Sony A7S II vs Nikon D5

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A7S II vs Nikon D5

35mm 847.3mm²
12.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 102,400

Go in depth with our full Sony A7S II Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7S II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7S II.
Compare Sony A7S II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7S II conclusion.

35mm 858.0mm²
20.8 megapixels
ISO 100 - 102,400

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D5.
Compare Nikon D5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D5 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D6
Compare D5 vs D6
Compare Sony A7S II vs Nikon D6

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Differences

Sony A7S II advantages over Nikon D5

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$2398 vs $6497
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Bigger pixels
~ 8.40 vs 6.45 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
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

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7S II test data on DxO Mark D5 test data on DxO Mark

2,993 vs 2,343 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Thinner
60 mm vs 92 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
627g vs 1415g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.78x vs 0.72x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Nikon D5 advantages over Sony A7S II

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 2.9 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

3780 vs 370 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Higher-res screen
590k vs 307k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
More pixels
20.8 vs 12.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Faster JPEG shooting
12.1 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 63 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
12.1 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
183 vs 28 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
3276800 vs 409600 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
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
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
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7S II User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5 User Reviews

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Body Only (CF Version)

Body Only (CF Version)
Body Only (XQD Version)
Body Only 100th Anniversary Edition (XQD)

Review Excerpt

Comfortable and surprisingly compact camera body; Improved low light performance; Built-in image stabilization; Wide range of usable ISOs; More sophisticated autofocus performance; Excellent video capabilities.
Relatively low resolution; Mediocre continuous shooting performance; No built-in flash; No losslessly compressed RAW option.
Read our Sony A7S II Review

Excellent image quality; Excellent high ISO performance; Fast 153-point autofocus system; Fast continuous shooting speeds; 4K video recording; Pro-quality camera body; Outstanding battery life.
Large and heavy body might not be right for all; Loud shutter; Underutilized touchscreen; Low ISO dynamic range not as good as predecessor; Extended high ISOs not very useful; Sluggish Live View AF.
Read our Nikon D5 Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D4S

Sony A7S II

Nikon D4S

$2398
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$5999
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A7S II vs Nikon D4S

Nikon D5

Nikon D4S

$6497
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$5999
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon D5 vs Nikon D4S

Compared to Sony A7S

Sony A7S II

Sony A7S

$2398
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

$1998
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Sony A7S II vs Sony A7S

Nikon D5

Sony A7S

$6497
35mm

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D5 vs Sony A7S

Compared to Canon 1DX Mark II

Sony A7S II

Canon 1DX Mark II

$2398
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$2999
35mm

Lens selection
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7S II vs Canon 1DX Mark II

Nikon D5

Canon 1DX Mark II

$6497
35mm

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$2999
35mm

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon D5 vs Canon 1DX Mark II

Compared to Sony A9

Sony A7S II

Sony A9

$2398
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$3295
35mm

Touchscreen
Fast startup

Compare Sony A7S II vs Sony A9

Nikon D5

Sony A9

$6497
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

$3295
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D5 vs Sony A9

Compared to Sony A7S III

Sony A7S II

Sony A7S III

$2398
35mm

Less expensive

$3348
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Slower slow-motion

Compare Sony A7S II vs Sony A7S III

Nikon D5

Sony A7S III

$6497
35mm

Lens selection
Top deck display

$3348
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D5 vs Sony A7S III

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