Upgrade Guide
Sony A7S→Sony FX3
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 FX3
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic vs 5fps
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Battery life~640 shots (CIPA) vs ~370 shots (CIPA)
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Generation7 years newer (2021 vs 2014)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (12MP)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S | FX3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astrophotography | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +1.5 | ||
| Street | -3.0 | ||
| Travel | -3.0 | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Low Light | — | ||
| Wedding | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7S | FX3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £600 | £3,799 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2021 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS (same as A7S III) | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) | 4K/120p, 4K/60p 10-bit, 12-bit RAW output, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF | Real-time tracking with subject recognition (human, animal) | |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS — 5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~640 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 715g body only (with XLR handle) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | None — monitor/external EVF use only | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
Compare side-by-side
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