• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • 35mm 855.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

Buy From

Differences

Sony A33 advantages over Sony A7 II

  • Fast startup
    ~0.80 vs 1.7 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • More telephoto lens reach
    83 mm vs 70 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    7.1 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Sony A7 II advantages over Sony A33

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.97 vs 5.16 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,449 vs 591 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 350 vs 270 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Thinner
    59 mm vs 84 mm
    Thinner
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Newer
    9 years vs 14 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    1229k vs 922k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 14.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    52 vs 13 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Both provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization; Sensor-shift IS brings stabilization to nearly any lens; Much-improved ergonomics and top-deck control layout; 'Mark II' maintains same impressive image quality, dynamic range and high ISO performance; XAVC S 50Mbps video format; Faster start-up time; Hybrid AF performs well with good continuous AF.

  • (Similar to A7): Loud shutter (but electronic first-curtain helps); Battery life could be better; Low-light AF still not as good as most DSLRs; High ISO JPEGs look over-processed; Slow buffer clearing; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses (but it's getting better).

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D3100

Sony A33
Nikon D3100
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
Sony A7 II
Nikon D3100
  • $1148
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Sony A55

Sony A33
Sony A55
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • $734
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Built-in GPS
Sony A7 II
Sony A55
  • $1148
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $734
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in GPS

Compared to Sony A35

Sony A33
Sony A35
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Faster JPEG shooting
  • $567
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life
Sony A7 II
Sony A35
  • $1148
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $567
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Sony A7

Sony A33
Sony A7
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Fast startup
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A7 II
Sony A7
  • $1148
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive

Compared to Sony A7 III

Sony A33
Sony A7 III
  • $540
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Fast startup
  • $1865
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A7 II
Sony A7 III
  • $1148
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1865
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
Compare Other Cameras?