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Sony

Alpha 7S III

12MP low-light video specialist with 4K 120p, 16-bit RAW HDMI, and excellent autofocus.

$3,499

Launch price

Released Sep 2020

vs

Sony

Alpha 9 II

24MP sports body with 20fps and proven pro workflow.

$4,499

Launch price

Released Oct 2019

Alpha 7S III is 11 months newer.

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Wins

8categories

Alpha 7S III

Video & HybridPortrait

Wins

4categories

Alpha 9 II

PortraitTravel

6 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

Alpha 7S III wins 4 categories·Alpha 9 II wins 1 categories
  • AAlpha 7S III has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
  • AAlpha 7S III has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
  • AAlpha 7S III has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 3,686,400)
  • BAlpha 9 II has higher Resolution (24.2 MP vs 12.1 MP)
  • AAlpha 7S III has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 51,200)

Key specs at a glance

Alpha 7S IIIAlpha 9 II
Resolution12.1 MP24.2 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max102,40051,200
Burst10 fps20 fps
4K120 fps30 fps
IBIS5.5-stop5.5-stop
Weight699 g678 g
Battery600 shots690 shots

Size and weight, to scale

Alpha 7S III

129 × 97 × 81 mm

699 g (1.54 lb / 24.66 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 II

129 × 96 × 78 mm

678 g (1.49 lb / 23.92 oz)

Alpha 7S III is 1mm taller and 3mm thicker than Alpha 9 II.

Alpha 7S III is 21 g heavier than Alpha 9 II.

Depth (front-to-back): 81mm Alpha 7S III · 78mm Alpha 9 II

Sensor size, to scale

Alpha 7S III

35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame

847 mm² area

Alpha 9 II

35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame

847 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

Alpha 7S III

✓ more lenses

Sony E

350+

native lenses available

80 first-party270 third-party

Alpha 9 II

✓ 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 IIIAlpha 9 II
Portrait
6.5Good
7.5Good✓ wins
Sports & Action
5.5Fair✓ wins
5.0Fair
Video & Hybrid
8.0Excellent✓ wins
5.0Fair
Landscape
5.5Fair
7.0Good✓ wins
Travel
6.5Good
7.5Good✓ wins
Wildlife
5.5Fair
6.5Good✓ wins
Vlogging
5.5Fair✓ wins
4.5Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

Alpha 7S III

  • AF low-light limit

    -6 EV vs -3 EV — lower 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

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 96.9, 80.8

  • EVF resolution

    9,437,184 vs 3,686,400 — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S-I, H.265

  • ISO max (native)

    102,400 vs 51,200 — higher is better

  • Internal RAW video

    Only Alpha 7S III supports it

Reasons to choose

Alpha 9 II

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 96.4, 77.5

  • Resolution

    24.2 MP vs 12.1 MP — higher is better

  • Burst (electronic)

    20 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds AVCHD

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    690 shots vs 600 shots — higher is better

  • Weight

    678 g vs 699 g — lower is better

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • AF frame coverageBoth 94 %
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • Burst (mechanical)Both 10 fps
  • RAW buffer depthBoth 120 frames

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

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

Alpha 9 II

Pros

  • 20fps silent burst
  • Sports AF
  • Dual slots

Cons

  • 24MP resolution
  • Older than A9 III
  • No global shutter

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the Alpha 7S III and Alpha 9 II 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 III
Alpha 9 II
Resolution
12.1 MP
24.2 MP2× more
Sensor type
Full Frame Exmor R CMOS
Full Frame Stacked Exmor RS CMOS
Sensor size
35.6 × 23.8 mm
35.6 × 23.8 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
Alpha 7S III
Alpha 9 II
Processor
BIONZ XR
BIONZ X
Alpha 7S III
Alpha 9 II
ISO min (native)
80−20 less
100
ISO max (native)
102,400+1 stop
51,200
ISO max (expanded)
409,600
204,800
Alpha 7S III
Alpha 9 II
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/32000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

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

Alpha 7S III scores 8.0/10 versus 5.0/10 for Alpha 9 II — 4K recording.

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

Alpha 7S III is 12.1 MP and Alpha 9 II is 24.2 MP, so the Alpha 9 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

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

Alpha 7S III has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 9 II has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

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

Alpha 7S III reaches 10 fps electronic. Alpha 9 II reaches 20 fps electronic.

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

Alpha 7S III weighs 699 g and Alpha 9 II weighs 678 g, so the Alpha 9 II is 21 g lighter.

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

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

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

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

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 600 shots (CIPA) for the Alpha 7S III and 690 shots for the Alpha 9 II, giving the Alpha 9 II the edge.

How much does each cost?

Alpha 7S III launched at $3,499 and Alpha 9 II at $4,499. The Alpha 7S III is $1,000 less.

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

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

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