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Sony A7S vs Sony A9 II

Portability
77
Imaging
60
Features
73
Overall
65
Sony Alpha A7S front
 
Sony Alpha A9 Mark II front
Portability
62
Imaging
75
Features
93
Overall
82

Sony A7S vs Sony A9 II Key Specs

Sony A7S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 489g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Renewed by Sony A7S II
Sony A9 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 678g - 129 x 96 x 76mm
  • Released October 2019
  • Old Model is Sony A9
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Sony A7S vs Sony A9 II Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Sony A7S and Sony A9 II, both Pro Mirrorless digital cameras and both are produced by Sony. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the A7S (12MP) and A9 II (24MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (Full frame).

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The A7S was revealed 6 years prior to the A9 II which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the A7S matches up versus the A9 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A7S over the Sony A9 II

 A7S A9 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 II over the Sony A7S

 A9 II A7S 
ReleasedOctober 2019April 2014More modern by 66 months
Screen resolution1440k1230kClearer screen (+210k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A7S and Sony A9 II

 A7S A9 II 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Sony A7S vs Sony A9 II Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Sony A7S features exterior dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 489 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Sony A9 II has specifications of 129mm x 96mm x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Look at the Sony A7S and Sony A9 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the A7S compared to the A9 II.

Sony A7S vs Sony A9 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A7S and A9 II is 77 and 62 respectively.

Sony A7S vs Sony A9 II top view buttons comparison

Sony A7S vs Sony A9 II Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes only by reading a spec sheet. The image underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the A7S and A9 II.

As you can see, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should expect the Sony A9 II to offer you more detail because of its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged A7S is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Sony A7S vs Sony A9 II sensor size comparison

Sony A7S vs Sony A9 II Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7S vs Sony A9 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A7S as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Portrait photography camera
68
focusing manually
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
85
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A7S Street photography advice
Sony A9 II Street photography advice
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
lighter than competition in class (489g)
very good high ISO (409,600)
does not have image stabilization
78
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch to focus
weather sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A7S Sports photography factors
Sony A9 II Sports photography factors
52
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
low fps (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery life (360 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
87
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery life (690 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A7S Travel photography factors
Sony A9 II Travel photography factors
58
lighter than competition in class (489 grams)
environment sealing
low battery life (360 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
73
good battery life (690 per charge)
weather sealing
has bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A7S Landscape photography information
Sony A9 II Landscape photography information
66
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
sensor size is large (Full frame)
very good high ISO (409,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery life (360 shots)
86
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
good battery life (690 CIPA)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7S Vlogging details
Sony A9 II Vlogging details
34
offers face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external microphone port
lighter than competition in class (489g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic support
display isn't selfie friendly
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Sony A7S vs Sony A9 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7S and Sony A9 II
 Sony Alpha A7SSony Alpha A9 Mark II
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A7S Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
Category Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-04-06 2019-10-03
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz X BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor dimensions 35.8 x 23.9mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 855.6mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4240 x 2832 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 409600 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 25 693
Lens
Lens mount Sony E Sony E
Amount of lenses 121 121
Crop factor 1 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,230 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dots 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160, XAVC S 1080 60p(50Mbps), 30p (50Mbps), 24p (50Mbps). 720 120p (50Mbps). AVCHD 60p (28Mbps), 60i (24Mbps/17Mbps), 24p (24Mbps/17Mbps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 489 gr (1.08 pounds) 678 gr (1.49 pounds)
Physical dimensions 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") 129 x 96 x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 87 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 3702 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 690 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FW50 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous, 3 or 5 frames)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Single Dual
Retail price $1,998 $4,498