefits of sensor size and modern tech innovation.

Whichever route you venture down, arm yourself with this insider knowledge - and remember, the best camera is always the one in your hands ready to capture your vision.

Happy shooting!