Sony a7S vs Nikon D850 Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Sony a7S | Nikon D850 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | April 2014 | July 2017 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | DSLR |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | BSI CMOS |
| Image Processor | BIONZ X | EXPEED 5 |
| Resolution | 12.2 MP | 45.7 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 4240×2832 | 8256×5504 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 35.8 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) | 35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 8.4µ | 4.35µ |
| Low Pass Filter | Yes | No |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | No | No |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 64 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 102,400 | ISO 25,600 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-409,600 | ISO 32-102,400 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | No | No |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | No | Yes |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | No | No |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/8000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 5 FPS | 7 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 5 FPS | 7 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | Autofocus fixed at first frame for 5 FPS shooting; 12-bit raw only | Up to 9 FPS with MB-D18 grip |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 31 frames (5 FPS) | 200 frames (7 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Contrast Detect | Phase Detect |
| Autofocus Points | 25 | 153 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -4 EV | -4 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 | 1/250 |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 8 bits | 8 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 8 bits | 8 bits |
| Raw Video | No | No |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 30 FPS1 | 30 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 60 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | No | No |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) |
| Video Recording Limit | 30 min | 30 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 1 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-I) | CFExpress Type B |
| Slot 2 Type | N/A | SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.0 in | 3.2 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 0.92 million dots | 2.36 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Single Axis | Single Axis |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | Pentaprism / OVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.71x | 0.75x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2.36 million dots | N/A |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | No | No |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| GPS | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Type B 2.0 | Micro B 3.0 |
| Battery Type | NP-FW50 | EN-EL15a |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 320 frames | 1840 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 380 frames | N/A2 |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 490 g (1.08 lbs.) | 1005 g (2.22 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 127 x 94 x 58 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.3″)3 | 146 x 124 x 79 mm (5.7 x 4.9 x 3.1″) |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $2500 (Discontinued) | $3000 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices (Affiliate) | Sony a7S Used Prices | Nikon D850 Used Prices |
| 1The Sony a7S supports 4K video, but only with an external recorder over HDMI | ||
| 2Not specified by Nikon | ||
| 3The Sony a7S’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match typical standards today, 10mm were added to the a7S’s depth measurement in this table. | ||
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