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

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Sony A7 II

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

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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. 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 IV	2021	33.0MP - Full frame	10.0 fps	129 x 97 x 81mm	659g
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

3.00" Tilting Screen

2360k dot Electronic viewfinder

10.0fps continuous shooting

4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

120fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

650g. 127 x 96 x 74 mm

Weather Sealed Body

Replaced Sony Alpha A7 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

3.00" Tilting Screen

2359k dot Electronic viewfinder

5.0fps 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 III was replaced by Sony Alpha A7 IV. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha A7 IV vs Sony Alpha A7 III
Sony Alpha A7 IV vs Sony Alpha A7 II

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.

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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
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 High Speeds
Webcam Function	Yes vs Yes	Use your camera as a Webcam

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.

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.

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.

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 3.00".

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.

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 176 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	16 (11 Full Frame)	16 (11 Full Frame)
Standard Prime	32 (18 Full Frame)	32 (18 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom	9 (8 Full Frame)	9 (8 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime	54 (37 Full Frame)	54 (37 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom	15 (13 Full Frame)	15 (13 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime	26 (20 Full Frame)	26 (20 Full Frame)
SuperZoom	10 (2 Full Frame)	10 (2 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime	2 (0 Full Frame)	2 (0 Full Frame)
Macro Prime	9 (8 Full Frame)	9 (8 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime	2 (2 Full Frame)	2 (2 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime	n/a	n/a
TOTAL	176 (119 Full Frame)	176 (119 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

	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 FE	35mm FF	210gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 G OSS	35mm FF	2115gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 35mm F1.8	35mm FF	280gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS	35mm FF	602gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS	35mm FF	780gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Venus Laowa 24mm F14 2x Macro Probe	35mm FF	474gr	MF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS	35mm FF	663gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM	35mm FF	524gr	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 69 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 #27 out of 98 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #28 out of 1239 in all Cameras

Sony A7 II

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #43 out of 98 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #63 out of 1239 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 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	176	176
Screen
Type	Tilting	Tilting
Size	3.00"	3.00"
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
Built-in Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift	Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	10.0 fps	5.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
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
	Report a correction	Report a correction