Upgrade Guide
Sony A7S→Sony A7R
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the A7S. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the A7R
-
Resolution36MP vs 12MP (+24MP)
Unchanged or similar
-
Weather sealingNot present in new body
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S | A7R | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astrophotography | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -3.5 | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Travel | -3.0 | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Landscape | +3.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | -1.0 | ||
| Architecture | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7S | A7R | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £600 | £349 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2013 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 36MP | ↑ |
| Video | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) | 1080p/60p | |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) | |
| Stabilisation | None | None | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 4fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 465g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
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