A1vs A7S III
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
Sony
A7S III (2020)
Starting from £2999 new
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
View A7S III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting — A1 (2021): 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
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
A1 (2021)
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
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 a1 has the highest resolution at 50mp; the a7s iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A1 (2021) | A7S III (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £2,999 |
| Sensor | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 50.1MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE | 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~430 shots (CIPA) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording |
| Weight | 737g (with battery) | 699g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A1 | A7S III |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with A1
Camera family history