A7 IIIvs A7S
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
All-Round Photography & Video — A7 III (2018): Still one of the best all-round cameras money can buy — particularly strong used. The A7 III proved that full-frame doesn't have to mean compromises, and nothing at this price point has meaningfully beaten it.
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
A7 III (2018)
- Enthusiast photographers upgrading from APS-C for the first time
- Working photographers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Anyone who shoots in low light regularly
- Hybrid shooters needing both stills and video performance
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The a7 iii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 III (2018) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £600 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (6K oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops | None |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~710 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 565g (body, battery, card) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II slot 1, UHS-I slot 2) | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 III | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with A7 III
Camera family history