Product Comparison: Sony Alpha a7S vs Sony Alpha a7R


General Specifications
Brand
Sony
Sony
Origin
Thailand
Thailand
About the Product
Explore new frontiers of imaging expression with the α7S, combining phenomenal sensitivity (up to ISO 409600)1 with ultra low noise. That means a lack of light no longer limits your artistic range.
Meet the Full Frame, palm-sized α7R: portability and pro capability, united as never before. Packing a 36.4MP 35mm full-frame sensor into a body half the weight of leading DSLRs, this is the new standard for photographers seeking the ultimate creative tool.
Model
Alpha a7S
Alpha a7R
Key Specs
Sensor Resolution
12.2 MP
36.4 MP
Sensor Type
Full Frame Exmor™ CMOS sensor
35 mm full frame Exmor® CMOS sensor
Lens
Body
Body
Viewfinder
Electronic 0.5"-type
Electronic 0.5"-type
Size & Weight
Height
3.75 in.
3.75 in.
Width
5 in.
5 in.
Depth
2.25 in.
2.25 in.
Weight
17.25 oz.
16.4 oz.
What customers say about "Size & Weight"
Sony Alpha a7S Mirrorless Digital Camera - International Version (Body)
  • Very small camera
  • Build Quality is very solid, and even at its small size, it is quite easy to hold onto without a strap or rig
  • Nice and light weight. Perfect for my flyer
  • his is simply a ground breaking camera in a small package
  • he Sony A7s body is small and lighter than my MP
Sony Alpha a7R Full-Frame Mirrorless Digital Camera - Body Only
  • Size and weight are ideal. Solid but not heavy or bulky.
  • Small size and weight is a big pro
  • Size and Weight makes it one of the best travel cameras out there
  • The light weight and size make it easy to throw in a briefcase or camera bag
  • It's a little pricey, for sure, and it doesn't look as impressive as a big DSLR (clients might wonder why you don't have a "good" camera), but the light weight is its greatest feature
Imaging
ISO Settings
100 - 102400, Extended Mode: 50-409600
50 - 25600
Digital Zoom
4 x
4 x
Burst Mode
Yes
Yes
Low Light/High Sensitivity
Yes
Yes
Face Detection
Yes
Yes
Image File Format(s)
JPEG, RAW
JPEG, RAW
What customers say about "Imaging"
Sony Alpha a7S Mirrorless Digital Camera - International Version (Body)
  • Image quality is outstanding, and really beats the competition.
  • 120fps Slow motion is pretty cool! It's only 720, and there is moire introduced, but the option is great
  • In camera panorama for photographs is a HUGE time saver. Oh, and it actually works REALLY well
  • LOW LIGHT PERFORMANCE IS UNREAL! ISO 12,800 is CLEAN, 50,000 is useable! It really changes the entire way I approach certain situations now. It doesn't replace the need to properly utilize the position of light sources, but you really can shoot in near darkness.
  • It takes incredible lowlight photos........ Much better than any other camera I have owned (D700, D800, 5dmk3 etc etc)
Sony Alpha a7R Full-Frame Mirrorless Digital Camera - Body Only
  • Eye Focus - a life saver for super fast glass in a portrait setting - and YES - it really works
  • Image Quality is amazing and tack sharp (depending on what lens you use of course)
  • Incredible resolution and low light performance
  • Image quality is off the charts when paired with quality glass
  • Autofocus isn't the fastest, so wedding/sports photography would be difficult IMHO. The A7 has a faster autofocus so if that's really important I would try it out
  • Even when shooting portraits of kids, autofocus and image capture feels slow to me compared with the 5d iii and I feel like I miss some shots
Display
Display Type
TFT-LCD
TFT-LCD
Touch Screen
No
No
Screen Size
3 in.
3 in.
Screen Resolution
921600 dots
921600 dots
Vari-angle Display
No
Yes
What customers say about "Display"
Sony Alpha a7S Mirrorless Digital Camera - International Version (Body)
  • Tilt screen in very handy. It doesn't swivel like the GH4, but up and down is a lot more flexibility than 5Diii
  • The articulating screen of the A7s also helps with candid shots in events or in streets
  • Wish LCD screen moved out in 360 degrees like GH4 does, but step up for me still coming from T2i
  • I hate, hate, hate that the stupid screen does not flip around so you can see from the front like the GH4.
  • If this camera had a 180degree tilting screen like my GH4 it would be the best camera I've ever had!
Sony Alpha a7R Full-Frame Mirrorless Digital Camera - Body Only
  • The articulating rear screen is very convenient for tripod work, and the EVF is exceptional
  • Screen is enough bright dor sunny days
  • On a speed plate, the LCD is hard to swing out ... and speaking of LCD - I miss the fully articulated screen on the A77 at times like overhead or ground level shots and especially for verticals
  • Wish it had a touch screen
  • No touch screen to navigate menus faster
Features
Water Resistant
No
No
Shock Resistant
No
No
Panorama Mode
Yes
Yes
Shooting Modes
Auto, iAUTO, Programmed AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, Scene Selection, Sweep Panorama, Movie
iAUTO, Programmed AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Scene Selection, Sweep Panorama, Superior Auto, Manual
White Balance Modes
Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Shade, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm White, Cool White, Day White, Daylight), Underwater/ Color Temperature (2500 to 9900K), Custom, Underwater
Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Shade, Flash, Underwater/ Color Temperature (2500 to 9900K), Fluorescent (Warm White, Cool White, Day White, Daylight), Custom, Underwater
Shutter Speeds
30 - 1/8000
30 - 1/8000
What customers say about "Features"
Sony Alpha a7S Mirrorless Digital Camera - International Version (Body)
  • S Log2 profile allows for bringing in lost highlights and dynamic range
  • Electronic Viewfinder is really awesome to have built in, it's saved me on a couple outdoor shoots!
  • Lot's of customizable buttons and one more scroll wheel than canon gives us. (ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed by default.)
  • he silent mode is a really great feature... this camera can shoot totally silently whether you are shooting in a dark club or a childs birthday party.
  • Battery life leaves a little to be desired (last about 1.5 - 2 hours shooting video)
  • Rolling Shutter is as bad as everyone says it is. Not something I find to be an obstacle, and I don't think most people really whip their camera around that quickly anyway...but yeah it's there.
  • Battery Life is pretty bad. 30 seconds/percentage point means about 50minutes per battery.
Sony Alpha a7R Full-Frame Mirrorless Digital Camera - Body Only
  • EVF is astonishing. WYSIWYG and it really is WYG
  • Good 3rd party batteries are cheap and perform well, and they're small - easily fit 3+ in a pocket.
  • Very flexible controls (3 customization buttons).
  • Focus peaking makes focus stacking SO easy, even a caveman like me can do it.
  • Movie button is poorly placed (I have it shut off so it only works if mode dial is set to movie though - so again not a big problem)
  • The best SONY FE lenses lack image stabilization, which makes handheld shooting difficul
Connectivity
PictBridge Enabled
Yes
Yes
NFC Enabled
Yes
Yes
Integrated GPS
No
No
Output(s)
microHDMI (Type-D), Micro-USB, Headphone minijack, Microphone minijack
microHDMI (Type-D), Micro-USB, Headphone minijack, Microphone minijack
Number Of Memory Card Slots
1
1
What customers say about "Connectivity"
Sony Alpha a7S Mirrorless Digital Camera - International Version (Body)
  • Wi-Fi, though the app isn't great.
  • I use the WiFi file transfer capability all the time.
  • Wifi - Easy to use. Quickly send photos to phone.
Sony Alpha a7R Full-Frame Mirrorless Digital Camera - Body Only
  • A (finally) standard hot shoe means lighting possibilities are VASTLY improved over previous Sony offerings. Strobes, speed lights and bare bulb - old or new - they're all usable again - YAY
  • The built in wifi is great as I now can load the photos in my iPhone anytime after the shooting
  • The only thing I am missing is GPS.
Power
Battery Model
NP-FW50 W-series Rechargeable Battery Pack
NP-FW50 W-series Rechargeable Battery Pack
Battery life
380 frames
340 frames
Warranty / Certifications
Manufacturer Warranty
1 year(s)
1 year(s)
Certifications
CE
CE
Other Information
Manufacturer
Other reviews