Qvs A7S
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street, Travel & Fine Art Photography — Q (2015): The camera that redefined luxury compact photography — a full-frame sensor, the finest 28mm compact lens available, and a shooting feel that is uniquely Leica.
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
Who should buy what
Q (2015)
- Street and documentary photographers who want a full-frame fixed-lens camera with iconic character
- Travel photographers who want the finest compact image quality available
- Leica enthusiasts who want an autofocus alternative to the M system
- Photographers who value build quality and shooting experience as much as spec sheets
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The q has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7s is the most affordable; only the a7s is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Q (2015) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £600 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, 49 AF fields, face detection | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | None | None |
| Burst Rate | 10fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 640g (with battery and card) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 130.0 × 80.0 × 93.5mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.68M dots, 0.68× magnification | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Fixed Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Q | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history