Reasons to choose Alpha 7
Released in 2013, Alpha 7 has about 856 mm² of sensor area, 24.3 MP effective resolution, and a 474 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Sony Alpha 7
vs Sony Alpha 7S
VS
Sensor area
856 mm²
Alpha 7847 mm²
Alpha 7S- Area ratio
- 1.01:1
- Absolute difference
- 8 mm²
- Relative difference
- 1%
The Alpha 7 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 1 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
Alpha 7MetricAlpha 7S
24.3 MPEffective pixels12.2 MP
35.8 × 23.9Sensor35.6 × 23.8
5.93 µmPixel pitch8.33 µm
35.21 µm²Pixel area69.45 µm²
2.84 MP/cm²Pixel density1.44 MP/cm²
1.01Crop factor1.01
—Maximum video1,920 × 1,080
474 gWeight489 g
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG DuoStorageSD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery Li-ion batteryBatteryRechargeable battery pack NP-FW50
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The Alpha 7 has the larger sensor area. The Alpha 7 has the lighter body. The Alpha 7 has the higher effective resolution. The Alpha 7S is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose Alpha 7S
Released in 2014, Alpha 7S has about 847 mm² of sensor area, 12.2 MP effective resolution, and a 489 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.