How much dynamic range does the Sony A7S offer?
According to measurements carried out by DXO Mark, the sensor in the Sony Alpha A7S provides a maximum of 13.2 EV of dynamic range (DR). DR is defined as the ratio between the highest and lowest brightness a camera can capture. A value of 12 EV or above is considered excellent.
High dynamic range of a camera sensor is particularly desirable for scenes with a mix of very bright and very dark parts, such as in some landscape photography settings. It helps to avoid that highlights get washed out or that detail in shadows is lost.
Sensor specs and performance
The table below compares the sensor specs of the Sony A7S to those of several similar cameras. The reported DXO values are indicators of the sensor's imaging quality (higher is better). In addition to dynamic range (DXO Landscape), the listing also covers color depth (DXO Portrait) and high-ISO noise (DXO Sports). Larger sensor cameras tend to outperform cameras of the same generation that are equipped with a smaller imager. On the other hand, larger sensors are more expensive and require bigger and heavier lenses than smaller light receptors.
# | Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Sony A7S | Full Frame | 12.0 | 4240 | 2832 | 1080/60p | 23.9 | 13.2 | 3702 | 87 | |
2. | Nikon Df | Full Frame | 16.2 | 4928 | 3280 | none | 24.6 | 13.1 | 3279 | 89 | |
3. | Sony ZV-E1 | Full Frame | 12.0 | 4240 | 2832 | 4K/60p | 25.4 | 14.6 | 3181 | 96 | |
4. | Sony A7R II | Full Frame | 42.2 | 7952 | 5304 | 4K/30p | 26.0 | 13.9 | 3434 | 98 | |
5. | Sony A7S II | Full Frame | 12.0 | 4240 | 2832 | 4K/30p | 23.6 | 13.3 | 2993 | 85 | |
6. | Sony RX1R II | Full Frame | 42.2 | 7952 | 5304 | 1080/60p | 25.8 | 13.9 | 3204 | 97 | |
7. | Sony A7 II | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.9 | 13.6 | 2449 | 90 | |
8. | Sony A7 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.8 | 14.2 | 2248 | 90 | |
9. | Sony A7R | Full Frame | 36.2 | 7360 | 4912 | 1080/60p | 25.6 | 14.1 | 2746 | 95 | |
10. | Sony RX1R | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 25.0 | 13.6 | 2537 | 91 | |
11. | Sony RX1 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 25.1 | 14.3 | 2534 | 93 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
In the United States, the A7S was initially launched in April 2014 at a price of $2,499.
Camera to camera comparisons
If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
Camera Model | Sony A7S | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
Camera Lens | Sony E mount lenses | |
Launch Date | April 2014 | |
Launch Price | USD 2 499 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 35.8 x 23.9 mm | |
Sensor Area | 856 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 43 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.0x | |
Sensor Resolution | 12 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 4 240 x 2 832 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 8.45 μm | |
Pixel Density | 1.40 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 1080/60p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 102 400 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 50 - 409 600 ISO | |
Image Processor | BIONZ X | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 87 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 23.9 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 13.2 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 3702 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.71x | |
Viewfinder Resolution | 2400k dots | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 921k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | No front-flip | |
Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 5 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 200 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | Electronic Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | MS or SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
UHS card support | UHS-I | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | Sony NP-FW50 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 380 shots per charge | |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | |
Body Dimensions |
127 x 94 x 48 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 1.9 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 489 g (17.2 oz) |
Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.
You are here: Home » Sony A7S Review » Sony A7S Dynamic Range