Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A7S

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Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A7S

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35mm 864.0mm²
22.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Canon 5D Mark III Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 5D Mark III.
Compare Canon 5D Mark III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 5D Mark III conclusion.

35mm 847.3mm²
12.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 102,400

Go in depth with our full Sony A7S Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7S in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7S.
Compare Sony A7S image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7S conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon 5D Mark IV
Compare 5D Mark III vs 5D Mark IV

Succeeded by the Sony A7S II
Compare A7S vs A7S II

Compare CANON 5D MARK IV vs SONY A7S II

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Differences

Canon 5D Mark III advantages over Sony A7S

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 2.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

950 vs 380 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More pixels
22.3 vs 12.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Faster JPEG shooting
6.0 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
6.0 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Sony A7S advantages over Canon 5D Mark III

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$1998* vs $2299
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 8.40 vs 6.25 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7S test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark

3,702 vs 2,293 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7S test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark

13.2 vs 11.7 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Thinner
48 mm vs 76 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
507g vs 950g
Lighter weight
Bigger RAW buffer
39 vs 18 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
409600 vs 102400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7S User Reviews

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Sony a7S

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Review Excerpt

Superb still and video image quality; Powerful, fast, and accurate AF system with loads of cross-type points, loads of configurability and great frame coverage; Rugged, weather-sealed body with great control layout and user-interface configurability.
Dynamic range is limited by noise in deep shadows; Somewhat heavy-handed noise suppression and sharpening at default settings. (Shooting RAW avoids both.); No AF illuminator.
Read our Canon 5D Mark III Review

Outstanding high ISO performance; excellent dynamic range; 4K video recording (via uncompressed HDMI); XAVC S option for HD video; Slightly improved battery life over A7/A7R; Built-in Wi-Fi & NFC connectivity.
4K video requires expensive external recorder; Sluggish startup time; Loud shutter; Silent Shooting mode hurts image quality; Lacks a built-in, pop-up flash; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.
Read our Sony A7S Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D

$2079
35mm

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

$1699
35mm

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 6D

Sony A7S

Canon 6D

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

$1699
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A7S vs Canon 6D

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

$2079
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony A7S

Canon 5D Mark IV

$1998
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$2249
35mm

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7S vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Sony A850

Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A850

$2079
35mm

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$2219
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A850

Sony A7S

Sony A850

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

$2219
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

Compare Sony A7S vs Sony A850

Compared to Nikon D800E

Canon 5D Mark III

Nikon D800E

$2079
35mm

Bigger pixels
More cross-type AF points

$2212
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Nikon D800E

Sony A7S

Nikon D800E

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

$2212
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A7S vs Nikon D800E

Compared to Sony A99

Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A99

$2079
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A99

Sony A7S

Sony A99

$1998
35mm

Bigger pixels
Built-in Wi-Fi

$1998
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A7S vs Sony A99

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