Sony a7S II

The Sony a7S II is a full-frame mirrorless camera released in 2015. Its 12.2 megapixel count is low, pairing a large sensor with ISO settings that reach 102400 for dim conditions.

Owning it means a 627g body with an electronic viewfinder, a tilting LCD and the Sony FE lens mount behind it. Weather sealing adds reassurance for outdoor shoots.

The a7S II records video as well as stills. Its 5fps maximum burst rate is a peak figure, not a promise of sustained speed.

The Optics score of 66 puts the a7S II around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics. A full-frame CMOS sensor with just 12.2 megapixels limits heavy cropping, and the Bionz X processor handles its output. ISO settings start at 100 and reach 102400, so sensitivity can keep rising as light falls.

In-body stabilisation counters camera shake, so handheld shots at slower shutter speeds stay sharper with any FE lens, including designs with no stabilisation of their own. It will not stop subject motion.

Action is where the limits sit. The maximum burst rate of 5fps constrains rapid sequences, and autofocus offers 169 points to choose from. At the eye, the electronic viewfinder's 2,359,296 dots give a detailed view, while the 1/8000s top shutter speed allows very short exposures when light is strong.

The a7S II records video at resolutions up to 4K. Files can be written in XAVC S, AVCHD or MPEG-4, so you can pick the format that fits your editing setup and how much storage you can spare.

The maximum video frame rate is 30fps. That covers normal-motion footage but leaves the camera no slow-motion headroom, since higher capture rates are what slow motion needs.

There is no built-in timelapse mode either, so anyone who shoots interval sequences regularly will need to work around it.

Those limits explain the modest video score of 56: the 30fps maximum frame rate and the missing built-in timelapse mode are where the video specification falls short.

Framing is well handled. The 3-inch LCD carries 1,228,800 dots and tilts to help with high or low angles. There is no touch control, so the screen is not used for input.

The body is weather sealed, useful for outdoor shoots, though that is not the same as waterproofing. There is also no built-in flash, but the camera supports an external one for when you need extra light.

Wi-Fi is built in, but Bluetooth and GPS are both absent. The modest features score of 57 reflects the missing touch control and Bluetooth, with the screen, live view and weather sealing counting in its favour.

The Storage & Battery score of 21 is the weakest area, and the effects are practical. One memory card slot, taking SD, SDHC and SDXC or Memory Stick Duo cards, puts a whole shoot on a single card with no in-camera copy as insurance. Carry spares and offload often.

The NP-FW50 battery carries a rating of 370 shots. Treat that as a benchmark rather than a promise for every outing, and pack a second battery for a long day of shooting.

There is no USB charging, so a power bank cannot top the battery up on location. A charged spare in the bag is one practical answer.