Sony a7S vs Nikon Z5 Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Sony a7S | Nikon Z5 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | April 2014 | July 2020 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Image Processor | BIONZ X | EXPEED 6 |
| Resolution | 12.2 MP | 24.3 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 4240×2832 | 6016×4016 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 35.8 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) | 35.9 x 23.9 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 8.4µ | 5.95µ |
| Low Pass Filter | Yes | Yes |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | No | Yes |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 102,400 | ISO 51,200 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-409,600 | ISO 50-102,400 |
| 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 | 4.5 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 5 FPS | 4.5 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | Autofocus fixed at first frame for 5 FPS shooting; 12-bit raw only | None |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 31 frames (5 FPS) | 100 frames (4.5 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Contrast Detect | Hybrid PDAF |
| Autofocus Points | 25 | 273 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -4 EV | -3.5 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 | 1/200 |
| Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | No | No |
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 | 60 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | No | 1.7x crop at 4K |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) | 4:2:0 |
| Video Recording Limit | 30 min | 30 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 1 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-I) | SD (UHS-II) |
| 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 | 1.04 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Single Axis | Single Axis |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.71x | 0.8x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2.36 million dots | 3.69 million dots |
| 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 | Type C 3.1 |
| Battery Type | NP-FW50 | EN-EL15c |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 320 frames | 390 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 380 frames | 470 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 490 g (1.08 lbs.) | 675 g (1.49 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 127 x 94 x 58 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.3″)2 | 134 x 101 x 80 mm (5.3 x 4.0 x 3.1″)3 |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $2500 (Discontinued) | $1400 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices (Affiliate) | Sony a7S Used Prices | Nikon Z5 Used Prices |
| 1The Sony a7S supports 4K video, but only with an external recorder over HDMI | ||
| 2The 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. | ||
| 3The Nikon Z5’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match the typical standards today, 15mm were added to the Z5’s depth measurement in this table. | ||
Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!
Photography Life is part of the B&H and KEH affiliate programs. When you make a purchase through the affiliate links in this article, we can be compensated with a percentage of each sale. If you found this comparison useful, buying anything through these links allows you to support Photography Life at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our efforts!
