A7Cvs A7S
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Compact Travel & Content Creation — A7C (2020): The A7C proves full-frame doesn't have to be bulky. Excellent battery life, reliable Eye AF and a vari-angle screen in a pocketable body is a compelling combination for travel and content creators. The A7C II improved on it, but the original remains a strong value buy.
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
A7C (2020)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame in the smallest possible body
- Content creators who need a flip screen and reliable Eye AF
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want to keep a compact kit
- Vloggers who need 4K and great battery life on the road
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The a7c 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 | A7C (2020) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £600 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion, S-Log2/S-Log3 | 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 | ~740 shots (CIPA) — outstanding for a Sony mirrorless | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 509g (body, battery, card) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 124.0 × 71.1 × 59.7mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None built-in — use rear screen or accessory EVF | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7C | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Video | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| 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