A7R IIIvs A7S
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
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
A7R III (2017)
- 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 (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7R III (2017) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,799 | £600 |
| Sensor | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 42.4MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops | None |
| Burst Rate | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 650g body only | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R III | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| 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