Upgrade Guide
Sony A7R→Sony A7S
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A7R. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the A7S
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
Generation1 year newer (2014 vs 2013)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution12MP (down from 36MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7R | A7S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape | -3.0 | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Travel | +3.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.0 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +3.5 | ||
| Astrophotography | — | ||
| Street | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7R | A7S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £349 | £600 | |
| Released | 2013 | 2014 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 36MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF | |
| Stabilisation | None | None | |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 5fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 465g (with battery and card) | 474g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
Compare side-by-side
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