Sony A7S vs Sony A77 II: A Hands-On Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros in 2024

Choosing your next camera can feel like wrestling a lion. There’s the lure of all-new tech, the temptation of specs that dance on paper, and the reality of your unique shooting style pulling you - in a hundred different directions. Today, I'm diving deep into two interesting but quite different Sony bodies: the Sony A7S, a pioneering full-frame mirrorless powerhouse announced in early 2014, and the Sony A77 II, its contemporaneous advanced APS-C DSLR sibling. Both have their loyal fans, their quirks, and their quirks that you only discover by actual use.

Having handled thousands of cameras and spent countless hours testing real-world performance - beyond the specs hype - I’ll share how these two stack up across genres, tech, ergonomics, and value. By the end, you’ll have a solid sense of which aligns with your photography passions and practical needs - as well as what to expect about image quality and handling day-to-day.

When Size and Handling Lead the First Impression

No matter how great the sensor, if the camera doesn’t feel right in your hands, it’s a dealbreaker for serious shooting. The Sony A7S embraces the compact, mirrorless mantra with its SLR-style but slimline body. Meanwhile, the A77 II is a heftier mid-sized DSLR, designed to fit snugly for extended ergonomic comfort.

I found the A7S’s smaller, lighter frame quite liberating for travel and street photography - the 489g weight and 127x94x48mm dimensions fit discreetly in smaller bags and don’t wear down your wrist during long hikes. The A77 II, at 647g and more robust 143x104x81mm size, definitely feels more substantial and solid - giving that reassuring grip for fast-action genres like sports and wildlife but less easy to toss casually in your daypack.

The A77 II offers an impressive articulating touchscreen (though not touch-enabled), useful for unusual angles and video work. The A7S’s tilting screen by contrast feels simpler, lacking touchscreen response, which might frustrate those used to modern touch interfaces.

Top Controls and User Interface: Intuitive or Overwhelming?

Peering down from above, control placement and interface tell much about a camera’s intended use and usability philosophy.

Both sport Sony’s Bionz X processing, but their dials and buttons reflect diverging priorities. The A7S adopts a minimalistic approach with fewer buttons exposed, relying more on customizable function buttons and menu diving, which may slow shooting but keep things clean. The A77 II, rooted in DSLR tradition, offers quick access dials for ISO, exposure compensation, and drive mode directly on the top plate - making it much faster to adjust in dynamic shooting.

One thing I appreciate on the A77 II is its built-in flash, a helpful tool for fill light or emergencies that the A7S completely lacks. This limitation partly stems from its mirrorless design striving to keep the body compact.

Sensor Specs and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Camera battles are often decided here - the sensor's raw capture power.

The A7S opts for a 12MP full-frame sensor measuring 35.8x23.9mm, optimized for ultra-high sensitivity with a mind-boggling native ISO range up to 409,600. In tests, this camera doesn’t chase megapixels; instead, it nails clean, usable images at extremely low light where others falter. The DXOMark scores back this: 23.9 bits of color depth and a dynamic range near 13.2 stops ensure subtle tonal gradations, ideal for night, astro, and video work.

In contrast, the A77 II sports a denser 24MP APS-C sensor (23.5x15.6mm), catering to sharper detail and higher resolution shots (max 6000x4000 pixels). It boasts slightly improved color depth (24.4 bits) and dynamic range (13.4 stops) relative to its size, but its high ISO prowess is capped around ISO 25600 natively, with more noise creeping in above that.

From my lab and field testing, the A77 II excels in daylight and well-lit conditions - perfect for landscapes and studio portraits. The A7S shines in dim scenarios where maintaining clean files at ISO 3200 or beyond is a nightmare for many competitors.

Rear LCD and Viewfinder: Seeing is Believing

How you frame your shot and review it matters immensely, especially in dynamic situations.

Both cameras feature 3-inch LCDs with roughly 1230K resolution. The A77 II’s fully articulated design gives more flexibility, essential for vlogging, macro, and awkward angle shooting - though it disappoints by lacking touchscreen functionality. The A7S’s tilting screen is less versatile but at least bright and crisp enough for outdoor use.

Regarding viewfinders, both cameras have electronic types with 2359K equivalent resolution and near-100% coverage. However, the A77 II nudges ahead slightly with a 0.73x magnification compared to the A7S’s 0.71x, offering a marginally bigger view. This makes tracking fast action easier in the A77 II, although the mirrorless EVF in the A7S benefits from real-time exposure preview and video feedback - a plus for videographers and experimental shooters.

Autofocus and Speed: Chasing the Decisive Moment

In action genres, autofocus performance and burst shooting speed dictate success or missed shots.

The A77 II boasts a robust 79 autofocus points with 15 cross-type sensors and phase detection, delivering quick, accurate focusing even on moving subjects. I’ve reliably captured wildlife and sports sequences at up to 12 frames per second burst - a boon for those who need a high hit rate in fast bursts.

The A7S, by comparison, has a more modest 25 contrast-detection-based AF points and lacks phase detection. It’s slower at 5 fps continuous shooting and can struggle slightly in tracking erratic movement, making it less ideal for the sports and wildlife enthusiast.

That said, the A7S’s AF system includes reliable face detection in Live View, handy for portraiture, and it tracks focus smoothly during video capture - again hinting at a video-centric design focus.

Image Stabilization: To Steady or Not to Steady?

The A77 II delivers built-in sensor-shift stabilization, a gift for hand-held shooting in low light or at longer focal lengths without a tripod. This is especially helpful when paired with non-stabilized lenses.

The A7S lacks any in-body stabilization, placing the onus on stabilized lenses or rigging setups for video. For some, this omission is a deal-breaker, but for serious videographers using gimbals or optical stabilization, it’s less of a handicap.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Power on the Field

Nothing kills momentum like running out of juice mid-shoot.

The A77 II leads with a solid 480 shots per battery cycle, thanks to its larger NP-FM500H battery. The larger size and DSLR heritage aid in longevity, making it a winner for extended outdoor sessions without frequent charging.

The A7S, utilising the more compact NP-FW50 battery, delivers approximately 360 shots per charge. While decent for mirrorless cameras of that era, it requires carrying spare batteries for long outings or heavy video recording.

Both support SD and Sony Memory Stick Pro cards but come with a single card slot, a limitation if instant backup or overflow storage is a priority.

Video Capabilities: Crafting Moving Art

Both cameras deliver HD video, but the A7S was famously designed with video pros in mind.

The A7S supports 4K UHD recording at 30p in clean XAVC S format, along with 1080p up to 60fps and 720p slo-mo at 120fps. It also sports microphone and headphone jacks for professional audio monitoring - a big plus for on-location filmmaking.

The A77 II maxes out at 1080p with varying frame rates (60p, 60i, 30p) but lacks 4K. While it has a mic input, there’s no headphone jack, limiting audio monitoring options. Its robust articulating screen aids video framing, but the lack of 4K keeps it decidedly behind for video-focused creators.

If videography is a focal point, the A7S likely edges out decisively, especially for low-light and cinematic video work, despite the age of the model.

Lens Ecosystem: Choices and Compatibility

Sony’s mounts define lens selection and future-proofing.

The A7S uses the Sony E-mount, compatible with a growing array of high-quality full-frame and APS-C lenses from Sony and third parties (Tamron, Sigma, Zeiss). It offers versatility for portrait, landscape, macro, and travel lenses alike, favoring mirrorless innovation and compact designs.

The A77 II inherits the Sony/Minolta Alpha (A-mount) system, with a broader range of DSLR lenses, including many older Minolta glass gems. This is a big plus if you already own A-mount lenses or prioritize DSLR-style optics. Adapters exist to use E-mount glass on this body, but with compromises.

If you’re starting fresh and favor compact mirrorless lenses, the A7S’s mount is more future-facing. If you have existing A-mount glass or want robust, heavier optics, the A77 II makes more sense.

Durability and Weather Sealing: Shooting Anywhere Confidence

Both cameras boast environmental sealing but stop short of full waterproofing or shockproof claims. Sony built these bodies with reliability in mind, and in my testing, both survive dust, light rain, and the occasional bump just fine with appropriate care.

For professional outdoor use, adding protective gear remains advisable. Between them, the sturdier DSLR-style A77 II’s heft gives a more rugged feel handling rough conditions.

Real-World Versatility Across Genres

Portrait Photography

The A7S’s full-frame sensor delivers pleasing skin tones and excellent bokeh thanks to the larger sensor area and compatibility with fast-aperture lenses. Face detection autofocus assists in keeping eyes sharp, though the AF point count is relatively limited.

The A77 II, with higher resolution and more AF points, gives more detail in the images but might require better lighting to match the A7S’s low-noise, creamy output. Its in-body stabilization helps with sharper shots handheld.

Landscape Photography

The higher resolution and dynamic range of the A77 II APS-C sensor produce finely detailed landscapes with excellent tonal gradation. The articulating screen helps in composing horizons and tricky angles.

The A7S trades resolution for better high ISO and wide dynamic range but maintains excellent image quality, especially in challenging light. The full-frame sensor area gives more potential for shallow depth effects even in wide scenes.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Speed and tracking favor the A77 II: 12 fps bursts and 79-focus point system mean you’re less likely to miss decisive moments. The tele-centric crop factor of 1.5x APS-C aids in extra reach for distant subjects.

The A7S’s 5 fps and 25-point AF struggle to keep up, though for still subjects or video, it is solid.

Street Photography and Travel

Thanks to its light weight and compact frame, the A7S is excellent for long days on the street or travel. Superior high ISO gives more flexibility shooting nocturnal cityscapes without a tripod.

The A77 II can be bulkier and a bit more conspicuous but is better suited for those who prioritize handling and faster performance over minimalism.

Macro and Night/Astro Photography

Neither camera boasts focus stacking or dedicated macro features, but both rely on lens optics here.

The A7S uniquely excels at night and astro due to its enormous native ISO potential and low noise floor, making it a favorite among astrophotographers and long-exposure enthusiasts.

Sony A7S front Sony A7S screen back Sony A77 II front Sony A77 II screen back

Examining side-by-side shots shows the A7S’s subtle tonal rendition and cleaner shadows at ISO 3200 versus the A77 II’s crisper detail in bright daylight but noisier shadows at the same ISO level.

Professional Workflow and Connectivity

Both support Sony’s proprietary raw formats plus DNG, perfect for professional workflows. Neither has GPS, which some adventurers miss, but built-in Wi-Fi and NFC allow remote control and wireless transfer - a vital convenience for newsroom or rapid sharing scenarios.

USB 2.0 limits file transfer speed versus modern USB 3.0+ cameras, meaning patience is required for offloading large video files.

Putting It All Together: Scores and Value Analysis

The A7S scores higher overall on image quality and video performance; the A77 II shines for speed, autofocus, and handling robustness. Price-wise, in 2024, you’ll find the A7S used or refurbished around $1800-$2000, reflecting its niche appeal. The A77 II remains more affordable near $1100-$1200, representing strong value for enthusiasts wanting speed and DSLR ergonomics.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Sony A7S if:

• You prioritize low-light photography or videography
• You want superb 4K video with pro audio options
• You shoot travel, street, night scenes, or astro photography
• You prefer a compact, mirrorless body with a growing lens ecosystem
• You are willing to carry extra batteries or use external stabilization

Opt for the Sony A77 II if:

• You require fast autofocus and high burst rates for wildlife or sports
• You prefer DSLR-style ergonomics and handling
• You have existing A-mount lenses or want built-in IS and flash
• You shoot mostly stills in good light, landscapes, or portraits with fine detail
• You want longer battery life and more tactile controls upfront

Final Thoughts From the Field

Both cameras embody Sony’s innovative spirit circa 2014 but cater to very different photographers. The A7S, with its minimalist sensor and mirrorless design, is a niche but potent tool - especially for video and low light. The A77 II feels like the digital descendant of traditional SLRs, blending speed, handling, and resolution in a familiar package.

If I had to pick a jack-of-all-trades for general photography, the A77 II wins hands-down with its versatility and speed. For specialized work demanding extraordinary low-light performance or video, the A7S remains a hidden gem even today.

Choosing between them will hinge on your priority: do you chase the night or the moment? Style versus substance? Fortunately, Sony’s engineering means that with either, you can make outstanding images - but your heart and shooting style will tell you which camera deserves to accompany your creative journey.

Happy shooting, and may your next frame be the best one yet!