Sony a7S vs Canon EOS Kiss X8i

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a7S and Canon EOS Kiss X8i. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Sony a7S is manufacturered by Sony but Canon EOS Kiss X8i is from Canon. Both Sony and Canon are well known brands though.

Sony a7S were released 2014 and Canon EOS Kiss X8i was released 2015. That is a 1 years difference. In tech, this period can be of interest since technology is always improving, etc.

Camera Released
Sony a7S 2014
Canon EOS Kiss X8i 2015

Type of camera

Sony a7S is a Mirrorless camera while Canon EOS Kiss X8i is a DSLR camera. More information about their differences will come soon.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Sony a7S has a "Sony Full Frame"-sensor while Canon EOS Kiss X8i has a "Canon APS-C"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

Camera Focal length, 50mm f/1.8 **
Sony a7S 50 mm
Full-frame sensor
No crop factor/focal length multiplier
Canon EOS Kiss X8i 80 mm
Canon APS-C sensor
Crop factor/focal length multiplier by * 1.6

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Canon)

Resolution

Sony a7S has a 12 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Canon EOS Kiss X8i has 24 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Camera Megapixels
Sony a7S 12 MP
12007680 pixels
4240 x 2832
Canon EOS Kiss X8i 24 MP
24000000 pixels
6000 x 4000

Canon EOS Kiss X8i has a 100 % larger resolution than Sony a7S. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.

ISO range

Sony a7S has a larger ISO-range than Canon EOS Kiss X8i. Sony a7S has an ISO range that stretches from 10 to 102400 while Canon EOS Kiss X8i has 100 to 12800.

Camera ISO Range
Sony a7S 10-102400
Canon EOS Kiss X8i 100-12800

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a7S
Lens compatibility chart for Canon EOS Kiss X8i

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a7S can shoot up to 5 pictures per seconds and Canon EOS Kiss X8i can shoot up to 5 pictures per seconds.

Camera FPS (Frames per second)
Sony a7S 5
Canon EOS Kiss X8i 5

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

In this case, both Sony a7S and Canon EOS Kiss X8i can shoot movies.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Canon EOS Kiss X8i weighs 555 gr (equal to 1.22 lb) which is 13% heavier than Sony a7S and its 489 gr (or 1.08 lb).

Camera Weight
Sony a7S 489 gr
1.08 lb
Canon EOS Kiss X8i 555 gr
1.22 lb

Sony a7S vs Canon EOS Kiss X8i Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a7S and Canon EOS Kiss X8i, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product
Sony a7S
Canon EOS Kiss X8i
Name Sony a7S Canon EOS Kiss X8i
Manufacturer Sony Canon
Release Date and Price
Sony a7S
Canon EOS Kiss X8i
Release Year 2014 2015
Release Date 2014-04-06 2015-02-06
MSRP 2499 USD 749 USD
Buy it today
Camera Type
Sony a7S
Canon EOS Kiss X8i
Camera Type Mirrorless DSLR
Sensor
Sony a7S
Canon EOS Kiss X8i
Sensor Size Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm) APS-C (approx 22.3 x 14.9 mm)
Sensor Type CMOS CMOS
Resolution 4240 x 2832 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
Megapixels 12 MP 24 MP
Image Processor Bionz X DIGIC 6
Image
Sony a7S
Canon EOS Kiss X8i
ISO Range 10 - 102400 100 - 12800
White Balance Presets 10 8
Custom White Balance Yes Yes
Image Stabilization No No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating 0 stops 0 stops
Uncompressed format RAW RAW
Optics & Focus
Sony a7S
Canon EOS Kiss X8i
Autofocus Motor Yes Yes
Autofocus Contract Detect (sensor)
Multi Area
Center
Selective Single Point
Single
Continuous
Face Detection
LiveView
Contract Detect (sensor)
Phase Detect
Multi Area
Center
Selective Single Point
Tracking
Single
Continuous
Touch
Face Detection
LiveView
Focus Points 25 19
Lens Mount Sony E

See Compatible Lenses
Canon EF
Canon EF-S

See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier Full frame
No multiplier
Example:
24 mm remains 24 mm
50 mm remains 50 mm
100 mm remains 100 mm
200 mm remains 200 mm
APS-C Sensor
1.6x multiplier
Example:
24 mm becomes 38 mm
50 mm becomes 80 mm
100 mm becomes 160 mm
200 mm becomes 320 mm
Screen & Viewfinder
Sony a7S
Canon EOS Kiss X8i
Articulated LCD Tilting Fully articulated
Screen size 3” 3”
Screen dots 921000 1040000
Touch screen No Yes
Screen type TFT-LCD TFT LCD
Live view Yes Yes
Viewfinder Type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.71x 0.82× (0.51× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder Resolution N/A 0
Photography features
Sony a7S
Canon EOS Kiss X8i
Frames per second 5 fps 5 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Built-in Flash No Yes
Built-in Flash Range N/A 12 meters
External Flash Yes Yes
Self-Timer Yes Yes
Time-lapse No No
Metering modes Multi
Center Weighted
Spot
Multi
Center Weighted
Spot
Partial
Exposure Compensation +/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) +/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features
Sony a7S
Canon EOS Kiss X8i
Video recording Yes Yes
Video format MPEG4
XAVC-S
AVCHD
MPEG4
H.264
Video resolution 1280 x 720
1920 x 1080
Built-in Microphone Yes Yes
Built-in Speakers Yes Yes
Storage
Sony a7S
Canon EOS Kiss X8i
Memory Card SD/SDHC
SD/SDHC
Connectivity
Sony a7S
Canon EOS Kiss X8i
HDMI Output Yes Yes
Microphone Port Yes Yes
Headphone Port Yes No
Wireless Yes
Built-in (with NFC and wireless control via smartphone)
Yes
Built-in (802.11b/g/n with NFC)
Remote Control Yes (Wired) Yes (wired or via smartphone)
GPS No No
Body & Dimensions
Sony a7S
Canon EOS Kiss X8i
Enviromentally sealed Yes No
Battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery Details NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery and charger
LP-E17 lithium-ion battery and charger
Battery Life (CIPA) 380 shots 440 shots
Width 127 mm 132 mm
Height 94 mm 101 mm
Depth 48 mm 78 mm
Weight 489 gram 555 gram