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Sony A7 III vs Sony A7 II Comparison

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Sony A7 III

24 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony A7 III
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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 III vs Sony A7 II Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing A7 III and A7 II, two Pro Mirrorless cameras by Sony. Both Sony A7 III and Sony A7 II cameras have 24.0MP Full frame sensors. Sony A7 III was introduced to market in February 2018 and Sony A7 II was launched in November 2014. As you can see, A7 II is 4 years older than A7 III. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

A7 III and A7 II 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 III and Sony A7 II before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony A7 III Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2018-02-27
  • 24MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 51200 ( expands to 50-204800)
  • Sony E Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3 Tilting Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 120 fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 650g. 127 x 96 x 74 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Sony Alpha 7 II Compare

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

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

Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7 III over Sony Alpha A7 II
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder Magnification
0.78x vs 0.71x Larger Viewfinder
Max ISO
51.200 vs 25.600 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
693 vs 117 576 more focus points
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 5.0fps 5 fps faster
Battery Life
610 shots vs 350 shots 260 more frames with a single charge
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs With optional app creative shooting
Viewfinder Resolution
2360k dot vs 2359k dot 0% higher resolution
Color Depth
25.0 vs 24.9 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
14.7 vs 13.6 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
3730 vs 2449 better High ISO performance
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Animal Eye AF Tracking
Yes vs No Easily lock and track focus on animals
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Eye Tracking Focus
Yes vs No Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject


Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7 II over Sony Alpha A7 III
LCD Screen Resolution
1.230k dots vs 922k dots 33% higher resolution screen
Weight
599 g vs 650 g 51 g lighter

Common Strengths of Sony Alpha A7 III and Sony Alpha A7 II
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
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
922k 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
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
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs UHS-I Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha A7 III and Sony Alpha A7 II
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
Sony A7 III vs Sony A7 II: 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 III and Sony A7 II side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony A7 III has external dimensions of 127 x 96 x 74 mm (5 x 3.78 x 2.91″) and weighs 650 g (1.43 lb / 22.93 oz) (including batteries). 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).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony A7 III and Sony A7 II. Sony A7 III has the same height and width with Sony A7 II. On the other hand, with a thickness of 74mm, it is 14mm thicker.

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

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

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

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

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony A7 II is 51g lighter than the Sony A7 III but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

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 III and Sony A7 II 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 III
A7 II
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

A7 III
A7 II
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

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

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony A7 III and Sony A7 II'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 III vs Sony A7 II: Sensor Comparison

Both Sony A7 III and Sony A7 II 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 III and A7 II sensor size comparison.

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


Sony A7 III and Sony A7 II have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Sony A7 III and Sony A7 II sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, A7 III has scored 96, 6 points higher than A7 II.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Sony A7 III 96 25.0 bits 14.7 Evs 3730 ISO
Sony A7 II 90 24.9 bits 13.6 Evs 2449 ISO
Sony A7 III vs Sony A7 II 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 III and Sony A7 II have the same Sony E lens mount so have 128 native lenses available. All of these lenses cover Full frame sensor.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Both Sony A7 III and Sony A7 II has Sensor based Image stabilization which means that all the lenses will be stabilized in these bodies. A7 III's built-in Image stabilization system is effective to compensate vibration up to 5.0-stops according to CIPA standards whereas A7 II's IS system is rated upto 4.5-stops.

Lens Type # of Sony A7 III Lenses # of Sony A7 II Lenses
Standard Zoom 12 (9 Full Frame) 12 (9 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 18 (9 Full Frame) 18 (9 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 7 (6 Full Frame) 7 (6 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 42 (26 Full Frame) 42 (26 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 9 (7 Full Frame) 9 (7 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 18 (14 Full Frame) 18 (14 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 8 (1 Full Frame) 8 (1 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 128 (81 Full Frame) 128 (81 Full Frame)

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

Popular Sony E Mount Lenses for A7 III and A7 II
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 III and Sony A7 II Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony A7 III and Sony A7 II 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 III for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Sony A7 II for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 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
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony A7 III for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A7 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 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
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Sony A7 III for Sports Photography

GOOD

Sony A7 II for Sports Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
693 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 610 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details
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

Sony A7 III for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A7 II for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
650g
Body Thickness 74mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
599g
Body Thickness 60mm
Read the details

Sony A7 III for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Sony A7 II for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 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 III vs Sony A7 II: 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 III and Sony A7 II, 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 III and Sony A7 II scores compare:

Sony A7 III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #14 out of 86 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #15 out of 1220 in all Cameras
Sony A7 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #30 out of 86 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #45 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Sony A7 III is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony A7 II 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 III.

Sony A7 III
Sony A7 III
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Sony A7 II
Sony A7 II
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Sony A7 II vs Sony A7 III Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Alpha A7 III Sony Alpha A7 II
Brand Sony Sony
Announced 2018-02-27 2014-11-20
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.8 x 23.8 mm 35.8 x 23.9 mm
Area 852.04mm2 855.62mm2
Megapixels 24 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 6000 x 4000 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 51,200 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 204800 ISO 51200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 50 ISO 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 693 117
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Sony E Sony E
Number of Available Lenses 128 128
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3 3
Resolution 922k dots 1,230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 2,360k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x 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 Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 650g 599g
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 74mm 127 x 96 x 60mm
Battery Life 610 shots 350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 96 90
DxO Color Depth 25.0 24.9
DxO Dynamic Range 14.7 13.6
DxO Low Light ISO 3730 2449
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