A7Svs Sony A9 III
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you 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.
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
Who should buy what
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Sony A9 III (2023)
- Professional sports photographers who need zero blackout and 120fps burst
- Wildlife photographers who demand the most advanced Sony AF available
- Photojournalists who need flash sync at any shutter speed
- A9 II owners upgrading to the world's first full-frame global shutter
Quick take: The sony a9 iii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7S (2014) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £600 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 12.2MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | None | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S | Sony A9 III |
|---|---|---|
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
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