When it comes to the best mirrorless cameras, there is a huge choice from the world’s leading photography brands. Our camera experts here at Space have tried and tested nearly all the best cameras for astrophotography from Canon, Nikon and of course Sony, who are renowned for their advanced mirrorless camera systems.
The Sony A1 II is the brand’s top-of-the-line mirrorless camera with a professional-level spec and a price to match, but its sibling, the Sony Alpha 7C II, is currently available for just $2,098 at Best Buy.
Paul Brett is a deals writer at Space, Live Science, and across the Sports and Knowledge titles at Future. Paul is an award-winning photographer, having won the Mountain Photographer of the Year title at Trail Magazine. A huge fan of photography and cameras, he can be found on top of Scotland’s mountains, wild camping, waiting to capture the Northern Lights or a cloud inversion.
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The Sony A7C II is our choice as the best entry-level full-frame camera, and our expert camera tester Kimberley Lane scored it with an impressive 4 out of 5-star rating in her Sony A7C II review.
Lane was happy to recommend the A7C II as a superbly performing all-rounder. If you’re looking to invest in your first full-frame camera or you’re a beginner, this is a fantastic camera that is more than capable of delivering impressive images and video.
The Sony A7C II bridges the gap between Sony’s portable APS-C cameras and its professional-grade full-frame bodies. It is designed for hybrid creators, both photographers and videographers, who want high-end performance in a travel-friendly form, which makes it ideal if you’re new to shooting astrophotography in dark sky areas and do not wish to carry heavyweight equipment.
Review highlights included the powerful AI autofocus processor, image stabilization, a detailed sensor and the fully-articulating screen that at full price was impressive, and of course makes it even more appealing at its discounted price.
Elsewhere, battery life on the A7C II is fine for casual shooting, and it’s worth remembering that this camera isn’t aimed at professionals. An additional battery is worth considering, especially if you’re planning on long exposure astro shooting.
Lane summed up the A7 II by saying, “It’s a capable all-rounder that will easily deliver on most photographic styles, from astro to landscapes, wildlife and portraits, and is ideal for vlogging too”. At this price, for me, it really represents terrific value for money.
Key features: Full frame, 33MP, 4K/30P video, 100-51,200 (expanded 50-204,800) ISO range, Sony E-mount lenses, Single UHS-II SD memory card slot, up to 10FPS burst shooting, 1.13 lb (514g) weight, 4.88 x 2.8 x 2.48 inches (124 x 71 x 63 mm) dimensions, 3-inch fully-articulating, 1.036M screen.
Launched: September 2023
Price history: Before today’s Sony camera deal, the best price was back in April 2025 at $2,098 on Amazon, which matches the current price of $2,098. However, as far as this year goes, the best price so far has been $2,298.
Price comparison: Best Buy: $2,098 | Adorama: $2,098 | Walmart: $2,098
Reviews consensus: There is no doubt that the Sony A7C II is a fantastic mirrorless camera that performs well above its beginner-friendly tag. We scored it a 4-star rating, and it was only marked down for a few minor niggles, like only having one memory card slot, and that, as it’s a brilliant all-rounder, it didn’t particularly shine in any particular photographic style.
Space: ★★★★ | Techradar: ★★★★| Tom’s Guide: ★★★★
Featured in guides: Best Sony cameras
✅ Buy it if: You don’t have a huge budget, but want a capable mirrorless full-frame camera with a brilliant spec, at a very reasonable price.
❌ Don’t buy it if: You’re a professional, this is more suitable for a beginner or as a first mirrorless camera purchase. There are bigger and better options for professionals, including the outstanding Sony A1 II, currently priced at $7,000 on Amazon.
Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.
