Sony A7 II vs Canon T6i

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Sony A7 II vs Canon T6i

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35mm 855.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A7 II Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7 II.
Compare Sony A7 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7 II conclusion.

APS-C 332.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon T6i Review.
How does it shoot? Canon T6i in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the T6i.
Compare Canon T6i image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon T6i conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A7 III
Compare A7 II vs A7 III

Succeeded by the Canon T7i
Compare T6i vs T7i

Compare SONY A7 III vs CANON T7I

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Differences

Sony A7 II advantages over Canon T6i

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.
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Bigger pixels
~ 5.97 vs 3.72 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
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.
A7 II test data on DxO Mark T6i test data on DxO Mark

2,449 vs 919 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7 II test data on DxO Mark T6i test data on DxO Mark

13.6 vs 12.0 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Thinner
59 mm vs 77 mm
Thinner
More viewfinder magnification
0.71x vs 0.51x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bigger RAW buffer
28 vs 6 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (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

Canon T6i advantages over Sony A7 II

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$599 vs $1598
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.90 vs 1.7 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

440 vs 350 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
88 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
Less shutter lag
0.09 vs 0.22 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 52 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

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

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7 II User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read T6i User Reviews

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Kit with 28-70mm Lens

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Buy the Canon T6i

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm STM lens
Kit with 18-55mm STM lens

All T6i Deals

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).
Read our Sony A7 II Review

Highest resolution Canon APS-C camera yet; Improved dynamic range over T5i; Good high ISO performance for its class; Very fast autofocus; Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC; Touchscreen tilt/swivel LCD.
Shallow buffer depth with RAW files; Below average battery life; No Servo AF in Live View; No 60p video frame rate.
Read our Canon T6i Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D3400

Sony A7 II

Nikon D3400

$1148
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A7 II vs Nikon D3400

Canon T6i

Nikon D3400

$699
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Canon T6i vs Nikon D3400

Compared to Sony A7

Sony A7 II

Sony A7

$1148
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

$748
35mm

Less expensive

Compare Sony A7 II vs Sony A7

Canon T6i

Sony A7

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$748
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon T6i vs Sony A7

Compared to Pentax K-3 II

Sony A7 II

Pentax K-3 II

$1148
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$830
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A7 II vs Pentax K-3 II

Canon T6i

Pentax K-3 II

$699
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon T6i vs Pentax K-3 II

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A7 II

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$1148
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$3802
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A7 II vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Canon T6i

Leica SL (Typ 601)

$699
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$3802
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon T6i vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Compared to Canon T7i

Sony A7 II

Canon T7i

$1148
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$700
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A7 II vs Canon T7i

Canon T6i

Canon T7i

$699
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger JPEG buffer

$700
APS-C

Fast startup
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Canon T6i vs Canon T7i

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