Based upon the camera names, you may not think that the Sony a7C II and Sony a7 IV were very similar cameras. But they actually are – it’s as if Sony tried to take the guts of the a7 IV and put them into the smallest possible form-factor when designing the a7C II. If you’re on the fence between these two cameras, here’s what you need to know.
Sony a7C II vs Sony a7 IV Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Sony a7C II | Sony a7 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | August 2023 | October 2021 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | BSI CMOS | BSI CMOS |
| Image Processor | BIONZ XR | BIONZ X |
| Resolution | 33.0 MP | 32.7 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 7008×4672 | 7008×4672 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) | 35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 5.12µ | 5.1µ |
| Low Pass Filter | No | No |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | Yes | Yes |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 51,200 | ISO 51,200 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-204,800 | ISO 50-204,800 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | No | No |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | Yes | No |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | No | No |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/8000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 10 FPS | 10 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 10 FPS | 10 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | Compressed 12-bit raw at 10 FPS (uncompressed 14-bit raw is available at 8 FPS) | Compressed raw at 10 FPS (uncompressed and lossless compressed raw at 6 FPS) |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 44 frames (10 FPS) | Unlimited |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognition | Hybrid PDAF |
| Autofocus Points | 759 | 759 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -4 EV | -4 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/160 | 1/250 |
| Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | No | Yes |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 10 bits | 10 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 10 bits | 10 bits |
| Raw Video | No | No |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 60 FPS | 60 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | 1.5x crop at 4K 60p (4K 30p has no additional crop) | 1.5x crop at 4K 60p (4K 30p has no additional crop) |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:2 | 4:2:2 |
| Video Recording Limit | 780 min | No limit |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 1 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-II) | CFExpress Type A, or SD (UHS-II) |
| Slot 2 Type | N/A | SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.0 in | 3.0 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 1.04 million dots | 1.04 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Fully Articulating | Fully Articulating |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.70x | 0.78x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2.36 million dots | 3.69 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | No | No |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| GPS | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Type C 3.2 Gen 1 | Type C 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Battery Type | NP-FZ100 | NP-FZ100 |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 530 frames | 520 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 560 frames | 580 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 514 g (1.13 lbs.) | 658 g (1.45 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 124 x 71 x 63 mm (4.9 x 2.8 x 2.5″) | 131 x 96 x 80 mm (5.2 x 3.8 x 3.1″) |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $2200 (Check Current Price) | $2500 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Sony a7C II Used Prices (eBay Partner Program affiliate link) | Sony a7 IV Used Prices (eBay Partner Program affiliate link) |
Right away, you can see that there are way more similarities than differences. You could definitely pick either camera and, at the end of the day, come home with very similar photos.
The most important difference in favor of the a7 IV is the second memory card slot. If you’re shooting something critical like a client’s wedding, I would be very hesitant to trust a single point of failure like one memory card. It may or may not be a dealbreaker depending on the type of photography you do. If you use reputable cards and have a good backup system, it’s definitely workable.
Other differences that favor the a7 IV are the larger buffer, higher-quality viewfinder, and the dust-protective shutter curtain when changing lenses. These are all “nice-to-have” rather than “must-have” features, in my opinion.
As for the a7C II, it has three major advantages of its own. The first two are portability and price. It’s not that the a7 IV is a huge camera, but the a7C II is simply tiny – one of the smallest full-frame cameras out there. And, of course, you’ll save $300 with the a7C II if you pick it instead of the a7 IV.
Finally, the a7C II has Sony’s newer BIONZ XR processor, allowing for advanced subject-recognition capabilities with the autofocus system. This can be a game-changer when photographing fast-moving action. For that reason, I would pick the a7C II over the a7 IV for wildlife photography despite the more limited buffer.
I hope that gives you a good sense of the strengths and weaknesses of these two cameras. Aside from the single memory card slot, I think that the a7C II makes for a better value than the a7 IV – but if you need that constant backup of your photos, obviously the a7 IV is the better choice here. It really comes down to what your priorities are. Personally, I’d go with the a7 IV, but it’s a close call.