Z50vs A7S III
VS
Sony
A7S III (2020)
Starting from £2999 new
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
View A7S III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Beginner, Travel, Everyday — Z50 (2019): Nikon's Z system at its most accessible.
Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking — A7S III (2020): If video is your primary discipline, the A7S III is the camera. 4K/120p at 10-bit in a weather-sealed body with a 9.44M dot EVF is an extraordinary package. The 12MP sensor isn't limiting for video — and it's usable at ISO 409,600 in a pinch.
Who should buy what
Z50 (2019)
- Nikon DSLR users wanting a lighter mirrorless
- First-time enthusiast camera buyers
A7S III (2020)
- Filmmakers and videographers who need 4K/120p at 10-bit
- Event videographers who shoot in dark venues regularly
- Documentary filmmakers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Hybrid shooters where video is primary and stills are secondary
Quick take: The z50 has the highest resolution at 21mp; the z50 is the most affordable; only the a7s iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z50 (2019) | A7S III (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £499 | £2,999 |
| Sensor | APS-C CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K 30fps (1.5× crop), 1080p 120fps | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 209-point phase-detect hybrid AF | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording |
| Weight | 397g (body only) | 699g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 126.5 × 93.5 × 60.0mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.68× 2.36M-dot | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.2" downward-tilting touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Nikon Z-Mount (DX) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Micro USB, Micro HDMI | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z50 | A7S III |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with Z50
Camera family history