Sony A7S vs Sony DSC-W620: A Deep Dive into Two Cameras Worlds Apart

Choosing your next camera means balancing what you want to create, how you work, and your budget. Today, we're dissecting two Sony cameras that - on paper and in practice - stand poles apart. The Sony A7S is a full-frame, professional-grade mirrorless camera with an emphasis on low light and video. The Sony DSC-W620 is a budget-friendly compact point-and-shoot designed for snapshooters and casual users on the move.

Despite their shared Sony heritage, these two cameras live in very different universes. Our goal is to help you understand their real-world strengths and limitations - and figure out which fits your creative path best.

Let’s unpack their differences through detailed comparisons and hands-on insights covering all major photography disciplines and technical aspects.

Holding the Cameras: Size, Design, and Ergonomics

Starting with the basics - how they feel in your hands and your workflow.

• Sony A7S: This SLR-style mirrorless camera weighs 489 grams and measures 127 x 94 x 48 mm. It’s designed with an all-metal, weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, offering excellent durability and grip security. Its heft and deeper grip lend stability, especially with larger lenses or when shooting handheld in challenging conditions. Physical controls cover exposure modes, ISO, shutter speed, plus twin dials and customizable buttons - all within easy reach. The A7S has a tilting 3” screen (1.23M dots) and a bright 2.35M-dot electronic viewfinder with 0.71x magnification.

• Sony W620: This compact weighs just 116 grams and measures 98 x 56 x 20 mm, fitting easily in a pocket or small bag. Its polycarbonate construction feels light but not flimsy. The fixed 2.7” LCD screen with 230k-dot resolution lacks a viewfinder. Controls are minimal with no manual exposure modes; everything is automated. The W620 prioritizes portability and ease of use for casual shooters.

When it comes to ergonomics, the A7S clearly targets the serious shooter who demands fast access to settings. The W620 prioritizes grab-and-go convenience. Holding both side-by-side, the difference is night and day.

Sensor and Image Quality: Full-Frame vs. Small Sensor Realities

The heart of any camera is its sensor.

What These Numbers Mean for You

• Sony A7S’s full-frame sensor is roughly 30 times larger in area than the W620’s 1/2.3" sensor, drastically increasing light gathering, dynamic range, and low light performance potential. Despite having “only” 12 MP, the A7S’s sensor boasts large pixels optimized for noise control and video codec efficiency. This sensor trades off resolution for unrivaled low light sensitivity and excellent tonal gradation.

• The W620’s 14 MP CCD sensor is conventional for compact cameras of its era, capturing good detail in bright light scenes but struggling in dim environments. The small sensor naturally limits depth of field control, dynamic range, and noise performance.

From our lab and field tests, the A7S produces clean images up to ISO 6400 and usable results even at ISO 25600 or more - a rarity. The W620 performs reliably under daylight or flash conditions but quickly loses detail and shows noise beyond ISO 800.

If you prize image quality, especially in challenging light, the A7S’s sensor dominates hands-down.

Display and User Interface: Feedback and Operation

• Sony A7S: The electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.35 million dots gives you a clear real-time preview with accurate exposure, focus peaking, and histograms. The tilting 3” LCD helps compose from awkward angles but lacks touchscreen capability. Physical buttons and dials complement the interface - allowing rapid changes in exposure and autofocus settings.

• Sony W620: The fixed 2.7” Clear Photo TFT LCD LCD screen is modest and non-touch, offering limited feedback in bright light. There's no EVF or eye-level finder, which might make daytime framing harder. All settings are menu-driven and automatic, with very limited manual control.

For photographers accustomed to DSLR-style operation or precise manual control, the A7S interface is a major plus. Casual users will appreciate the simplicity of the W620 but may find some operational limits.

Autofocus Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus (AF) systems define how well a camera keeps your subject sharp under real-life conditions.

• Sony A7S: Uses contrast-detection only with 25 AF points, featuring face detection and eye-detection AF. Continuous AF tracking works decently, though it can struggle in very low light or for fast-moving subjects due to lack of phase detection autofocus (PDAF). Our tests showed reliable focus on portraits and video subjects, but wildlife or sports photographers might find the AF tracking slower compared to later models.

• Sony W620: Has very basic contrast-detection AF with center-weighted metering and face detection. Single autofocus with fixed AF points. Tracking moving subjects is unreliable. It’s suitable for static scenes and casual snapshots but not for action work.

For situations demanding fast, precise continuous focusing - like wildlife, sports, or street photography - the A7S vastly outshines the W620.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

• Sony A7S: Thanks to the “Sony E” mount, it supports an extensive range of native E-mount lenses (over 121 options), including professional glass. You can also adapt many third-party lenses from Canon, Nikon, and more with adapters. This flexibility allows you to tailor your system for portraits, landscapes, macro, or telephoto needs.

• Sony W620: Fixed 28-140mm equivalent zoom with max aperture f/3.2-6.5. No lens interchangeability - this lens covers everyday scenarios but lacks the speed or specialty optics possible on larger cameras.

If you want a system to grow with you - experimenting with portrait primes, macro lenses, or super-telephoto zooms - the A7S is built for that.

Sony A7S front Sony A7S screen back Sony W620 front Sony W620 screen back

Real-World Photography Applications

Portrait Photography

• Sony A7S: Its full-frame sensor delivers natural skin tones, excellent subject isolation, and pleasing bokeh with fast lenses. Eye AF helps nail focus on eyes - essential in portraiture. You’ll get subtle gradations in skin tone and fine detail even in ambient light.

• Sony W620: Limited by small sensor and slower lens. Background blur is minimal, and detail can be soft. Still, for casual family snaps or travel portraits in bright daylight, it captures honest colors.

Landscape Photography

• Sony A7S offers excellent dynamic range (13.2 EV), letting you capture dramatic skies and shadow detail without panicked highlights. Combine the 12 MP resolution with quality wide primes, and you have excellent large print potential. Weather sealing adds peace of mind outdoors.

• Sony W620 lacks the resolution and dynamic range to recover from tricky scenes, and no weather sealing reduces resilience. Good enough for snapshots but limited for serious landscape work.

Wildlife and Sports

• Sony A7S’s 5 fps continuous shooting and slower contrast AF limit burst capture of decisive moments. Telephoto lenses can be paired, but AF tracking is basic. Not the best choice for fast action, but low-light capability helps in dawn/dusk scenarios.

• Sony W620 struggles to lock fast-moving subjects, has a 1 fps burst rate, and limited zoom reach. Better suited to static or slow subjects.

Street and Travel Photography

• Sony A7S: Bulkier and more conspicuous, but excellent image quality and high ISO allow shooting in all conditions. Lens choice lets you balance between fast primes and zooms. Battery life is good (~360 shots per charge).

• Sony W620: Ultra-portable, discreet, and fast to carry. Perfect for casual street snaps or quick travel memories. Battery life is shorter (~220 shots) but your backup is easy to carry.

Macro, Night/Astro, and Video Capabilities

The A7S’s specialty is video and night shooting, supporting filmmakers and astrophotographers alike. The W620’s video is basic, good for casual clips.

Build Quality and Durability

• Sony A7S: Weather-sealed, solid body built for field conditions. Suitable for professional and rigorous use.

• Sony W620: Plastic, compact design not weather resistant. Handle with care.

Battery Life and Storage

• A7S uses the NP-FW50 battery supporting ~360 shots per charge. Single SD card slot supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards along with Sony Memory Stick formats.

• W620 uses NP-BN battery for ~220 shots. Similar single card slot but includes microSD and Memory Stick Duo support.

For extended shooting, the A7S’s larger battery and efficient power management offer advantages.

Connectivity and Extras

• Sony A7S: Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for easy image transfer and remote control apps. HDMI output for external monitors/recorders. USB 2.0 connectivity.

• Sony W620: Eye-Fi card-connected Wi-Fi, no physical HDMI or headphone jack. USB 2.0.

Wireless and tethering options are more versatile with the A7S.

Summarizing Performance Scores

The Sony A7S has an overall DxOMark score of 87, with exceptional color depth and dynamic range. The W620 hasn’t been formally tested but would likely rank low mainly due to sensor size and image processing limitations.

How the Cameras Measure Up Across Photography Types

• Portrait: A7S unequivocally better for natural skin rendering and bokeh.
• Landscape: A7S with higher dynamic range and resolution wins.
• Wildlife: Neither ideal; A7S better low light but weak AF speed.
• Sports: Neither designed for high-speed burst sports.
• Street: W620 shines for discretion and portability; A7S for quality.
• Macro: A7S with dedicated lenses excels.
• Night/Astro: A7S leader.
• Video: A7S vastly superior.
• Travel: W620 ideal for ultra-light travel; A7S for serious travel photographers.
• Professional Work: A7S robust, versatile, and integrates into pro workflows.

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Sony A7S is for you if:

• You demand professional image quality and excellent low light performance.
• You want advanced video features, including 4K recording.
• You appreciate manual control over exposure and focus.
• You plan to grow a versatile system with high-performance lenses.
• You’re a working photographer, filmmaker, or enthusiast ready to invest.
• You need weather sealing and a rugged build.

Sony W620 is for you if:

• You want a simple, ultra-portable camera for casual snapshots.
• Budget is a major concern - this camera is very affordable.
• You’re an occasional user focusing on easy point-and-shoot convenience.
• You want something pocketable for travel and quick sharing.
• You don’t mind limited manual control or image quality tradeoffs.

Final Thoughts: Complementary Cameras for Different Journeys

Our 15+ years photographing and testing gear proves that no single camera fits everyone’s needs. The Sony A7S and the Sony W620 address vastly different user profiles and aspirations.

• The A7S represents a serious creative tool, focused on high image quality, cinematic video, and flexible shooting scenarios for professionals and demanding enthusiasts.
• The W620 embraces casual users looking to capture moments effortlessly without fuss or extra investment.

Understanding their strengths and limitations lets you choose the right tool for your vision. Whether starting out with a compact camera or stepping up to full-frame artistry, Sony offers options welcoming you every step of your creative journey.

Ready to explore? If you lean toward the Sony A7S, check out compatible lenses and accessories to build your ideal kit. For the Sony W620, grab a high-capacity SD card and a stylish carrying case to keep it handy wherever life takes you.

We hope this comparison helped clarify these two very different cameras so you can confidently choose your next creative companion.