Sony a7C vs Sony a9 II — Which Is Better?
Side by side47 specifications |
Sony · Mirrorless · 24.2 MP · Full Frame · 4K video
Sony a7C
78
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 a7C and the Sony a9 II are full frame mirrorless cameras in very different bodies. The a9 II, from 2019, is the larger at 129 x 96 x 76 mm. The a7C, from 2020, fits a full frame sensor into a slim 124 x 71 x 60 mm frame. The weight gap favours the a7C for travel: 509 g against 678 g, a 169 g difference. The a9 II's larger body comes with a 20 fps burst and dual card slots, so the real split is portability against speed and redundancy. | ||
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. |
November 1, 2020 | October 3, 2019 |
| Camera type |  Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Camera size | 124 x 71 x 60 mm | 129 x 96 x 76 mm |
| Camera weight | 509 g | 678 g |
| Optics | 80/100 | 82/100 |
Read the Optics ComparisonOpticsThe a9 II is the clear choice for fast action. Its 20 fps burst doubles the a7C's 10 fps, giving you twice the frames for a sprinter mid-stride or a bird taking off. The shutter also reaches 1/32000 second, eight times shorter than the a7C's 1/4000, freezing rapid motion or holding a wide aperture in bright light. Several image-making specifications match exactly. Both pair a 24.2 megapixel full frame CMOS sensor with the Bionz X processor, 693 autofocus points and in-body stabilisation. The a9 II does give you a finer view of the action, with 3,686,400 viewfinder dots against 2,360,000. | ||
Megapixels ⓘThe higher the number of megapixels, the more detail the cameras sensor can capture. |
24.2 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. |
6000 x 4000 | 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 X | 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. |
10030200 | 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. |
512003003280000 | 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. |
5030200 | 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. |
2048003003280000 | 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. |
400080032000 | 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. |
6930300 | 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 | 236000009900000 | 368640009900000 |
| Video | 70/100 | 70/100 |
Read the Video ComparisonVideoEither body handles a basic 4K video workflow with the same limits. Each records in 4K, supports frame rates up to 30 fps and writes XAVC S files, with a built-in interval function for timelapse. The a9 II adds AVCHD recording, which helps when a project needs files for an older workflow. | ||
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. |
30 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. |
 Yes | 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 S, AVCHD |
| Features | 81/100 | 83/100 |
Read the Features ComparisonFeaturesChecking focus on the rear screen favours the a9 II. Its 1,440,000 dot LCD renders finer detail than the 921,600 dot panel on the a7C. In other respects the screens are the same in kind: each is a 3 inch tilting touchscreen, so waist-level and overhead framing work equally well. Weather sealing, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are shared, and both accept external flash units. Neither offers a built-in flash or GPS, so geotagging a landscape trip means syncing locations from a phone afterwards. | ||
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. |
9216001150001500000 | 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 | 45/100 | 79/100 |
Read the Storage & battery ComparisonStorage and BatteryFor a paid shoot, the a9 II offers the safer storage setup with two card slots. The a7C's single slot means every frame from an assignment sits on one card. Both take SD, SDHC and SDXC cards with UHS-II compatibility. Battery life ratings are close and favour the a7C slightly: 740 shots against 690 for the a9 II. Both use the same NP-FZ100 battery and support USB charging, so one spare and a power bank serve either body. | ||
| Memory card | SD / SDHC / SDXC (UHS-II compatible) | SD / SDHC / SDXC (UHS-II compatible) |
| Dual memory card slots | No |  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. |
740 shots1505000 | 690 shots1505000 |
| USB charging |  Yes | Yes |
Read: Verdict
Verdict
Choose the Sony a9 II for sport, wildlife or fast-moving events. Its 20 fps burst, 1/32000 second shutter, finer viewfinder and dual card slots suit a long action session. Choose the Sony a7C for travel and everyday photography, where its 509 g weight and slim body make it the better companion.
The shared image fundamentals keep the decision simple. Both offer 24.2 megapixels, in-body stabilisation and 4K video, so the choice comes down to speed and storage redundancy against portability.