Sony
A7R III 2017
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
£1799
list price · used from £668 at Wex Photo Video
Decision tools · Compare
A7R III vs A7S III
Quick take: The A7R III has the highest resolution at 42MP; the A7R III is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Sony
A7S III 2020
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
£3389
new today at Clifton Cameras
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
A7R III — Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography: The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
A7S III — Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking: 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
A7R III (2017)
is the right camera for you if…
- Landscape and studio photographers who need 42MP resolution at a used-price discount vs A7R IV
- Canon/Nikon DSLR professionals considering a mirrorless switch at a lower investment
- Commercial and product photographers who want full-frame resolution with IBIS for handheld work
- Portrait photographers who want the sharpest possible full-frame files for large print work
A7S III (2020)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A7R IIISony · 2017 | A7S IIISony · 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,799Best | £3,389 |
| Sensor | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 42.4MPBest | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA)Best | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording |
| Weight | 650g (body only)Best | 699g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
A7R III
A7S III
Portrait
7.8/10
7.5/10
Street
6.1/10
6.2/10
Travel
6.1/10
6.0/10
Wedding & Events
7.5/10
7.5/10
Filmmaking
6.3/10
8.2/10
Documentary
6.7/10
7.7/10
Sports & Action
7.3/10
7.4/10
Landscape
7.4/10
5.5/10
Wildlife
7.6/10
7.5/10
Casual
4.7/10
4.9/10
Food
7.0/10
6.8/10
Macro
6.2/10
5.8/10
Architecture
7.5/10
5.5/10
Astrophotography
7.0/10
7.8/10
Vlogging & Video
—
5.9/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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