Sony A7 II vs Sony A7c

Sony A7 II vs Sony A7c: A Deep Dive into Full-Frame Mirrorless Evolution

When Sony unleashed the original A7 series back in 2013, it was a seismic shift for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Fast forward a few years, and two notable models, the Sony Alpha A7 II (or A7 II, for brevity) and the Sony Alpha A7c, stand out, illustrating Sony’s trajectory in marrying full-frame image quality with modern usability. I’ve logged hundreds of hours with both cameras across various shoot scenarios - portrait, landscape, wildlife, you name it - to sort out what’s truly changed (and what hasn’t) for enthusiasts and pros alike.

So, how does the 2014-era A7 II hold up against the 2020 A7c, especially given their shared DNA but differing design philosophies and capabilities? Let’s embark on a detailed exploration.

A Tale of Two Bodies: Classic SLR vs Rangefinder-Inspired

First impressions matter, and the Sony A7 II and A7c couldn’t be more different at a glance. The A7 II sports that familiar SLR-style mirrorless design with a robust grip and heft, while the A7c boldly goes for a smaller, lighter rangefinder-style body meant to cater to travel and vloggers.

Weighing in at 599 grams (body only), the A7 II feels substantial but balanced - great for extended handheld use, even with larger lenses. The A7c tips the scales lighter at 509 grams and boasts more compact dimensions (124x71x60 mm) compared to the A7 II's 127x96x60 mm, making it one of the smallest full-frame mirrorless cameras around.

The A7c’s slimmer grip and less bulky chassis make it incredibly discrete for street photographers or travelers who prefer not to scream “professional camera” from a mile away. However, for those with larger hands or who favor an ergonomic heft for stability, the A7 II’s deeper grip gives a more reassuring hold, especially during long shoots.

If ergonomics and body size are decisive factors for you, here’s a quick mental checklist: want light and compact for roaming? A7c. Prefer a more solid, traditional grip? A7 II.

Top Controls and User Interface: Classic Layout Meets Modern Minimalism

A camera’s control layout can genuinely affect your shooting flow and therefore your creative output.

The A7 II offers a classic arrangement: dedicated dials for ISO, exposure compensation, and shooting mode, plus a multi-selector and menu button cluster. This makes for tactile, quick adjustments, an approach many seasoned photographers appreciate. The absence of touchscreen means you rely fully on physical buttons - solid if you prefer traditional feedback but sluggish compared to touch-driven menus.

Contrast this with the A7c, whose controls are pared down but modernized. It swaps in a fully articulated touchscreen LCD, allowing intuitive tap-to-focus and menu navigation, and boasts an AF joystick - a boon for selecting focus points on the fly. Power users coming from pro bodies might find the top dials missing or simplified but the touch interface compensates by speeding up interactions.

Personally, I found the A7c’s controls great for travel and casual shooting but sometimes a hair less precise during fast-paced sports or wildlife sessions. The A7 II’s tactile dials felt more confidently direct during such demanding shoots, once you master its menu labyrinth.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Old School Meets New Sensor Brilliance

The heart of any camera is of course its sensor. Here, both cameras sport 24MP full-frame sensors - largely similar on paper, but with important differences beneath.

• Sony A7 II’s sensor: A conventional CMOS full-frame sensor paired with the Bionz X processor.
• Sony A7c’s sensor: A back-illuminated (BSI) CMOS full-frame sensor, which is a meaningful update, albeit with the same 24MP resolution, and uses a more modern image processor.

This BSI technology advantage in the A7c allows for more efficient light gathering, resulting in better high ISO performance and dynamic range. The A7c’s expandable native ISO reaches up to 51,200, while the A7 II caps at 25,600. In testing low-light scenes and night photography, the A7c produces cleaner images with less noise and better shadow retention, a critical factor for astrophotographers or event shooters working in challenging light.

Dynamic range differences also favor the A7c subtly - especially noticeable in landscapes where retrieving highlight and shadow details matter - though the A7 II’s output remains respectable.

If your shooting often pushes ISO limits or relies on subtle tonal gradations (think: moody portraits or delicate dawn landscapes), the A7c’s sensor and processing hardware provide a distinct advantage. If you mostly shoot at base ISO and crop modestly, the A7 II still holds its own.

Viewing and Display: Peeking Through the EVF and Screen

When composing shots, the viewfinder and LCD screen build an intimate connection between photographer and subject. Both cameras rely on electronic viewfinders (EVFs), but with subtle differences.

The A7 II’s EVF offers a 2.36 million-dot resolution, 0.71x magnification, and 100% coverage. It’s sharp, satisfying for framing, but slightly small by today’s standards.

The A7c matches the EVF resolution but trades off some magnification (0.59x), partly due to its smaller body. The lower magnification impacts perceived immersion but isn’t a dealbreaker.

Screen-wise, the A7 II presents a tilting 3-inch, 1.23 million-dot LCD without touch, minimal articulation. The A7c steps this up with a fully articulated 3-inch touchscreen (though at a slightly lower 922k-dot resolution), making it more versatile for vloggers and shooters embracing live view.

If you live and breathe the EVF, the A7 II edges out slightly with a larger eyepiece experience. For hybrid shooters who need angles, touch control, or selfie-mode - hello content creators - the A7c’s display is a clear winner.

Autofocus Systems: From 117 to Nearly 700 Focus Points

AF technology has evolved wildly between 2014 (A7 II launch) and 2020 (A7c debut). This is where Sony flexes its tech muscle.

• A7 II AF: 117 phase-detect points, hybrid contrast detection, eye AF for humans but no animal eye detection.
• A7c AF: 693 phase-detection AF points, boasting real-time eye AF for humans and animals, enhanced tracking algorithms, and touch AF.

This is a night-and-day leap in autofocus sophistication. Practically speaking, the A7 II’s AF often feels less confident in challenging scenarios such as fast-moving wildlife or sports - subjects can slip focus just when you want that razor sharpness. The A7c, by contrast, nails focus with quicker acquisition and excellent tracking precision, including in video mode.

In my real-world test runs, portraits with the A7c benefited hugely from reliable eye and animal eye AF, reducing missed shots significantly. For sports shooting or street photography where subjects dart unpredictably, the A7c’s high-density AF sensor array and intelligent tracking steal the show.

Burst Shooting and Video Capabilities: The Need for Speed and Motion

When you’re chasing wildlife or capturing moments in motion, continuous shooting speed and video features are paramount.

The A7 II maxes out at a modest 5 fps burst, which can quickly feel limiting in sports or wildlife photography. Video-wise, it sticks to Full HD (1920x1080) recording max at 60p, with no 4K support.

The A7c doubles the card with 10 fps burst speed and brings modern 4K UHD video recording at 30p with 100 Mbps bitrate. It offers improved codecs (XAVC S), microphone input, but misses out on a headphone jack.

For videographers or hybrid shooters who want 4K capture without stepping up to Sony’s pricier models, the A7c is an affordable gateway. The A7 II remains serviceable for casual videography and Full HD enthusiasts but feels outdated.

Build, Weather Sealing, and Durability: Ready for the Elements

Both cameras offer a reassuring degree of weather resistance but stop short of being fully ruggedized.

The A7 II, with its SLR-inspired chassis, feels sturdier in the hand and has environmental sealing against dust and moisture. The A7c maintains sealing in a smaller, lighter body, offering similar protection. Neither are freezeproof, shockproof, or crushproof, so don’t abuse them on ultra-rugged adventures.

If your work demands heavy weather tolerance, then you may need to look at some of Sony’s higher-tier models or third-party protected builds.

Lens Compatibility and Ecosystem: Lay Your Foundation Right

Both cameras share the Sony E-mount, giving access to Sony’s extensive native lens lineup - well over 120 lenses for both.

Sony A7 II front Sony A7 II screen back Sony A7c front Sony A7c screen back

This generous lens pool enables both enthusiasts and professionals to pick from budget primes to top-tier zooms. Lens compatibility is thus a non-issue for either camera. However, the A7c’s smaller size pairs beautifully with Sony’s smaller compact primes and lightweight zooms for travel.

Battery Life and Storage: The Tale of Two Batteries

Battery endurance says a lot about real-world usability.

The A7 II uses the NP-FW50 battery rated around 350 shots per charge - reliable but on the shorter side given current standards. The A7c, benefiting from the newer NP-FZ100 battery, practically doubles that with approximately 740 shots per charge. This is a significant practical difference, especially on long trips or shoots without convenient charging access.

Both cameras offer a single SD card slot - with the A7c supporting faster UHS-II cards, which improves write speeds, especially vital for 4K video and rapid bursts.

Connectivity and Extras: Staying Connected in a Wireless World

Connectivity is a growing priority for many photographers.

Both cameras include built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, but the A7c adds Bluetooth for more efficient image transfer and remote control. The A7c also supports a newer, faster USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, helping tethered workflows or rapid data offload. The A7 II relies on the older USB 2.0 standard.

These incremental improvements in connectivity reflect the newer camera’s focus on mobile integration and streamlined workflows.

How They Score: Putting It All Together

Sony’s A7 II remains an impressive camera for its generation with a solid DxOMark overall score (~90), boasting excellent color depth and dynamic range. The A7c’s DxOMark scores are not easily available yet but given sensor improvements, improved AF, and image processing, it is considered a step up in most metrics.

Taking specific genres into account reveals clear trends:

• Portraits: Both cameras produce lovely skin tones, but the A7c’s animal eye AF and better tracking give it a clear referral edge.
• Landscape: The A7c delivers better dynamic range and noise control at higher ISOs, valuable for shadow-rich and dusk shots.
• Wildlife and Sports: The A7c’s faster burst rate and superior AF system make it far more capable.
• Street and Travel: The A7c’s compact size and articulation favor discreet shooting and vlogging.
• Macro and Night: Both cameras struggle equally; neither has specialized macro focusing aids, though the A7c shines brighter at high ISO.
• Video: The A7c is the superior choice with 4K recording and better codec support.

Final Thoughts: Which Should You Choose?

These two cameras, though sharing family ties, occupy different niches and eras. Here’s the nutshell:

Choose the Sony A7 II if:

• You want a robust, ergonomic full-frame camera with traditional controls and don’t care for 4K video.
• Your photography revolves around portraits, studio work, or landscapes at base ISO.
• You are budget-conscious and happy buying used or refurbished gear.
• You prefer a proven workhorse with solid image quality and in-body 5-axis stabilization.

Opt for the Sony A7c if:

• You prioritize compactness without sacrificing full-frame performance.
• Your workflow demands advanced AF (animal eye detection) and video capabilities, including 4K recording.
• You value longer battery life for travel or event shooting.
• You want the convenience of a touchscreen and fully articulated LCD for vlogging or creative angles.

Closing Musings

As someone who’s shot weddings, wildlife, and street festivals with both cameras, I find the A7c is a remarkable blend of portability and power - one that reflects Sony’s responsiveness to evolving photographer needs. Yet, the A7 II remains a formidable tool that belies its age, delivering classic image quality in a traditional form factor.

Whether your next camera is a venerable A7 II or a sleek A7c, you’ll be stepping into a rich ecosystem of lenses and accessories. Your choice hinges more on personal shooting style and feature priorities than sheer megapixels or specs.

Happy shooting - and if you ask me whether a camera makes the photographer, I’d say absolutely. But having the right tool sure doesn’t hurt.

Note: For a detailed hands-on, I recommend renting both if possible to feel the ergonomic differences and autofocus responsiveness firsthand - nothing replaces real interaction.