Sony
Alpha 7R II
Historic 42MP mirrorless that proved high-resolution full-frame could work.
$3,199
Launch priceReleased Jun 2015
Sony
Alpha 7S III
12MP low-light video specialist with 4K 120p, 16-bit RAW HDMI, and excellent autofocus.
$3,499
Launch priceReleased Sep 2020
Alpha 7S III is 5.3 years newer.
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Wins
Alpha 7R II
Wins
Alpha 7S III
3 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7S III has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
- BAlpha 7S III has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 7S III has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
- BAlpha 7S III has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 2,359,296)
- AAlpha 7R II has higher Resolution (42.4 MP vs 12.1 MP)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to shareAlpha 7R II
127 × 96 × 60 mm
625 g (1.38 lb / 22.05 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 7S III
129 × 97 × 81 mm
699 g (1.54 lb / 24.66 oz)
Alpha 7R II is 2mm narrower, 1mm shorter, and 21mm thinner than Alpha 7S III.
Alpha 7R II is 74 g lighter than Alpha 7S III.
Depth (front-to-back): 60mm Alpha 7R II · 81mm Alpha 7S III
Sensor size, to scale
Alpha 7R II
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 mm² area
Alpha 7S III
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Alpha 7R II
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Alpha 7S III
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7R II
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 126.9, 95.7, 60.3
Card types
Adds SD UHS-I
Resolution
42.4 MP vs 12.1 MP — higher is better
Codecs
Adds AVCHD, MP4
Weight
625 g vs 699 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7S III
AF low-light limit
-6 EV vs -2 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 128.9, 96.9, 80.8
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 2,359,296 — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S-I, H.265
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 94 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓RAW buffer depth — Both 120 frames
- ✓In-body stabilization (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Alpha 7R II
Pros
- ✓42MP milestone
- ✓5-axis IBIS
- ✓Historic importance
Cons
- –Very dated AF
- –Old video
- –Superseded many times
Alpha 7S III
Pros
- ✓Best-in-class low light
- ✓4K 120p
- ✓Full-size HDMI
- ✓Strong IBIS
Cons
- –12MP stills limit
- –Older generation now
- –No 8K
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Alpha 7R II and Alpha 7S III at major authorized retailers.
Sony Alpha 7R II
Sony Alpha 7S III
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, Alpha 7R II or Alpha 7S III?
Alpha 7S III scores 5.5/10 versus 1.5/10 for Alpha 7R II — Animal subject recognition.
What's the resolution difference between the Alpha 7R II and Alpha 7S III?
Alpha 7R II is 42.4 MP and Alpha 7S III is 12.1 MP, so the Alpha 7R II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Alpha 7R II and Alpha 7S III have in-body image stabilization?
Alpha 7R II has 4.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 7S III has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Alpha 7R II or the Alpha 7S III?
Alpha 7R II reaches 5 fps electronic. Alpha 7S III reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Alpha 7R II and Alpha 7S III?
Alpha 7R II weighs 625 g and Alpha 7S III weighs 699 g, so the Alpha 7R II is 74 g lighter.
Do the Alpha 7R II and Alpha 7S III record 4K video?
Alpha 7R II: 4K up to 30p. Alpha 7S III: 4K up to 120p.
Are the Alpha 7R II and Alpha 7S III weather sealed?
Alpha 7R II: Yes. Alpha 7S III: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 290 shots (CIPA) for the Alpha 7R II and 600 shots for the Alpha 7S III, giving the Alpha 7S III the edge.
How much does each cost?
Alpha 7R II launched at $3,199 and Alpha 7S III at $3,499. The Alpha 7R II is $300 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way Alpha 7R II vs Alpha 7S III vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.