Alpha 7S II

Released October 2015

A 12.2 MP full-frame E-mount camera for low-light stills and video, adding internal 4K recording and five-axis sensor-shift stabilisation.

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: Full frame
Megapixels: 12.2
Lens: Sony E-mount
Video: 3840 × 2160 at 30 fps
Body weight: 584 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised low-light image quality and video features while finding battery capacity limiting. Photography Blog welcomed stabilisation but found autofocus lag restricting moving subjects. Photo Review found low-light focusing reliable, criticised small controls for larger hands, and reported intermittent 4K audio drop-outs on its review sample.

From photographyblog.com and photoreview.com.au

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type: Mirrorless
Sensor format: Full frame
Sensor type: Exmor CMOS
Sensor dimensions: 35.6 × 23.8 mm
Effective resolution: 12.2 MP
Largest image: 4240 × 2832
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 100–102400
Sensor detail: Approximately 12.4 million total pixels; 3:2 sensor; charge protection coating and sensor-shift dust reduction
Image formats: JPEG and compressed or uncompressed 14-bit RAW (Sony ARW 2.3); XAVC S, AVCHD 2.0 and MP4 movies
ISO detail: Standard still-image and movie ISO 100–102400; still-image extension ISO 50–80 and 128000–409600; movie extension reaches ISO 409600
Image processor: BIONZ X

Lens and shooting

Lens mount: Sony E-mount
Stabilisation: Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst: 5 fps
Lens detail: Interchangeable E-mount; full-frame FE lenses use the whole sensor; APS-C still-image crop is available. ILCE-7SM2 is supplied without a lens.
Autofocus: Contrast-detection AF with 169 points; maker detection range EV -4 to 20 at ISO 100 with an f/2 lens; AF-S, AF-C, direct manual focus and manual focus; Lock-on AF and Eye AF
Shutter: Electronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/8000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; electronic first curtain and silent electronic shutter selectable
Burst detail: Up to 5 fps Speed Priority Continuous with focus and exposure fixed at the first frame; 2.5 fps normal continuous. Maker speed-priority buffer approximately 31 compressed RAW or 24 uncompressed RAW images.
Stabilisation detail: Five-axis sensor-shift correction; maker claim 4.5 stops under CIPA pitch/yaw testing with the FE 55 mm f/1.8 ZA lens and long-exposure noise reduction off; compatible OSS lenses divide correction between lens and body
Flash: No built-in flash; Multi Interface Shoe supports compatible external flash
Exposure controls: 1200-zone evaluative metering; program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes; exposure compensation ±5 EV, or ±3 EV using the dedicated dial

Video

Highest video resolution: 3840 × 2160 at 30 fps
Video detail: Internal full-frame 3840 × 2160 at 30p/24p NTSC or 25p PAL in XAVC S up to 100 Mbps; Full HD up to 120p NTSC or 100p PAL. Photo Review identifies internal recording as 8-bit 4:2:0; HDMI output is 8-bit 4:2:2. Sony specifies full-frame 4K recording/output, despite Photography Blog describing Super 35 capture. S-Log2/S-Log3, gamma display assist, timecode and zebra features; approximately 29-minute internal clip limit.
Audio: Built-in stereo microphone; LPCM, Dolby Digital or AAC by recording format; adjustable levels; 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets; optional compatible shoe-mounted XLR adaptor

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 1,228,800
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: LCD tilts approximately 107° upwards and 41° downwards; no touchscreen
Viewfinder detail: 0.5-type OLED; 2,359,296 dots; 100% coverage; approximately 0.78× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: Yes
Battery life (maker's claim): 370 photographs
Body weight: 584 g
Release detail: Sony USA specifies October 2015 retail availability; Sony Japan gives 16 October 2015. Photo Review found the original Alpha 7S still offered alongside the II, so no exclusive replacement link is inferred.
Recording media: One combined SD/Memory Stick slot; SD, SDHC and SDXC with UHS-I support; Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; XAVC S requires Class 10 SDXC, with UHS Speed Class 3 for 100 Mbps recording
Ports: Multi/Micro USB, Micro HDMI Type D, Multi Interface Shoe, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets and vertical-grip connector
Wireless connections: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and NFC One-touch remote/sharing
Battery life detail: NP-FW50; CIPA maker claim approximately 370 photographs using LCD or 310 using viewfinder; continuous movie claim approximately 100 minutes with LCD or 95 with viewfinder
Charging: In-camera USB charging and USB power during operation; optional AC-PW20 adaptor
Dimensions: Approximately 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3 mm
Weight detail: Approximately 584 g body only; 627 g with battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo; both exclude lens. Photography Blog states 582 g body only, differing from Sony UK and Japan.
Materials: Magnesium-alloy top, front, rear and internal frame
In the box: Sony UK lists NP-FW50 battery, BC-VW1 charger, AC-UUD11 adaptor, cable protector, strap, USB cable, body/shoe caps and eyepiece cup; Sony Japan and Photo Review list two batteries

Pros and cons

Pros

Internal 4K recording with full-pixel readout
Five-axis sensor-shift stabilisation
Microphone input and headphone monitoring

Cons

No touchscreen
Contrast-detection autofocus only

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyAlpha 7R II	Mirrorless	Full frame	42.4	Sony E-mount	3840 × 2160 at 30 fps	582 g	Aug 2015
SonyAlpha 7 II	Mirrorless	Full frame	24.3	Sony E-mount	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	556 g	Dec 2014
SonyAlpha 7S	Mirrorless	Full frame	12.2	Sony E-mount	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	446 g	Jun 2014

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

Sony Alpha 7S II, front three-quarter view with separately sold lens: Sony, official Japan launch press image; shown lens is separate from body specifications
Sony Alpha 7S II, top controls and mode-dial lock detail: Sony, official Japan launch press image
Sony Alpha 7S II, front view with optional vertical grip and lens: Sony, official exact-model Japan product feature photograph; camera shown with optional VG-C2EM vertical grip and lens, sold separately
Sony α7S II, front three-quarter view with lens, complete maker photograph.: Sony
Sony α7S II, rear view, complete maker photograph.: Sony
Sony α7S II, rear three-quarter view with screen tilted outward, complete maker photograph.: Sony

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