D5vs A7S
Nikon
D5 (2016)
Starting from £1800 new
Best for Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife
View D5
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife — D5 (2016): Nikon's ultimate pro DSLR and a certified space traveller — the D5's 153-point AF, 12fps, and ISO 3,280,000 made it the weapon of choice for Olympic and space photography.
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
D5 (2016)
- Sports and wildlife photographers with an F-mount telephoto investment
- Photojournalists who need the fastest, most reliable DSLR AF available
- Nikon system professionals looking for a flagship body at used prices
- Collectors of cameras with a documented space pedigree
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The d5 has the highest resolution at 21mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | D5 (2016) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,800 | £600 |
| Sensor | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.8MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | — | None |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~3780 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1405g (body only) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 160 × 158.5 × 92mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet (RJ-45), USB 3.0 | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | D5 | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | — |
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