A7 Vvs A7S
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Portrait, Wedding, Travel, Video — A7 V (2024): The definitive full-frame mirrorless. Hard to argue for anything else at this price.
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 V (2024)
- A7 III or A7 IV owners ready for a meaningful upgrade
- Photographers who want one camera to cover everything
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The a7 v has the highest resolution at 33mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 V (2024) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,799 | £600 |
| Sensor | Full-frame BSI-CMOS 35mm, partially stacked | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 33.0MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 4K 60fps 10-bit | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition (human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle) | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 8.0 stops | None |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 20fps electronic | 5fps |
| Battery Life | 760 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 514g (body only) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 131.3 × 96.4 × 70.0mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.90× 9.44M-dot | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.44M-dot | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Sony E-Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II / CFexpress Type A | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 V | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Astrophotography | — |
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