The Sony a7S II and the Sony a7C make for an interesting comparison! On one hand, these two cameras are clearly targeted at different audiences. The a7S II is a 12-megapixel, low-light camera with some of the best video specs available on the market… that is, they were some of the best video specs back in 2015 when it was released. Meanwhile, the Sony a7C is aimed at more of a consumer audience, but it’s a whopping five years newer (which is ages in the world of electronics). As a result, the a7C actually beats or matches the Sony a7S II in many ways overall, even for video. Here’s what you need to know.
Sony a7S II vs Sony a7C Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Sony a7S II | Sony a7C |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | September 2015 | September 2020 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | BSI CMOS |
| Image Processor | BIONZ X | BIONZ X |
| Resolution | 12.2 MP | 24.2 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 4240×2832 | 6000×4000 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 35.6 x 23.8 mm (Full Frame) | 35.6 x 23.8 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 8.4µ | 5.93µ |
| Low Pass Filter | Yes | Yes |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | Yes | Yes |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 102,400 | ISO 51,200 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-409,600 | ISO 50-204,800 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | No | No |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | No | 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) | 5 FPS | 10 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 5 FPS | 10 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | Autofocus fixed at first frame for 5 FPS shooting; 12-bit raw only | Compressed 12-bit raw at 10 FPS (uncompressed 14-bit raw is available at 8 FPS) |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 31 frames (5 FPS) | 115 frames (10 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Contrast Detect | Hybrid PDAF |
| Autofocus Points | 169 | 693 |
| Low-Light AF Sensitivity (f/2 Lens, ISO 100) | -4 EV | -4 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 | 1/160 |
| Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | No | No |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 8 bits | 8 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 8 bits | 8 bits |
| Raw Video | No | No |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 30 FPS | 30 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | No | 1.2x crop at 4K 30p (4K 24/25p has no additional crop) |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) |
| Video Recording Limit | 30 min | 780 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 1 | 1 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-I) | SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.0 in | 3.0 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 1.23 million dots | 0.92 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Single Axis | Fully Articulating |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.78x | 0.59x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2.36 million dots | 2.36 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 | No | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Type B 2.0 | Type C 3.2 Gen 1 |
| Battery Type | NP-FW50 | NP-FZ100 |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 310 frames | 680 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 370 frames | 740 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 627 g (1.38 lbs.) | 509 g (1.12 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 127 x 96 x 70 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.8″)1 | 124 x 71 x 60 mm (4.9 x 2.8 x 2.4″) |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $3000 (Discontinued) | $1800 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Sony a7S II Used Prices | Sony a7C Used Prices |
| 1The Sony a7S II’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match typical standards today, 10mm were added to the a7S II’s depth measurement in this table. | ||
As you can see, the Sony a7C actually beats the a7S II in almost every spec, and the few exceptions (like the higher-resolution rear LCD) are not going to be must-haves for a typical photographer. The Sony a7C has a higher-resolution sensor, more frames per second, a bigger buffer, a much longer battery life, and more.
That said, don’t laugh off the Sony a7S II. It wasn’t designed to be a high-speed, high-resolution beast. Instead, it was made to have amazing low-light performance and impressive video features, and it definitely delivers. Even today, you’ll have a hard time finding any cameras with better performance at ultra-high ISOs, both for stills and for video. And because it’s getting pretty old, you can find used copies of the a7S II selling for amazing prices today, easily under $1000. Not bad for what was once a $3000 camera!
Summary and Recommendations
Broadly speaking, between these two cameras, it’s easy to recommend the Sony a7C. The a7C might be aimed at a more consumer audience, but because it’s five years newer than the a7S II, it has a ton of new and useful features. Landscape photographers, sports photographers, and everyone in between will find something to like about the a7C over the a7S II. The only exceptions would be videography (where the two cameras are quite similar) and ultra-low-light photography, where the a7S II is ahead.
What does the Sony a7S II offer over the Sony a7C?
- Better performance in extremely low light conditions where your ISO is 25,600+
- Lower prices on the used market today
What does the Sony a7C offer over the Sony a7S II?
- Twice as many pixels (12.2MP vs 24.2MP)
- Faster frame rate (10 FPS vs 5 FPS) and bigger buffer – better for action photography
- Substantially battery life with both the viewfinder and rear LCD
- Lighter weight (118 g / 0.26 pounds lighter)
Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!
Photography Life is part of the B&H and KEH affiliate programs. When you make a purchase through the affiliate links in this article, we can be compensated with a percentage of each sale. If you found this comparison useful, buying anything through these links allows you to support Photography Life at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our efforts!
