Upgrade Guide
Sony A7S→Sony Sony RX1R 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 Sony RX1R III
-
Resolution61MP vs 12MP (+49MP)
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Generation11 years newer (2025 vs 2014)
Unchanged or similar
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Weather sealingNot present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | A7S | Sony RX1R III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.6 | ||
| Street | +1.9 | ||
| Travel | +0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.4 | ||
| Filmmaking | -0.6 | ||
| Documentary | -0.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | +0.7 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | +1.0 | ||
| Food | +1.4 | ||
| Macro | +0.5 | ||
| Architecture | +1.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.2 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7S | Sony RX1R III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £600 | £3,899 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2025 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 61MP full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 61MP | ↑ |
| Video | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) | 4K/30p, 10-bit | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, 25 points | Hybrid phase-detect AF (693 points) with eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 5fps | |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | 300 shots (CIPA, LCD) | ↓ |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 496g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | Tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed 35mm f/2 Zeiss Sonnar lens | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Single SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A7S and Sony RX1R III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Sony RX1R III against your specific genres — not just specs.
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