Sony a7S III vs Sony a9 II — Which Is Better?
Side by side47 specifications |
Sony · Mirrorless · 12.1 MP · Full Frame · 4K video
Sony a7S III
74
SCORE
|
Sony · Mirrorless · 24.2 MP · Full Frame · 4K video
Sony a9 II
82
WINNER
|
|---|---|---|
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| General | ||
Read the General ComparisonGeneralThe Sony a7S III and the Sony a9 II are both full-frame mirrorless cameras on the Sony FE mount, so any FE lens you already own fits either body. The a9 II was announced in October 2019 and the a7S III followed in July 2020. The a9 II is the smaller and lighter body, measuring 129 x 96 x 76 mm and 678 g against the a7S III's 129 x 97 x 81 mm and 699 g. The a9 II is 21 g lighter. | ||
Released ⓘRefers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale. |
2020 | 2019 |
Announcement date ⓘRefers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera. |
July 28, 2020 | October 3, 2019 |
| Camera type |  Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Camera size | 129 x 97 x 81 mm | 129 x 96 x 76 mm |
| Camera weight | 699 g | 678 g |
| Optics | 69/100 | 82/100 |
Read the Optics ComparisonOpticsThe a9 II is the stronger choice for fast action and heavy cropping. Its 24.2 MP sensor doubles the a7S III's 12.1 MP count, leaving far more latitude to crop a distant bird or athlete. Its 20 fps burst doubles the a7S III's 10 fps for peak-action sequences, and its 1/32000 s maximum shutter is four times shorter than 1/8000 s. The a7S III's electronic viewfinder is much more detailed, with 9.44 million dots against the a9 II's 3.69 million, and its native ISO ceiling reaches 102400 against 51200. It also has 759 autofocus points against 693. Both use a full-frame CMOS sensor with in-body stabilisation, so handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds is supported on either body. | ||
Megapixels ⓘThe higher the number of megapixels, the more detail the cameras sensor can capture. |
12.1 MP050 | 24.2 MP050 |
Image resolution ⓘImage resolution is measured in pixels and megapixels, width by height. The higher the number, the higher its resolution. |
4240 x 2832 | 6000 x 4000 |
Sensor type ⓘThe camera sensor captures light and records the image. Sensors vary in physical size, the number of pixels, and quality. |
CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size ⓘThe sensor size contributes to the overall quality as well as the dynamic and tonal range a camera can capture. As a rule of thumb, the more surface there is to read the light, the more information it will capture. |
23.8 x 35.6 | 23.8 x 35.6 |
Sensor format ⓘRefers to the most commonly used sensor sizes. |
 Full Frame | Full Frame |
Continuous shooting ⓘThe number of sequential frames per second the camera can write to the memory card when shooting in burst or continuous mode. |
10 fps045 | 20 fps045 |
Lens mount ⓘThe lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras. |
Sony FE | Sony FE |
Image processor ⓘThe image processor in the camera converts the information collected on the sensor for digital storage on the memory card. |
Bionz XR | Bionz X |
Aspect ratio ⓘThe aspect ratio refers to the proportional difference between width and height. The most popular aspect ratios are 3:2 and 4:3. |
 3:2 | 3:2 |
Min ISO ⓘRefers to the lowest native (or 'base') ISO setting. Lower ISO are less sensitive to light but make a cleaner image. |
8030200 | 10030200 |
Max ISO ⓘRefers to the highest native (or 'base') ISO setting. Higher ISO is necessary for low-light situations or night photography, but higher ISOs often introduce grain or noise. |
1024003003280000 | 512003003280000 |
Min ISO (expanded) ⓘExpanded (or extended) ISO is a digitally enhanced feature available on some cameras. It allows you to push beyond the native ISO range if necessary. |
4030200 | 5030200 |
Max ISO (expanded) ⓘExpanded (or extended) ISO is a digitally enhanced feature available on some cameras. It allows you to push beyond the native ISO range if necessary. |
4096003003280000 | 2048003003280000 |
Minimum shutter speed ⓘThe minimum shutter speed will tell you the longest exposure your camera can take without using an external accessory. |
3044080 | 3044080 |
Max shutter speed ⓘThe maximum shutter speed tells you the length inside 1 second the camera will capture. These can sometimes be extended with accessories such as extra external batteries. |
800080032000 | 3200080032000 |
Autofocus points ⓘAutofocus points show where the camera is focusing graphically as squares or brackets in Live View or on an electronic viewfinder. These points are also used for light meter readings. |
7590300 | 6930300 |
In-body stabilisation ⓘIn-body Stabilization means the camera has a certain technology embedded that counteracts camera shake. |
 Yes | Yes |
Viewfinder type ⓘThe viewfinder type is either electronic or optical. Electronic viewfinders will have a small screen in the viewfinder. Optical viewfinders will use prisms and mirrors to look through the lens. |
Electronic | Electronic |
| Viewfinder dots | 944000009900000 | 368640009900000 |
| Video | 77/100 | 70/100 |
Read the Video ComparisonVideoThe a7S III is the clear video camera here, recording 4K at up to 120 fps against the a9 II's 30 fps. That headroom lets you slow fast motion four times over while staying in 4K, and XAVC HS gives it a second recording format. The a9 II offers a built-in interval timer for timelapse work, which the a7S III lacks. Both cameras share 4K as their maximum video resolution, so standard-speed 4K clips are available from either body. | ||
Video ⓘIndicates if this camera is capable of recording video. |
 Yes | Yes |
Max video resolution ⓘThe best resolution this camera can capture video in. Modern cameras can capture up to 8K video. |
 4K | 4K |
Max video format ⓘVideo resolution measured by the greatest number of pixels possible in each frame, width by height. A higher resolution means more detail or clarity in your video. |
3840 x 2160 | 3840 x 2160 |
Max video frame rate ⓘHow many frames per second your video will capture. Most cameras have options for multiple frame rates, depending on the resolution you shoot in. For a general video, 24p or 30p is the standard, but more serious filmmakers may need a higher frame rate for creative effect. |
120 fps | 30 fps |
Timelapse built in ⓘA built in time-lapse mode will allow continuous shooting throughout a prolonged period of time to be compressed into a sped up video. |
No |  Yes |
Video file format ⓘDifferent cameras can record in various video file formats. The File format you record in can impact how you edit and use the files. |
XAVC S, XAVC HS | XAVC S, AVCHD |
| Features | 83/100 | 83/100 |
Read the Features ComparisonFeaturesBoth cameras offer the same rear-screen setup, a 3-inch, 1.44-million-dot tilting touch LCD for low-angle framing and touch control. Both also offer weather sealing, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless transfer, and a hot shoe for external flash. Neither camera has built-in GPS, so neither body tags files with its own location data. Neither carries a built-in flash either, so artificial light always comes from an external unit. | ||
Builtin flash ⓘA built-in flash will often be positioned right above the lens. This will automatically pop up when you activate it. |
✗ | ✗ |
External flash ⓘExternal flashes are often connected through a hot shoe at the top of a camera, or a cable at the side of the camera. |
 Yes | Yes |
GPS ⓘGPS features in a camera will include location metadata to each of your photographs. |
✗ | ✗ |
Weather sealing ⓘWeather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Screen type | LCD | LCD |
Touch screen ⓘTouchscreen allows you to change camera settings and access menus with a swipe of your finger, instead of using buttons. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Screen size | 3" | 3" |
Screen dots ⓘScreen dots indicate the resolution of the LCD screen by including each sub pixel. |
14400001150001500000 | 14400001150001500000 |
Flip screen ⓘA flip screen (or articulating screen) is a second screen which can flip out from the side or top of the camera. This rotating screen allows you more freedom to take photos at different angles. |
 Yes | Yes |
Live view ⓘLive View feature allows you to see a continuous live video of what is being seen through your lens. |
 Yes | Yes |
Wi-Fi ⓘBuilt-in Wi-Fi allows you to connect your camera and share images wirelessly. |
 Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth ⓘBluetooth capabilities allow you wireless control of your camera with other external devices. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Storage & battery | 76/100 | 79/100 |
Read the Storage & battery ComparisonStorage and BatteryOne spare NP-FZ100 battery and one USB charging setup serves either body, because both share the same battery type, dual card slots and USB charging. The a9 II's battery is rated at 690 shots against 600 for the a7S III. The a7S III's slots accept CFexpress Type A cards alongside UHS-II SD, a card option the a9 II's SD-only slots do not offer. | ||
| Memory card | SD / SDHC / SDXC (UHS-II compatible), CFexpress Type A | SD / SDHC / SDXC (UHS-II compatible) |
| Dual memory card slots |  Yes | Yes |
| Battery type | NP-FZ100 | NP-FZ100 |
Battery life ⓘApproximately how long this cameras battery will last measured by how many photographs you will be able to take. |
600 shots1505000 | 690 shots1505000 |
| USB charging |  Yes | Yes |
Read: Verdict
Verdict
Buy the a9 II if you shoot sports, wildlife or news as stills. Its 20 fps burst, 24.2 MP sensor for cropping latitude and 1/32000 s shutter suit that work.
Buy the a7S III if video leads your work. Its 4K at 120 fps, XAVC HS format and CFexpress Type A support serve a video-first workflow, and its 9.44-million-dot viewfinder gives a more detailed framing view. Choose the a9 II for video only if a built-in timelapse timer matters more than slow motion.