Upgrade Guide
Sony A7S→Sony A7R III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A7S. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the A7R III
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Resolution42MP vs 12MP (+30MP)
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate10fps with AF/AE tracking vs 5fps
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Battery life~650 shots (CIPA) vs ~370 shots (CIPA)
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Generation3 years newer (2017 vs 2014)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S | A7R III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astrophotography | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.5 | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Portrait | +2.0 | ||
| Landscape | +3.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wedding | — | ||
| Sports | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7S | A7R III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £600 | £1,799 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2017 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 42MP | ↑ |
| Video | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF | |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fps with AF/AE tracking | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 650g body only | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
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