Sony A7R III vs. Sony S2100: A Definitive Comparison for Photographers Across Eras

When stepping into the world of Sony cameras, you might find yourself standing at a crossroads between incredible innovation and classic, approachable simplicity. On one hand, there’s the Sony Alpha A7R III - a powerhouse of professional mirrorless technology unveiled in 2017, and on the other, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100, a compact point-and-shoot from 2010 that served as an accessible photographic companion for casual users. At first glance, they couldn’t be more different, yet comparing their strengths and weaknesses provides us with a fascinating lens on how camera technology has evolved - and what that might mean for various photographic pursuits today.

Having tested thousands of cameras over the years, I’m excited to guide you through this comparison that spans sensor sizes, autofocus systems, usability, and much more. Whether you’re a portrait artist, wildlife enthusiast, or an occasional traveler, understanding these two cameras in depth will help you make the best choice - or simply appreciate how far we’ve come.

Physical Design and Ergonomics: Comfort Meets Compactness

Let’s begin with what you literally hold in your hands. The Sony A7R III boasts a classic SLR-style mirrorless design, with a robust magnesium alloy frame and a weather-sealed body. Measuring 127×96×74 mm and weighing in at 657 grams (without lens), it offers a substantial but manageable grip, great for extended shoots involving heavy lenses or outdoor sessions. The ergonomics are refined - Sony includes intuitive placements for custom buttons, a large front grip, and a tilting 3-inch touchscreen that invites creative angles.

By contrast, the Sony S2100 is an ultra-compact point-and-shoot, roughly half the size and weight (98×61×27 mm at 167 grams), designed chiefly for portability and straightforward snapshots. Its plastic body lacks weather sealing, and the fixed lens means little change in balance or handling. The fixed 3-inch screen of 230k pixels is basic compared to the A7R III’s 1.44-million-dot display.

If you prioritize handling and customization for professional or enthusiast work, the A7R III wins hands-down with generous, thoughtful controls. But if you value pocketability and simplicity above all, especially for casual or travel use, the S2100 remains charmingly convenient.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Full Frame Brilliance vs. Small Sensor Simplicity

Here lies the heart of the matter. The A7R III features a 42.4-megapixel full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor (35.9×24 mm) capable of resolving an astounding 7952×5304 pixels. This sensor lacks an anti-aliasing filter, intentionally sacrificing low-pass smoothing to maximize sharpness, a feature prized in landscape and studio shooting. Sony’s Bionz X processor complements this with excellent noise management and color processing, yielding a dynamic range up to 14.7 EV stops and a native ISO range of 100–32,000 (expandable to 50–102,400).

Meanwhile, the S2100 has a tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.17×4.55 mm) with 12 megapixels, handing you a max resolution of 4000×3000 pixels. This sensor technology was standard in point-and-shoots of its time, but it’s limited in low-light performance and dynamic range compared to modern full-frame standards. Colors and contrast remain acceptable for casual prints and viewing but fall short for professional or high-quality large prints.

The sensor size difference also heavily affects depth of field control and bokeh - areas where the A7R III’s large sensor excels, while the S2100’s small sensor inherently yields deep focus and limited subject-background separation.

In short, if absolute image quality, dynamic range, and low-light capability are priorities, the A7R III is the obvious winner. The S2100 suffices for casual snapshots but won’t satisfy detailed, professional-grade work.

Real-World Image Samples

Looking at paired samples shot through various scenes - landscapes, portraits, and everyday photography - the A7R III delivers remarkable detail, fine color gradation, and virtually noise-free shadows up to ISO 1600 and beyond. The S2100’s images, while pleasing in bright daylight, quickly become noisy and lose detail in low light, as expected.

Ultrawide dynamic range tests reveal that the A7R III recovers shadows and preserves highlights even in harsh noon sun - a key advantage for landscapes and HDR work.

Sony A7R III front Sony A7R III screen back Sony S2100 front Sony S2100 screen back

Autofocus and Speed: Precision Meets Simplicity

Technology strides are best appreciated when assessing autofocus and shooting speed. The A7R III utilizes a hybrid autofocus system with 399 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection points. This coverage is almost edge to edge, coupled with predictive tracking, face and eye-detection - including animal eye AF - making it an incredible tool for portrait, wildlife, and sports photography. Autofocus is consistently quick and reliable under varied lighting conditions.

The compact S2100, however, employs a much simpler 9-point contrast-detection AF system with one cross-type point at center, without any face or eye detection. It struggles with autofocus hunting in low-contrast or low-light scenes and lacks continuous AF during bursts.

As for burst rates, the A7R III can fire at up to 10 frames per second with full autofocus and exposure tracking, a boon for action or wildlife shoots. The S2100 shoots at just 1 fps, limiting its use in capturing movement.

Hence, for fast-paced or precise tracking needs, the A7R III again proves its superiority through sheer technological advancement.

Versatility in Photography Genres: Matching Features to Your Passion

This is where your personal or professional needs dictate your choice. I’ll break down how these two cameras stack up across popular photography types.

Portrait Photography

Portraiture demands accurate skin tones, eye-detection autofocus, and pleasing bokeh. The A7R III shines thanks to its large sensor, 14.7-stop dynamic range, and advanced Eye AF system which locks focus on eyes even with moving subjects. The abundant lens options for Sony E-mount also let you select fast primes with wide apertures (f/1.4-f/2.8), producing creamy background blur. The S2100 can do basic portraits but with limited background separation and no specialized focus features, making it less appealing beyond snapshots.

Landscape Photography

For landscapes, resolution, dynamic range, and weather sealing are vital. The A7R III offers exquisite detail (42MP), broad tonal latitude to capture shadow and highlight details simultaneously, and a sealed body allowing rugged outdoor use. The S2100’s tiny sensor and lack of sealing restrict it to bright, controlled environments, while its lens’s fixed focal length limits compositional versatility.

Wildlife Photography

Fast autofocus, high burst rates, and telephoto options are critical here. The A7R III’s fast hybrid AF, animal-eye detection, and frame rate make it suited for elusive wildlife. Its compatibility with long telephoto lenses supports reach and image quality. The S2100’s fixed 33-105mm equivalent zoom (about 6x) is insufficient for distant subjects, and autofocus struggles with moving animals.

Sports Photography

High frame rates and tracking matter most. Again, the A7R III’s 10 fps burst with full AF and superior tracking algorithms cater well to sports. The compact S2100’s limited shooting speed and AF make it unsuitable for action work.

Street Photography

Street shooters often prefer pocketable, discreet cameras with quick autofocus and good low light performance. The S2100 scores for size and unobtrusiveness, but its slow AF and poor low-light sensitivity limit its appeal. The A7R III is bigger but offers better image quality and performance; some users compensate with small prime lenses for discretion.

Macro Photography

Close focusing and stabilization are needed. The A7R III supports a range of macro lenses and provides 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) for sharper hand-held shots. The S2100 has a modest 5 cm macro focus range but no stabilization, meaning you’ll likely need a tripod for fine work.

Night and Astro Photography

The A7R III’s low-noise sensor at high ISO alongside long shutter capabilities enable rewarding astrophotography and low-light work. The S2100’s sensor noise at high ISO and limited shutter controls limit night shooting capabilities.

Video Capabilities

Here, the A7R III delivers 4K UHD video at up to 30p with full pixel readout and supports professional codecs (XAVC S), microphone and headphone jacks for audio monitoring, and built-in stabilization - an all-round video powerhouse. The S2100 strictly outputs VGA video at 640×480 pixels, a level far behind for any serious video work.

Travel Photography

Balance between versatility, size, and battery life is critical. The A7R III is larger but offers dual card slots, longer battery life (~650 shots vs unknown S2100), and adaptability via lenses, making it ideal for dedicated travelers who want quality. The S2100’s pocketable form and ease of use suit travelers wanting snapshots without fuss.

Professional Use

For professionals, features supporting workflow such as raw file support (Sony A7R III yes; S2100 no), robust build, dual storage, and extensive connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB 3.1) come into focus. The A7R III delivers on all counts, while the S2100 was never designed for this tier.

Build Quality and Durability: Weather-Sealing and Reliability

The A7R III features an environmentally sealed body resistant to dust and moisture, enabling trustworthy performance in harsh outdoor conditions - a must for professionals exposed to changing weather. The S2100 is a basic compact without any form of weather sealing.

Both cameras lack shock, crush, or freeze-proof certifications, so care is always recommended.

User Interface, Controls, and Screen

The A7R III’s menu system is complex but highly customizable, with a touchscreen that doubles as a focus control and touchpad for the electronic viewfinder (EVF). Its EVF offers 3.686 million dots of resolution, covering 100% of the frame, with 0.78x magnification, yielding a crisp, lag-free eyesight.

The S2100 is minimalist, with no EVF, a low-res fixed LCD (230k pixels), and no touchscreen. Controls are limited to basic modes via dial and buttons, suitable for beginners.

Connectivity and Storage: Ready for Modern Workflows

Connectivity options on the A7R III include built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, and USB 3.1 Gen 1 supporting tethered shooting and fast transfers. It also supports HDMI output with clean feeds for video capture.

The S2100 has no wireless connectivity, an outdated USB 2.0 interface, and dual media options (Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo plus optional SD), but data transfers are slower and cumbersome compared to modern standards.

As for storage, the A7R III offers two SD card slots - UHS-II in one slot for blazing speeds - ideal for heavy raw files and continuous shooting, while the S2100 relies on a single slot.

Battery Life and Power Efficiency

The Sony A7R III’s NP-FZ100 battery offers approximately 650 shots per charge (CIPA standard), an impressive figure given the sensor size and EVF use. Combined with power-saving options, this supports demanding shooting sessions.

The S2100 uses common AA batteries, convenient for replacements on the go but with unlisted official shot counts, typically fewer than modern lithium-ion packs.

Price-to-Performance: Investment and Value Considerations

Listed around $2800 at launch, the Sony A7R III commands a professional-level investment justified by its expansive capabilities and future-proof features.

The S2100 is largely discontinued, initially designed as an affordable compact for casual use with a near-zero present market value but occasional affordable used options.

If photography is a serious pursuit, the A7R III’s price reflects its high-end character and will serve you for years. However, if you seek an entry-level or backup camera for casual snaps, the S2100 fits the bill without breaking the bank.

Summary: Which Sony Camera Suits You Best?

So, after weighing years of field use, lab results, and practical scenarios, here’s how I’d recommend:

• Choose the Sony A7R III if:
  You are a professional or enthusiast who demands high resolution, superior autofocus, excellent low-light and dynamic range performance, durability, and versatility across portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, and video. Its extensive lens ecosystem and robust build make it a compelling tool for serious photography and videography.

• Choose the Sony S2100 if:
  You prioritize absolute portability and simplicity for casual snapshots, family events, or travel with minimal fuss. It’s perfectly fine if you don’t need RAW files, face tracking, or high-speed shooting.

What’s clear is that these cameras reflect different photographic eras and ambitions. If the A7R III is a precision instrument calibrated for professional expression, the S2100 is an approachable camera for simpler memories, with charm in its compactness.

Dear Sony, while the S2100 met needs of the past, I prefer the future-forward industry standards found in the A7R III.

If you’re ready for professional quality and creative control, the Sony A7R III invites you into its world of imaging excellence. Alternatively, if budget and simplicity win your heart, the S2100 remains a testament to easy-going photography, albeit in a bygone era.

Happy shooting!