Nikon D3300 vs Sony A7S II

The Nikon D3300 and the Sony Alpha 7S II are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in January 2014 and September 2015. The D3300 is a DSLR, while the A7S II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (D3300) and a full frame (A7S II) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 12 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon D3300		Sony A7S II
Digital single lens reflex		Mirrorless system camera
Nikon F mount lenses		Sony E mount lenses
24 MP, APS-C Sensor		12 MP, Full Frame Sensor
1080/60p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (100 - 25,600)		ISO 100-102,400 (50 - 409,600)
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots)
3.0 LCD, 921k dots		3.0 LCD, 1229k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second		5 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization only		In-body stabilization
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
700 shots per battery charge		370 shots per battery charge
124 x 98 x 76 mm, 430 g		127 x 96 x 60 mm, 627 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D3300 and the Sony Alpha 7S II? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon D3300 and the Sony A7S II. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The D3300 can be obtained in three different colors (black, grey, red), while the A7S II is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D3300 and the Sony A7S II are of equal size. However, the A7S II is substantially heavier (46 percent) than the D3300. It is noteworthy in this context that the A7S II is splash and dust-proof, while the D3300 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Nikon Lens Catalog (D3300) and the Sony FE Lens Catalog (A7S II). Mirrorless cameras, such as the A7S II, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the D3300 gets 700 shots out of its EN-EL14a battery, while the A7S II can take 370 images on a single charge of its NP-FW50 power pack. The power pack in the A7S II can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)		Street Price
1.		Nikon D3300	124 mm	98 mm	76 mm	430 g	700	n	Jan 2014	499
2.		Sony A7S II	127 mm	96 mm	60 mm	627 g	370	Y	Sep 2015	2,999
3.		Nikon D3500	124 mm	97 mm	70 mm	365 g	1550	n	Aug 2018	429
4.		Nikon D5600	124 mm	97 mm	70 mm	465 g	970	n	Nov 2016	699
5.		Nikon D3400	124 mm	98 mm	76 mm	445 g	1200	n	Aug 2016	499
6.		Nikon D5500	124 mm	97 mm	70 mm	420 g	820	n	Jan 2015	899
7.		Nikon D7100	136 mm	107 mm	76 mm	765 g	950	Y	Feb 2013	1,199
8.		Nikon D5300	125 mm	98 mm	76 mm	480 g	600	n	Oct 2013	799
9.		Nikon D3200	125 mm	96 mm	77 mm	505 g	540	n	Apr 2012	599
10.		Sony A7S III	127 mm	97 mm	81 mm	699 g	600	Y	Jul 2020	3,499
11.		Sony A99 II	143 mm	104 mm	76 mm	849 g	490	Y	Sep 2016	3,199
12.		Sony A7R II	127 mm	96 mm	60 mm	625 g	290	Y	Jun 2015	3,199
13.		Sony A7 II	127 mm	96 mm	60 mm	599 g	350	Y	Nov 2014	1,999
14.		Sony A7S	127 mm	94 mm	48 mm	489 g	380	Y	Apr 2014	2,499
15.		Sony A5000	110 mm	63 mm	36 mm	269 g	420	n	Jan 2014	449
16.		Sony A5100	110 mm	63 mm	36 mm	283 g	400	n	Aug 2014	549
17.		Sony A6000	120 mm	67 mm	45 mm	344 g	360	n	Feb 2014	599
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The D3300 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 83 percent) than the A7S II, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon D3300 features an APS-C sensor and the Sony A7S II a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A7S II is 131 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Nikon D3300 offers a higher resolution of 24 megapixels, compared with 12 MP of the Sony A7S II. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.91μm versus 8.40μm for the A7S II). Moreover, it should be noted that the A7S II is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 8 months) than the D3300, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the D3300 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon D3300 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D3300 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony A7S II are 21.2 x 14.2 inches or 53.8 x 36 cm for good quality, 17 x 11.3 inches or 43.1 x 28.8 cm for very good quality, and 14.1 x 9.4 inches or 35.9 x 24 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon D3300 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha 7S II are ISO 100 to ISO 102400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-409600.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports		DXO Overall
1.		Nikon D3300	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.3	12.8	1385		82
2.		Sony A7S II	Full Frame	12.0	4240	2832	4K/30p	23.6	13.3	2993		85
3.		Nikon D3500	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..		..
4.		Nikon D5600	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.1	14.0	1306		84
5.		Nikon D3400	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.8	13.9	1192		86
6.		Nikon D5500	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.1	14.0	1438		84
7.		Nikon D7100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.2	13.7	1256		83
8.		Nikon D5300	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.0	13.9	1338		83
9.		Nikon D3200	APS-C	24.1	6016	4000	1080/30p	24.1	13.2	1131		81
10.		Sony A7S III	Full Frame	12.0	4240	2832	4K/120p	23.7	13.9	2520		86
11.		Sony A99 II	Full Frame	42.2	7952	5304	4K/30p	25.4	13.4	2317		92
12.		Sony A7R II	Full Frame	42.2	7952	5304	4K/30p	26.0	13.9	3434		98
13.		Sony A7 II	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.9	13.6	2449		90
14.		Sony A7S	Full Frame	12.0	4240	2832	1080/60p	23.9	13.2	3702		87
15.		Sony A5000	APS-C	19.8	5456	3632	1080/60i	23.8	13.0	1089		79
16.		Sony A5100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.8	12.7	1347		80
17.		Sony A6000	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.1	13.1	1347		82

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the A7S II provides a better video resolution than the D3300. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Nikon is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A7S II has an electronic viewfinder (2400k dots), while the D3300 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the A7S II offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the D3300 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the A7S II has a higher magnification (0.78x vs 0.57x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon D3300, the Sony A7S II, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon D3300	optical	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
2.		Sony A7S II	2400	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	Y
3.		Nikon D3500	optical	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
4.		Nikon D5600	optical	n	3.2	1037	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
5.		Nikon D3400	optical	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
6.		Nikon D5500	optical	n	3.2	1037	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
7.		Nikon D7100	optical	Y	3.2	1229	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0	Y	n
8.		Nikon D5300	optical	n	3.2	1037	swivel	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
9.		Nikon D3200	optical	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.0	Y	n
10.		Sony A7S III	9440	n	3.0	1440	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
11.		Sony A99 II	2400	Y	3.0	1229	full-flex	n	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
12.		Sony A7R II	2400	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	Y
13.		Sony A7 II	2400	n	3.0	1230	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	Y
14.		Sony A7S	2400	n	3.0	921	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
15.		Sony A5000	none	n	3.0	461	tilting	n	1/4000s	3.5	Y	n
16.		Sony A5100	none	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
17.		Sony A6000	1440	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/4000s	11.0	Y	n

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The D3300 has one, while the A7S II does not. While the built-in flash of the D3300 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A7S II is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The D3300 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A7S II uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D3300 and Sony Alpha 7S II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon D3300	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Sony A7S II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Nikon D3500	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	Y
4.		Nikon D5600	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
5.		Nikon D3400	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	Y
6.		Nikon D5500	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
7.		Nikon D7100	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Nikon D5300	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
9.		Nikon D3200	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Sony A7S III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y
11.		Sony A99 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
12.		Sony A7R II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
13.		Sony A7 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
14.		Sony A7S	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
15.		Sony A5000	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Sony A5100	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony A6000	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the A7S II offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the D3300 does not provide wifi capability.

Both the D3300 and the A7S II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The D3300 was replaced by the Nikon D3400, while the A7S II was followed by the Sony A7S III. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Nikon and Sony websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon D3300 and the Sony A7S II? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Nikon D3300:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 12MP) with a 41% higher linear resolution.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 197g or 31 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (700 versus 370) on a single battery charge.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (83 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in January 2014).

Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha 7S II:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1.1 stops ISO advantage).
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.78x vs 0.57x).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1229k vs 921k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 8 months) more recently.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A7S II is the clear winner of the contest (18 : 8 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D3300 and the Sony A7S II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the D3300 or the A7S II perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)			Street Price
1.		Nikon D3300	3/5	+	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2014	499
2.		Sony A7S II	5/5	+	..	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2015	2,999
3.		Nikon D3500	..	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	429
4.		Nikon D5600	4/5	..	79/100	4.5/5	4/5	Nov 2016	699
5.		Nikon D3400	4/5	+	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2016	499
6.		Nikon D5500	5/5	+	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2015	899
7.		Nikon D7100	5/5	+ +	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2013	1,199
8.		Nikon D5300	4/5	+ +	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	799
9.		Nikon D3200	5/5	+ +	73/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2012	599
10.		Sony A7S III	..	+ +	91/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2020	3,499
11.		Sony A99 II	..	..	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	3,199
12.		Sony A7R II	5/5	+ +	90/100	5/5	5/5	Jun 2015	3,199
13.		Sony A7 II	5/5	+	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	Nov 2014	1,999
14.		Sony A7S	4/5	..	86/100	4.5/5	5/5	Apr 2014	2,499
15.		Sony A5000	3/5	+	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2014	449
16.		Sony A5100	4.5/5	+	..	4.5/5	5/5	Aug 2014	549
17.		Sony A6000	5/5	+	80/100	4.5/5	5/5	Feb 2014	599
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Nikon D3300 vs Sony A7S II

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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