Sony Alpha a7S III Black 2020
Panasonic Lumix S S5 II Black 2023
What Buyers Say
Sony Alpha a7S III Black 2020
The Sony A7S III is overwhelmingly praised for its exceptional video quality, industry-leading autofocus, and outstanding low-light performance. Users highlight the improved ergonomics, build quality, and heat management, making it a reliable choice for professional video work. While the 12MP stills are considered secondary and some note expensive memory cards and mediocre bundled software, the overall sentiment is that this camera is a top-tier hybrid that justifies its cost for serious creators.
Pros
- Exceptional video quality
- Industry-leading autofocus
- Outstanding low-light performance
- Improved ergonomics and build quality
- Excellent heat management
Cons
- Expensive memory cards required
- Mediocre bundled software
- 12MP stills are secondary to video
- No internal raw recording
- Video format may need conversion
Panasonic Lumix S S5 II Black 2023
The Panasonic Lumix S5II is overwhelmingly praised as a fantastic hybrid camera that finally brings phase-detect autofocus to the L-mount lineup. Users highlight its excellent video features, including a fan for unlimited recording, great stabilization, and beautiful color science, all at a very competitive price. A few long-term users report a shutter button issue, and some note the limited lens selection compared to Sony, but the vast majority consider it the best value full-frame camera under $2,000.
Pros
- Excellent phase-detect autofocus
- Great video quality and codecs
- Internal fan prevents overheating
- Outstanding image stabilization
- Beautiful color science
Cons
- Shutter button issue after extended use
- Limited lens selection compared to Sony
- APS-C crop in 4K 60p
- Rolling shutter at fast pans
- External monitor disables internal display info
Scores
Specifications
| Sony Alpha a7S III | Panasonic Lumix S S5 II | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | ||
| Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Size | full-frame | full-frame |
| Megapixels | 12.100000381469727 MP | 24.200000762939453 MP★ |
| ISO Range | 80★ | 100 |
| Processor | BIONZ XR | L2 |
| Autofocus | ||
| AF Points | ||
| AF Type | AF-A (Automatic AF), AF-S (Single-shot AF), AF-C (Continuous AF) | Photo, VideoContrast Detection, Phase Detection: 779 |
| Eye AF | ✓ | ✓ |
| Animal AF | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Subject Detection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shooting | ||
| Burst (Mechanical) | 10 fps | 30 fps★ |
| Burst (Electronic) | 120 fps★ | 30 fps |
| Max Shutter | 1/8000 | 1/8000 |
| Electronic Shutter | ✓ | ✓ |
| Video | ||
| Max Resolution | 4K | 6K★ |
| 4K FPS | 120 fps★ | 60 fps |
| 1080p FPS | 59 fps | 100 fps★ |
| 10-bit | ✓ | ✓ |
| Log Profile | ✓ | ✓ |
| RAW Video | ✓ | ✓ |
| Codec | H.264, H.265 | H.264/H.265/MOV/MP4/ProRes 4:2:2/4:2:0 8/10-Bit |
| Display & EVF | ||
| Screen Size | 3" | 3" |
| Touchscreen | ✓ | ✓ |
| Articulating | ✓ | ✓ |
| EVF Resolution | 9.4M dots★ | 3.7M dots |
| Build | ||
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.61 kg★ | 0.66 kg |
| Battery Life | 1000 shots★ | 370 shots |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| USB | USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 | USB-C |
| HDMI | full-size HDMI | HDMI Output |
| Hot Shoe | ✓ | ✓ |
Pros & Cons
Sony Alpha a7S III Black 2020
- Strong battery (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong evf (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong connectivity (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong build (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Below average sensor (7th percentile)7th %ile
Panasonic Lumix S S5 II Black 2023
- Strong display (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong build (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong connectivity (96th percentile)96th %ile
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 10 of 10 usage categories and 6 of 33 specs.