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Sony Alpha 7S II vs Sony Alpha 9 III

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyAlpha 7S IISonyAlpha 9 III
Overview
ReleasedOctober 2015January 2024
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor typeExmor CMOSStacked Exmor RS CMOS with global shutter
Sensor dimensions35.6 × 23.8 mm35.6 × 23.8 mm
Effective resolution12.2 MP24.6 MP
Largest image4240 × 28326000 × 4000
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–102400250–25600
Sensor detailApproximately 12.4 million total pixels; 3:2 sensor; charge protection coating and sensor-shift dust reductionApproximately 25.2 million total pixels; integral memory and global exposure rather than sequential line exposure.
Image formatsJPEG and compressed or uncompressed 14-bit RAW (Sony ARW 2.3); XAVC S, AVCHD 2.0 and MP4 moviesJPEG, HEIF and Sony ARW 5.0 RAW.
ISO detailStandard still-image and movie ISO 100–102400; still-image extension ISO 50–80 and 128000–409600; movie extension reaches ISO 409600Standard ISO 250–25600 for stills and movies; stills expand to ISO 125–51200.
Image processorBIONZ XBIONZ XR with dedicated AI processing unit.
Lens and shooting
Lens mountSony E-mountSony E-mount
StabilisationSensor shiftSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst5 fps120 fps
Lens detailInterchangeable E-mount; full-frame FE lenses use the whole sensor; APS-C still-image crop is available. ILCE-7SM2 is supplied without a lens.–
AutofocusContrast-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 AFUp to 759 still-image or 627 movie phase-detection points; sensitivity EV −5 to 20 with an F2 lens at ISO 100 equivalent. Current UK specification includes automatic subject selection and people, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and aircraft; launch reviews precede later firmware enhancements.
ShutterElectronically 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 detailUp 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.Up to 120 fps full-resolution electronic bursts with AF/AE tracking under Sony test conditions; speed depends on lens compatibility and shooting settings. Pre-Capture retains up to one second before full shutter press. No mechanical shutter.
Stabilisation detailFive-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 bodyFive-axis sensor shift; 8.0-stop CIPA pitch/yaw claim with FE 50mm F1.2 GM and long-exposure noise reduction off. Active and Dynamic Active movie modes supported.
FlashNo built-in flash; Multi Interface Shoe supports compatible external flash–
Exposure controls1200-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 resolution3840 × 2160 at 30 fps3840 × 2160 at 120 fps
Video detailInternal 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.Up to uncropped 3840 × 2160 120p NTSC or 100p PAL; 4K 60p uses 6K oversampling. Supports 10-bit 4:2:2, S-Log3 and S-Cinetone; All-Intra 4K tops out at 60p. External HDMI RAW output is separate from internal recording.
AudioBuilt-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
ViewfinderElectronicElectronic
Screen size3″3.2″
Screen dots1,228,8002,095,104
TouchscreenNoYes
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailLCD tilts approximately 107° upwards and 41° downwards; no touchscreenFour-axis LCD tilts and opens sideways; approximately 98° up, 40° down, 180° sideways and 270° rotation.
Viewfinder detail0.5-type OLED; 2,359,296 dots; 100% coverage; approximately 0.78× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity0.64-inch Quad-XGA OLED with 9437184 dots and approximately 0.90× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity; selectable up to 240 fps NTSC or 200 fps PAL.
Connections and design
Wi-FiYesYes
Bluetooth–Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)370 photographs530 photographs
Body weight584 g617 g
Release detailSony 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.Sony UK announced availability in January 2024; Japan's announcement specifies 26 January. The main date retains UK month precision.
Recording mediaOne 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 recordingBoth slots accept CFexpress Type A or UHS-I/UHS-II SD.
PortsMulti/Micro USB, Micro HDMI Type D, Multi Interface Shoe, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets and vertical-grip connectorUSB Type-C at 10 Gbps, Multi/Micro USB, full-size HDMI, 1000BASE-T Ethernet, sync terminal, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets and digital-audio Multi Interface Shoe.
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and NFC One-touch remote/sharingWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4/5 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0.
Battery life detailNP-FW50; CIPA maker claim approximately 370 photographs using LCD or 310 using viewfinder; continuous movie claim approximately 100 minutes with LCD or 95 with viewfinderNP-FZ100; Sony UK CIPA approximately 530 photographs with LCD or 400 with viewfinder. Japan lists 520/410 respectively. USB Type-C Power Delivery charging and power supported.
ChargingIn-camera USB charging and USB power during operation; optional AC-PW20 adaptor–
DimensionsApproximately 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3 mmApproximately 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9 mm (width × height × maximum depth); grip-to-monitor depth 72.8 mm.
Weight detailApproximately 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.Sony UK specifies approximately 617 g body only or 702 g with battery and memory card; Japan specifies 618/703 g respectively. Main figures use the UK specification.
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy top, front, rear and internal frame–
In the boxSony 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 batteriesNP-FZ100 battery, BC-QZ1 charger, power cord, cable protector, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap and eyepiece cup, according to Sony UK.

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