Sony a7R III vs Sony a7S II
This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a7R III and Sony a7S II. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.
Manufacturing
These cameras are both manufactured by Sony.
Sony a7R III were released 2017 and Sony a7S II was released 2015. That is a 2 years difference. In tech, this period can be of interest since technology is always improving, etc.Camera | Released |
Sony a7R III | 2017 |
Sony a7S II | 2015 |
Type of camera
Both these cameras are Mirrorless cameras. No difference there.
Sensors / crop factor
Both these cameras have the same sorts of sensor (called "Sony Full Frame") which means that if you compare these cameras side by side the lenses will also have the same experienced focal length. Since both cameras have a Full frame sensor there will be no crop factor.
Camera | Focal length, 50mm f/1.8 ** |
Sony a7R III | 50 mm Full-frame sensor No crop factor/focal length multiplier |
Sony a7S II | 50 mm Full-frame sensor No crop factor/focal length multiplier |
** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"
Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)
Resolution
Sony a7R III has a 42 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Sony a7S II has 12 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:
Camera | Megapixels |
Sony a7R III |
42 MP
42177408 pixels 7952 x 5304 |
Sony a7S II |
12 MP
12007680 pixels 4240 x 2832 |
Sony a7R III has a 251 % larger resolution than Sony a7S II. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.
ISO range
Sony a7S II has a larger ISO-range than Sony a7R III. Sony a7S II has an ISO range that stretches from 100 to 102400 while Sony a7R III has 100 to 32000.
Camera | ISO Range |
Sony a7R III | 100-32000 |
Sony a7S II | 100-102400 |
Autofocus and lens compatibility
Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.
Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a7R III
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a7S II
Pictures per second
Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a7R III can shoot up to 10 pictures per seconds and Sony a7S II can shoot up to 5 pictures per seconds.
Camera | FPS (Frames per second) |
Sony a7R III | 10 |
Sony a7S II | 5 |
Ability to record movies
It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.
In this case, both Sony a7R III and Sony a7S II can shoot movies.
Weight
The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.
Sony a7R III weighs 657 gr (equal to 1.45 lb) which is 5% heavier than Sony a7S II and its 627 gr (or 1.38 lb).
Camera | Weight |
Sony a7R III | 657 gr 1.45 lb |
Sony a7S II | 627 gr 1.38 lb |
Sony a7R III vs Sony a7S II Specs
Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a7R III and Sony a7S II, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.
Product |
Sony a7R III |
Sony a7S II |
Name | Sony a7R III | Sony a7S II |
Manufacturer | Sony | Sony |
Release Date and Price |
Sony a7R III |
Sony a7S II |
Release Year | 2017 | 2015 |
Release Date | 2017-10-25 | 2015-09-11 |
MSRP | 3199 USD | 2999 USD |
Buy it today | ||
Camera Type |
Sony a7R III |
Sony a7S II |
Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
Sensor |
Sony a7R III |
Sony a7S II |
Sensor Size | Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm) | Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm) |
Sensor Type | BSI-CMOS | CMOS |
Resolution | 7952 x 5304 pixels | 4240 x 2832 pixels |
Megapixels | 42 MP | 12 MP |
Image Processor | Bionz X | Bionz X |
Image |
Sony a7R III |
Sony a7S II |
ISO Range | 100 - 32000 | 100 - 102400 |
White Balance Presets | 10 | 10 |
Custom White Balance | Yes | Yes |
Image Stabilization |
Yes (Sensor-Shift 5-axis) |
Yes (Sensor-Shift (5 axis)) |
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating | 5.5 stops | 0 stops |
Uncompressed format | RAW | RAW |
Optics & Focus |
Sony a7R III |
Sony a7S II |
Autofocus Motor | Yes | Yes |
Autofocus |
Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Tracking Single Continuous Touch Face Detection LiveView |
Contract Detect (sensor) Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView |
Focus Points | 399 | 169 |
Lens Mount |
Sony E See Compatible Lenses |
Sony E See Compatible Lenses |
Focal Length Multiplier |
Full frame No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 mm |
Full frame No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 mm |
Screen & Viewfinder |
Sony a7R III |
Sony a7S II |
Articulated LCD | Tilting | Tilting |
Screen size | 3” | 3” |
Screen dots | 1440000 | 1228800 |
Touch screen | Yes | No |
Screen type | TFT LCD | TFT-LCD |
Live view | Yes | Yes |
Viewfinder Type | Electronic | Electronic |
Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.78x | 0.78x |
Viewfinder Resolution | 3686400 | N/A |
Photography features |
Sony a7R III |
Sony a7S II |
Frames per second | 10 fps | 5 fps |
Minimum Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Built-in Flash | No | No |
Built-in Flash Range | N/A | N/A |
External Flash | Yes | Yes |
Self-Timer | Yes | Yes |
Time-lapse | No | No |
Metering modes |
Multi Center Weighted Spot |
Multi Center Weighted Spot |
Exposure Compensation | +/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) | +/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
Videography features |
Sony a7R III |
Sony a7S II |
Video recording | Yes | Yes |
Video format |
MPEG4 H.264 AVCHD |
MPEG4 XAVC-S AVCHD |
Video resolution |
1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160 |
1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160 |
Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
Built-in Speakers | Yes | Yes |
Storage |
Sony a7R III |
Sony a7S II |
Memory Card |
SD/SDHC |
Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC |
Connectivity |
Sony a7R III |
Sony a7S II |
HDMI Output | Yes | Yes |
Microphone Port | Yes | Yes |
Headphone Port | Yes | Yes |
Wireless |
Yes Built-in (802.11b/g/n + NFC + Bluetooth) |
Yes Built-in (802.11b/g/n with NFC) |
Remote Control | Yes (wired, wireless, smartphone) | Yes (wired or smartphone) |
GPS | No | No |
Body & Dimensions |
Sony a7R III |
Sony a7S II |
Enviromentally sealed | Yes | Yes |
Battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery Details |
NP-FZ100 lithium-ion battery and charger
|
NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery and charger
|
Battery Life (CIPA) | 650 shots | 370 shots |
Width | 127 mm | 127 mm |
Height | 96 mm | 96 mm |
Depth | 74 mm | 60 mm |
Weight | 657 gram | 627 gram |