Sony a7S III vs Canon R5 | Differences & Similarities
Canon EOS R5 shocked photography enthusiasts with the first-ever 8K RAW recording in full-frame mirrorless cameras. The crown for video recording was snatched away from Sony a7S lineup by Canon R5 instantly. Sony made a comeback to the market with its a7S III full-frame mirrorless camera. Let’s take a look at whether Sony a7S III really stand with Canon EOS R5 or not. Jumping right into the Sony a7S III vs Canon R5 comparison now.
| Camera Model | Current Price & Availability (Amazon) |
|---|---|
| Sony a7S III | Check Pricing and Availability |
| Canon EOS R5 | Check Current Price |
Image Sensor & Processor
Sony a7S III boasts the newer 12.1 MP BSI-CMOS Exmor R sensor coupled with the advanced Bionz XR image processor. a7S III supports 2x readout speed than its predecessor (Sony a7S II). The increased readout speed allows a7S III to store images without binning. On the other hand, Canon EOS R5 is powered by a 45 MP CMOS sensor and Digic X image processor. The computing power of R5 allows it to store 8K RAW video internally which is something Sony a7S III can’t do.
Stills | Sony a7S III vs Canon R5
Both a7S III & R5 support JPEG, & 14-bit RAW. Sony a7S III also supports HEIF format. The larger pixels in a7S III allows it to function efficiently in low light conditions. In contrast, Canon R5 can produce wonderful images in still photography with its larger resolution.
The boosted ISO range of a7S III is 40 – 409600. Whereas, R5 features an extended ISO range of 50-102400. It is evident that the newer sensor in a7S III powers it with wonderful light sensitivity.
Stabilization & Shutter
Image stabilization is a premium feature in high-end cameras. Sony a7S III features a sensor-shift 5-axis stabilization, up to 5.5 stops. Whereas, an advanced 5-axis stabilization in R5 provides up to 8 stops. We can safely say that Canon R5 has a better stabilization mechanism than Sony a7S III.
Both models support shutter speed from 1/8000 s to 30 s. When it comes to bursts, R5 delivers a whopping continuous drive speed of 20 fps up to 180 RAW files. Whereas, Sony a7S III delivers only 10 fps continuous drive speed but for more than 1000 RAW files. If you’re a sports/action/wildlife photographer, going with Canon EOS R5 would be a viable option.
Video Recording | Sony a7S III vs Canon R5
8K RAW recording is the talk of the town since R5 was announced. Sony a7S III was speculated to have 8K recording. Sadly, it does not support 8K. a7S III powers the user with 10-bit 4K recording at 23.976p, 25p, 29.97, 50p, 59.94p, 100p, & 119.88p (50 to 280 Mb/s), internally. Moreover, it also supports 16-bit 4K RAW at 60fps recording with an external recorder. R5’s delivery in video recording is yet another level. The 8K RAW is recorded internally in R5, but thanks to the additional slot for storage. EOS R5 can record 16-bit 4K RAW at 60fps to an external recorder.
Note that unlike Canon EOS R5, Sony a7S III can shoot 4K videos at 60 fps for up to one hour without overheating issues.
Both R5 & a7S III can record 4:2:2 10-bit Full HD videos at 23.976, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 fps. R5 is the monster in video recording when compared against Sony a7S III. Also, R5 carries a better image stabilization mechanism for recording videos.
Autofocus
Both models equip phase-detect autofocus. And both models feature AF modes like Live Tracking, Face Detection, Eye Detection, & Animal Detection. However, Canon powers R5 with a better tracking algorithm than Sony’s a7S III. R5 has a whopping 1053 focus points across its sensor, whereas the a7S III has only 759 PDAF points. The advanced autofocus in R5 allows the photographer to capture the subject at the right moment.
Monitor & Viewfinder
Both a7S III and R5 come with a fully articulating TFT LCD display. The fully articulating display will enhance the video shooting experience of users. The monitor is 3″ 1,440,000 dotted in a7S III and 3.2″ 2,100,000 dotted in the R5. So it is safe to say that the viewing experience in Canon EOS R5 is better than that of Sony a7S III.
Sony a7S III boasts the world’s first OXGA OLED viewfinder. It is a 0.64″ 9,437,184 dotted display. Whereas the Canon R5 comes with the 0.5″ 5,760,000 dotted OLED display. Evidently, a7S III surpasses the viewfinder quality against R5.
Other Features
Both a7S III & R5 features dual storage slots. However, R5 has 1 dedicated slot for SDXC (UHS-II) & another one for CFexpress Type B, whereas the a7S III has 2 hybrid slots that support SD, SDHC, SDXC, & CFexpress Type A. CFexpress cards have a higher data transmission speed when compared with other card models.
R5 supports 3.2 Gen-2 USB whereas a7S III gear up with 3.2 Gen-1 USB. Hence, R5 can transmit data at 10 Gbps whereas a7S III can transmit data at 5 Gbps through USB. However, a7S III packs a better battery(up to 600 shots) than R5’s(up to 490 shots).
Sony a7S III has managed to built-in a better cooling mechanism that allows the user to record 4K videos for a higher duration than what other 4K cameras provide. R5 lacks this ability and can only record 4K up to 25-30 minutes duration.
Sony a7S III vs Canon R5 | Specifications
| Sony a7S III | Canon EOS R5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | BSI-CMOS Exmor R Full Frame | CMOS Full Frame |
| Image Processor | Bionz XR | Digic X |
| Effective Resolution | 12.1 MP | 45 MP |
| File Format for Still Images | JPEG, 14 – bit Raw, & HEIF | JPEG, & 14 – bit Raw |
| Image Stabilization | 5-axis BIIS, up to 5.5 stops | 5-axis BIIS, up to 8 stops |
| Autofocus | Phase Detection AF | Phase Detection AF |
| AF Focus Points | 769 | 1,053 |
| ISO Range (Extended) | 40 – 409600 | 50-102400 |
| Shutter Speed | 1/8000 s – 30 s | 1/8000 s – 30 s |
| Continuous Drive Speed | 10 fps, over 1,000 uncompressed raw files | 12/20fps, up to 180 raw files |
| 4K Video Recording | @ 120 fps – 10 bit 4:2:2 | @ 120 fps – 10 bit 4:2:2 |
| RAW Video | 16 – bit 4K @ 60fps externally | 12 – Bit 8K @ 30fps internally 16 – bit 4K @ 60fps externally |
| 4K Video Recording Frame Speed | 23.976/25/29.97/50/59.94/100/119.88p – H.265/XAVC HS 4:2:2 10-Bit | 23.976/24.00/25/29.97/59.94/100/119.88p – H.265 4:2:2 10-Bit |
| FHD Video Recording Frame Speed | 23.976/25/29.97/50/59.94p – H.264/XAVC S-I 4:2:2 10 – Bit | 23.976/25/29.97/50/59.94p – H.265 4:2:2 10 – Bit |
| Viewfinder | OXGA OLED 0.64″ 9,437,184 dot Electronic | OLED 0.50″ 5,760,000 dot Electronic |
| Monitor Type | 3″ TFT LCD articulating display | 3.2″ TFT LCD articulating display |
| Monitor Resolution | 1,440,000 | 2,100,000 |
| Storage | 2 Slots (SD/SDHC/SDXC/CFexpress Type A) | 1x SDXC (UHS-II) 1x CFexpress Type B |
| USB Type | 3.2 Gen-1 | 3.2 Gen-2 |
| Battery Life | 600 shots | 490 shots |
| Price | Check Pricing and Availability | Check Current Price |
From the above comparison, it is safe to say that Canon R5 is the winner here. Also, it is interesting to note that where one falls short the other offers better performance in that segment. If you are still a photographer, but shoot videos occasionally, R5 can be your best choice. The impeccable 8K RAW sets the mighty Canon EOS R5 at the top. However, if you have to deal with low light conditions frequently, choosing Sony a7S III can give you a boost.
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