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Sony A7 II vs YI M1

Portability
69
Imaging
71
Features
84
Overall
76
Sony Alpha A7 II front
 
YI M1 front
Portability
87
Imaging
60
Features
66
Overall
62

Sony A7 II vs YI M1 Key Specs

Sony A7 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 599g - 127 x 96 x 60mm
  • Introduced November 2014
  • Superseded the Sony A7
  • New Model is Sony A7 III
YI M1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 350g - 114 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced September 2016
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Sony A7 II vs YI M1 Overview

In this write-up, we are comparing the Sony A7 II vs YI M1, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Sony and YI. The image resolution of the A7 II (24MP) and the M1 (20MP) is very similar but the A7 II (Full frame) and M1 (Four Thirds) use totally different sensor size.

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The A7 II was brought out 22 months earlier than the M1 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A7 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the YI M1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the A7 II scores versus the M1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A7 II over the YI M1

 A7 II M1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1230k1040kCrisper display (+190k dot)

Reasons to pick YI M1 over the Sony A7 II

 M1 A7 II 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016November 2014More recent by 22 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A7 II and YI M1

 A7 II M1 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Sony A7 II vs YI M1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony A7 II enjoys outside measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs) and the YI M1 has measurements of 114mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 350 grams (0.77 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A7 II vs YI M1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the A7 II against the M1.

Sony A7 II vs YI M1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the A7 II and M1 is 69 and 87 respectively.

Sony A7 II vs YI M1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7 II vs YI M1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A7 II and M1.

Clearly, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A7 II featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony A7 II will deliver more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images far more aggressively. The older A7 II is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A7 II vs YI M1 sensor size comparison

Sony A7 II vs YI M1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7 II vs YI M1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A7 II Portrait photography factors
YI M1 Portrait photography factors
82
manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
76
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A7 II
Street photography with YI M1
80
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment proof
great high ISO (25,600)
74
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A7 II Sports photography details
YI M1 Sports photography details
74
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
comes with phase detect AF
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
not so great battery power (350 CIPA)
55
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good battery life (450 shots)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A7 II
Travel photography with YI M1
61
environment proof
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
not so great battery power (350 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
78
good battery life (450 shots)
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A7 II
Landscape photography with YI M1
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
not so great battery power (350 shots)
77
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (450 per charge)
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7 II as a Vlogging camera
YI M1 as a Vlogging camera
36
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
33
built-in touchscreen
provides face detect focusing
great video quality (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of microphone support
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Sony A7 II vs YI M1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7 II and YI M1
 Sony Alpha A7 IIYI M1
General Information
Manufacturer Sony YI
Model type Sony Alpha A7 II YI M1
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2014-11-20 2016-09-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz X -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 35.8 x 23.9mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 855.6mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6000 x 4000 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO 51200 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 117 81
Lens
Lens support Sony E Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 121 107
Focal length multiplier 1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Red-Eye Slow
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 75 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 599g (1.32 pounds) 350g (0.77 pounds)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") 114 x 64 x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 90 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 2449 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 450 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $1,456 $320