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A7S vs RX1
Quick take: The RX1 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A7S is the most affordable; only the A7S is weather sealed.
Where the A7S wins
- Cheaper new: £264 vs £343
- Battery Life: ~370 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 474g (with battery and card)
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Portrait: 5.3 vs 4.0
Where the RX1 wins
- Resolution: 24.3MP
- Street: 6.6 vs 5.7
16 specs side by side·14 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.
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
A7S — Astrophotography & Low-Light: 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
A7S (2014)
is the right camera for you if…
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A7SSony · 2014 | RX1Sony · 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £264 usedBest | £343 used |
| Sensor | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.3MP full-frame CMOS |
| Resolution | 12.2MP | 24.3MPBest |
| Video | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) | Full HD 1080p/60 |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, 25 points | 25-point contrast-detect AF with face detection |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 5fps (2.5fps with AF-S per frame) |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA)Best | ~220 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card)Best | 482g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm | 113.3 × 65.4 × 69.6mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | Optional EVF (FDA-EV1MK) or optical finder |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm f/2 |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Single SD / Memory Stick slot |
| Connectivity | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | Micro USB, micro HDMI, 3.5mm mic, Multi Interface Shoe |
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
A7S
RX1
Portrait
5.3/10
4.0/10
Street
5.7/10
6.6/10
Travel
5.6/10
5.1/10
Wedding & Events
4.3/10
3.5/10
Filmmaking
5.9/10
—
Documentary
5.6/10
3.9/10
Sports & Action
4.8/10
—
Landscape
5.0/10
4.3/10
Wildlife
5.4/10
—
Casual
3.7/10
3.5/10
Food
4.9/10
4.2/10
Macro
4.3/10
3.1/10
Architecture
4.7/10
4.1/10
Astrophotography
6.0/10
4.7/10
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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