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Sony

Alpha 7S II

12MP low-light video pioneer before the A7S III revolution.

$2,999

Launch price

Released Sep 2015

vs

Sony

Alpha 9 III

Global shutter sports flagship with 120fps and zero rolling shutter for pro action.

$5,999

Launch price

Released Jan 2024

Alpha 9 III is 8.3 years newer.

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Wins

4categories

Alpha 7S II

PortraitTravel

Wins

13categories

Alpha 9 III

Sports & ActionWildlife

1 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

Alpha 7S II wins 2 categories·Alpha 9 III wins 3 categories
  • AAlpha 7S II has higher Burst (mechanical) (5 fps vs 0 fps)
  • BAlpha 9 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 5 fps)
  • BAlpha 9 III has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 169)
  • AAlpha 7S II has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
  • BAlpha 9 III has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)

Key specs at a glance

Alpha 7S IIAlpha 9 III
Resolution12.2 MP24.6 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max102,40025,600
Burst5 fps120 fps
4K30 fps120 fps
IBIS4.5-stop8-stop
Weight627 g703 g
Battery310 shots400 shots

Size and weight, to scale

Alpha 7S II

127 × 96 × 60 mm

627 g (1.38 lb / 22.12 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

Alpha 9 III

136 × 97 × 83 mm

703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)

Alpha 7S II is 9mm narrower, 1mm shorter, and 23mm thinner than Alpha 9 III.

Alpha 7S II is 76 g lighter than Alpha 9 III.

Depth (front-to-back): 60mm Alpha 7S II · 83mm Alpha 9 III

Sensor size, to scale

Alpha 7S II

35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame

847 mm² area

Alpha 9 III

35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame

847 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

Alpha 7S II

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

Alpha 9 III

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

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

Use caseAlpha 7S IIAlpha 9 III
Portrait
6.5Good
7.5Good✓ wins
Sports & Action
1.5Limited
10.0Excellent✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
5.0Fair
8.0Excellent✓ wins
Landscape
4.5Fair
7.0Good✓ wins
Travel
6.5Good
7.0Good✓ wins
Wildlife
2.5Limited
9.5Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
6.0Good✓ wins
5.5Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

Alpha 7S II

  • Burst (mechanical)

    5 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 126.9, 95.7, 60.3

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-I

  • ISO max (native)

    102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better

  • ISO min (native)

    100 vs 250 — lower is better

  • Codecs

    Adds AVCHD, MP4

  • Weight

    627 g vs 703 g — lower is better

Reasons to choose

Alpha 9 III

  • AF low-light limit

    -5 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9

  • Card types

    Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II

  • Burst (electronic)

    120 fps vs 5 fps — higher is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Animal, Bird, Insect…

  • AF points / zones

    759 vs 169 — higher is better

  • 4K max frame rate

    120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better

  • EVF resolution

    9,437,184 vs 2,359,296 — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • AF frame coverageBoth 94 %
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • In-body stabilization (IBIS)Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
  • Weather sealingBoth support weather sealing
  • TouchscreenBoth support touchscreen

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

Alpha 7S II

Pros

  • Legendary low light
  • 4K internal
  • Compact files

Cons

  • 12MP stills limit
  • Old AF
  • 8-bit 4K

Alpha 9 III

Pros

  • Global shutter 120fps
  • Zero rolling shutter
  • Pro sports AF
  • Pre-capture buffer

Cons

  • 24.6MP only
  • Premium price
  • Battery drain at max speed

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the Alpha 7S II and Alpha 9 III at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

Alpha 7S II
Alpha 9 III
Resolution
12.2 MP
24.6 MP2× more
Sensor type
Full Frame Exmor CMOS
Full Frame Global Shutter Exmor RS CMOS
Sensor size
35.6 × 23.8 mm
35.6 × 23.8 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
Alpha 7S II
Alpha 9 III
Processor
BIONZ X
BIONZ XR + AI processing unit
Alpha 7S II
Alpha 9 III
ISO min (native)
100−150 less
250
ISO max (native)
102,400+2 stops
25,600
ISO max (expanded)
409,600
51,200
Alpha 7S II
Alpha 9 III
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Global electronic shutter
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/80000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for sports, Alpha 7S II or Alpha 9 III?

Alpha 9 III scores 10.0/10 versus 1.5/10 for Alpha 7S II — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.

What's the resolution difference between the Alpha 7S II and Alpha 9 III?

Alpha 7S II is 12.2 MP and Alpha 9 III is 24.6 MP, so the Alpha 9 III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the Alpha 7S II and Alpha 9 III have in-body image stabilization?

Alpha 7S II has 4.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 9 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the Alpha 7S II or the Alpha 9 III?

Alpha 7S II reaches 5 fps electronic. Alpha 9 III reaches 120 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the Alpha 7S II and Alpha 9 III?

Alpha 7S II weighs 627 g and Alpha 9 III weighs 703 g, so the Alpha 7S II is 76 g lighter.

Do the Alpha 7S II and Alpha 9 III record 4K video?

Alpha 7S II: 4K up to 30p. Alpha 9 III: 4K up to 120p.

Are the Alpha 7S II and Alpha 9 III weather sealed?

Alpha 7S II: Yes. Alpha 9 III: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 310 shots (CIPA) for the Alpha 7S II and 400 shots for the Alpha 9 III, giving the Alpha 9 III the edge.

How much does each cost?

Alpha 7S II launched at $2,999 and Alpha 9 III at $5,999. The Alpha 7S II is $3,000 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way Alpha 7S II vs Alpha 9 III vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.