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Sony A7 II vs Sony A7 Comparison

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Sony A7 II

24 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony A7 II
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Sony A7

24 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony A7
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Sony A7 II vs Sony A7 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing A7 II and A7, two Pro Mirrorless cameras by Sony. Both Sony A7 II and Sony A7 cameras have 24.0MP Full frame sensors. Sony A7 II was introduced to market in November 2014 and Sony A7 was launched in January 2014. There is only 10 months difference between A7 II and A7 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

A7 II and A7 are members of Sony's A7 series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Sony A7 Series History
Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
Sony A7 III
  
2018 24.0MP - Full frame 10.0 fps 127 x 96 x 74mm 650g
Sony A7 II
2014 24.0MP - Full frame 5.0 fps 127 x 96 x 60mm 599g
Sony A7
2014 24.0MP - Full frame 5.0 fps 127 x 94 x 48mm 474g

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony A7 II and Sony A7 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony A7 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-11-20
  • 24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600 ( expands to 50-51200)
  • Sony E Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3 Tilting Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 5.0 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 599g. 127 x 96 x 60 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Sony Alpha 7 Compare

Sony A7 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-01-22
  • 24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • Sony E Mount
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 474g. 127 x 94 x 48 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Sony A7 II was replaced by Sony Alpha A7 III. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha A7 III vs Sony Alpha A7 II
Sony Alpha A7 III vs Sony Alpha A7

Sony A7 was replaced by Sony Alpha 7 II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha 7 II vs Sony Alpha A7
Sony Alpha 7 II vs Sony Alpha A7 II

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony A7 II and Sony A7 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7 II over Sony Alpha A7
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Battery Life
350 shots vs 340 shots 10 more frames with a single charge
Color Depth
24.9 vs 24.8 higher color depth
Low Light ISO
2449 vs 2248 better High ISO performance
UHS Card Support
UHS-I vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam


Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7 over Sony Alpha A7 II
Weight
474 g vs 599 g 125 g lighter
Dynamic Range
14.2 vs 13.6 higher dynamic range

Common Strengths of Sony Alpha A7 II and Sony Alpha A7
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Adjustable LCD Screen
Tilting vs Tilting Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
24 MP vs 24 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution
1.230k dots vs 1.230k dots High resolution screens
Microphone Port
Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs Yes better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
With Optional App vs With Optional App creative shooting
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs Yes Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Dual-axis Electronic Level
Yes vs Yes Level the camera easily in two axis
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha A7 II and Sony Alpha A7
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
Sony A7 II vs Sony A7: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Sony A7 II and Sony A7 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony A7 II has external dimensions of 127 x 96 x 60 mm (5 x 3.78 x 2.36″) and weighs 599 g (1.32 lb / 21.13 oz) (including batteries). Sony A7 has external dimensions of 127 x 94 x 48 mm (5 x 3.7 x 1.89″) and weighs 474 g (1.04 lb / 16.72 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony A7 II and Sony A7.

Sony A7 II vs Sony A7 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sony A7 II and Sony A7 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Sony A7 II and Sony A7.

Sony A7 II vs Sony A7 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Sony A7 II and Sony A7 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony A7 II and Sony A7.
Sony A7 II vs Sony A7 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Sony A7 II and Sony A7 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony A7 is significantly lighter (125g ) than the Sony A7 II which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Sony A7 II and Sony A7 have the same Sony E lens mount and Full frame sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

A7 II
A7
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

A7 II
A7
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both A7 II and A7 have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony A7 II and Sony A7's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.

Both cameras feature Tilting screens where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels.
Sony A7 II vs Sony A7: Sensor Comparison

Both Sony A7 II and Sony A7 have Full frame sized 24.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the A7 II and A7 sensor size comparison.

Sony A7 II vs Sony A7 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A7 II and Sony A7 Cameras


Sony A7 II and Sony A7 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores
At Camera Decision, we also look at Dxo Mark sensors when available as we think it is a good indicator of image quality.
Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Sony A7 II 90 24.9 bits 13.6 Evs 2449 ISO
Sony A7 90 24.8 bits 14.2 Evs 2248 ISO
Sony A7 II vs Sony A7 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. In this case, both Sony A7 II and Sony A7 have the same Sony E lens mount so have 137 native lenses available. All of these lenses cover Full frame sensor.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Sony A7 II has a big advantage in this regard because it has a sensor based image stabilization (IS) which means that all the lenses mounted to this body will be stabilized. A7 II's built-in Image stabilization system is effective to compensate vibration up to 4.5-stops according to CIPA standards.
32 lenses for Sony E mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type # of Sony A7 II Lenses # of Sony A7 Lenses
Standard Zoom 13 (10 Full Frame) 13 (10 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 20 (10 Full Frame) 20 (10 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 8 (7 Full Frame) 8 (7 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 44 (28 Full Frame) 44 (28 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 10 (8 Full Frame) 10 (8 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 19 (15 Full Frame) 19 (15 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 9 (2 Full Frame) 9 (2 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 2 (0 Full Frame) 2 (0 Full Frame)
Macro Prime 8 (7 Full Frame) 8 (7 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime 2 (2 Full Frame) 2 (2 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 137 (89 Full Frame) 137 (89 Full Frame)

Here are some of the most popular Sony E Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Sony E Mount Lenses for A7 II and A7
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS Lens Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS
35mm FF 780gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T Lens Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T
35mm FF 426gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS Lens Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
APS-C / DX 345gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS Lens Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS
35mm FF 840gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T Lens Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T
35mm FF 120gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS Lens Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
35mm FF 854gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Lens Sony FE 50mm F1.8
35mm FF 186gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS Lens Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS
APS-C / DX 116gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Sony A7 II and Sony A7 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony A7 II and Sony A7 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony A7 II for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Sony A7 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Sony A7 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A7 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Sony A7 II for Sports Photography

GOOD

Sony A7 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
117 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
Read the details
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
25 Cross Type Focus sensors
117 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Sony A7 II for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A7 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
599g
Body Thickness 60mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
474g
Body Thickness 48mm
Read the details

Sony A7 II for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Sony A7 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Sony A7 II vs Sony A7: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Sony A7 II and Sony A7, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony A7 II and Sony A7 scores compare:

Sony A7 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #32 out of 88 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #47 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Sony A7
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #45 out of 88 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #83 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Sony A7 II is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony A7 in all criteria except one: Portability. But the size difference between these cameras are negligible in real world so it is not a big disadvantage for Sony A7 II.

Sony A7 II
Sony A7 II
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Sony A7
Sony A7
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Sony A7 vs Sony A7 II Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Alpha A7 II Sony Alpha A7
Brand Sony Sony
Announced 2014-11-20 2014-01-22
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.8 x 23.9 mm 35.8 x 23.9 mm
Area 855.62mm2 855.62mm2
Megapixels 24 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 6000 x 4000 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 51200 ISO -
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 50 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 50 ISO -
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 117 117
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Sony E Sony E
Number of Available Lenses 137 137
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3 3"
Resolution 1,230k dots 1,230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 2,359k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.71x 0.71x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift No
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 599g 474g
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 60mm 127 x 94 x 48mm
Battery Life 350 shots 340 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 90 90
DxO Color Depth 24.9 24.8
DxO Dynamic Range 13.6 14.2
DxO Low Light ISO 2449 2248
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