Photo by Antonio Janeski from Pexels
The Sony a7S III is supposedly right around the corner (we’ll see how Sony does this year given the coronavirus pandemic), but to get you through these dark times without any new camera releases, we figured we would review an older camera right before it gets upgraded.
The Sony a7S II dropped nearly 5 years ago, yet it still packs a punch. Read up on the Sony a7S II in this Sony a7S II review.
Sony a7S II Specs
The Sony a7S II is a full-frame mirrorless with a 12MP sensor and 4K video capabilities.
It’s also known for its low-light shooting capabilities and an AF system that works in the most dire of circumstances.
Other Sony a7S II Specs Include:
- 12MP sensor
- ISO range of 100-102,400
- 4K video capabilities
- 3” tilting LCD with 1.22M-dots
- 100% EVF coverage
- 5fps burst mode
- 1.38 lbs
- Environmentally-sealed body
Recommended Photography Reading
- National Geographic Photo Basics: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Great Photography
- Photography: The Definitive Visual History
- Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs
Sony a7S II Body & Design
One problem found in earlier versions of this camera was mechanical vibrations. It wasn’t a huge deal, but it was noticeable.
Thankfully, those vibrations are now about half as recognizable because the Sony a7S II was built with a reduced-vibration shutter. Additionally, this shutter will last at least 500,000 cycles, so you won’t need to purchase another camera for a good, long while.
This camera is also built out of more magnesium alloy than its predecessor, providing both strength and lightness to this camera. The magnesium alloy covers on the front, top and rear of the camera, also ensure the camera is more weather-resistant.
Sony a7S II Build & Handling
This camera, much like the a7 II and a7R II, allows you to comfortably hold it with easy reach to all of the controls. If you’ve owned either the a7 II or a7R II in the past, you can reasonably expect to pick up the Sony a7S II and understand the camera right out of the box.
The grip is now larger, the shutter release is located closer to the top of the grip, and tons of customization options are available.
One negative to the build of this Sony is that the video record button is located near the corner of the thumb-grip and it’s sort of awkward to reach while shooting.
But, the impressive EVF makes up for anything you may not like about the Sony a7S II handling. It features 100% coverage and almost perfectly matches the final shot.
Sony a7S II Video Performance
You don’t need to speak Spanish to understand that Ivan Lozano Films is a big fan of the 4K video shot on the Sony a7S II.
Given the impressive ISO range, shooting video in a variety of circumstances on this camera is incredibly fun.
As this video by TheBuffNerds showcases, you can capture 4K video on the Sony a7S II in either 30p or 24p with up to a 100Mbps bit rate.
Of course, you can also shoot full 1080p HD video at either 100Mbps or 60Mbps for great slow-mo.
Sony a7S II Price
You can purchase a new Sony a7S II on Amazon for $2,300.
Or, since the Sony a7S II is nearly 5 years old, you can save $1,000 by buying it used on MPB.
I know that buying a camera that’s five years old might give you pause, but the great thing about MPB is that they put each item they list through a rigorous inspection process. This results in a series of grades for the gear, that way you know precisely what the condition is before you ever press buy.
But, if you’re unpleasantly surprised by a malfunction or other issue, MPB has a six-month warranty on much of their gear. So, you can save money while having peace of mind. Not bad, right?!