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Sony A7S vs Sony a1

Portability
77
Imaging
60
Features
73
Overall
65
Sony Alpha A7S front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
82
Features
93
Overall
86

Sony A7S vs Sony a1 Key Specs

Sony A7S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 489g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Replacement is Sony A7S II
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Raise to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Revealed January 2021
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Sony A7S vs Sony a1 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Sony A7S and Sony a1, both Pro Mirrorless cameras and both are designed by Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the A7S (12MP) and a1 (50MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (Full frame).

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The A7S was revealed 7 years prior to the a1 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a simple overview of how the A7S scores vs the a1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A7S over the Sony a1

 A7S a1 

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Sony A7S

 a1 A7S 
RevealedJanuary 2021April 2014Newer by 82 months
Screen resolution1440k1230kSharper screen (+210k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A7S and Sony a1

 A7S a1 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Sony A7S vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Sony A7S has got outside dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 489 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Sony a1 has sizing of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Look at the Sony A7S and Sony a1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the A7S against the a1.

Sony A7S vs Sony a1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A7S and a1 is 77 and 61 respectively.

Sony A7S vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7S vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions just by looking through a spec sheet. The image here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the A7S and a1.

Clearly, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should count on the Sony a1 to result in greater detail because of its extra 38 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged A7S will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sony A7S vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Sony A7S vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7S vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A7S Portrait photography info
Sony a1 Portrait photography info
68
you can focus manually
great sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
89
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/400 seconds)
resolution is fantastic (50MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A7S
Street photography with Sony a1
76
screen tilts up and down
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
lighter than average in class (489 grams)
very good ISO range (409,600)
no image stabilization
79
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
features focus via touch
environment sealing
good ISO range (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A7S
Sports photography with Sony a1
52
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
great sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (360 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
91
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (30.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is fantastic (50MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
great battery power (530 per charge)
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A7S Travel photography info
Sony a1 Travel photography info
58
lighter than average in class (489g)
weather proofing
bad battery power (360 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
74
great battery power (530 shots)
environment sealing
has bluetooth
features focus via touch
resolution is fantastic (50 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A7S as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a1 as a Landscape photography camera
66
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
great sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (409,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (360 shots)
88
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is fantastic (50 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
good ISO range (32,000)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
great battery power (530 shots)
has dual storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A7S
Vlogging with Sony a1
34
includes face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have external microphone port
lighter than average in class (489g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
37
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (7680 x 4320 resolution)
comes with external microphone jack
display isn't selfie friendly
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Sony A7S vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7S and Sony a1
 Sony Alpha A7SSony Alpha a1
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A7S Sony Alpha a1
Category Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-04-06 2021-01-26
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor measurements 35.8 x 23.9mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 855.6mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 50 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4240 x 2832 8640 x 5760
Highest native ISO 409600 32000
Highest boosted ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 25 759
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony E
Number of lenses 121 133
Focal length multiplier 1 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,230k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot 9,437k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.9x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 30.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/400 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160, XAVC S 1080 60p(50Mbps), 30p (50Mbps), 24p (50Mbps). 720 120p (50Mbps). AVCHD 60p (28Mbps), 60i (24Mbps/17Mbps), 24p (24Mbps/17Mbps) 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 7680x4320
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 489g (1.08 pounds) 737g (1.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 87 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 3702 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 530 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FW50 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots One Two
Retail cost $1,998 $6,498