Sony a7S vs Nikon D700

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a7S and Nikon D700. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Sony a7S is manufacturered by Sony but Nikon D700 is from Nikon. Both Sony and Nikon are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Sony a7S is a Mirrorless camera while Nikon D700 is a DSLR camera. More information about their differences will come soon.

Sensors / crop factor

Even though the camera sensors might be called differently they are both considered Full frame which means that the focal length of the lenses is not affected. There is no crop factor on any of these cameras and sensors.

** 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 (Nikon)

Resolution

Sony a7S has a 12 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Nikon D700 has 12,1 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Nikon D700 has a 0 % 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 Nikon D700. Sony a7S has an ISO range that stretches from 10 to 102400 while Nikon D700 has 200 to 25600.

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 Nikon D700

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 Nikon D700 can shoot up to 8 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

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

When comparing these two cameras there is only one of them that can shoot movies and that is Sony a7S. Unfortunately Nikon D700 does not support recording movies and movie clips.

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.

Nikon D700 weighs 1074 gr (equal to 2.37 lb) which is 120% heavier than Sony a7S and its 489 gr (or 1.08 lb).

Sony a7S vs Nikon D700 Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a7S and Nikon D700, 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	Nikon D700
Name	Sony a7S	Nikon D700
Manufacturer	Sony	Nikon
Release Date and Price	Sony a7S	Nikon D700
Release Year	2014	2008
Release Date	2014-04-06	2008-07-01
MSRP	2499 USD	2999 USD
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Camera Type	Sony a7S	Nikon D700
Camera Type	Mirrorless	DSLR
Sensor	Sony a7S	Nikon D700
Sensor Size	Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm)	Full Frame (approx 36 x 23.9 mm) Also known as "FX"
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	4240 x 2832 pixels	4256 x 2832 pixels
Megapixels	12 MP	12,1 MP
Image Processor	Bionz X	EXPEED
Image	Sony a7S	Nikon D700
ISO Range	10 - 102400	200 - 25600
White Balance Presets	10	12
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	Nikon D700
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Contract Detect (sensor) Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous LiveView
Focus Points	25	51
Lens Mount	Sony E See Compatible Lenses	Nikon F 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	FX (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
Screen & Viewfinder	Sony a7S	Nikon D700
Articulated LCD	Tilting	Fixed
Screen size	3”	3”
Screen dots	921000	922000
Touch screen	No	No
Screen type	TFT-LCD	TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Live view	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder Type	Electronic	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	95%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.71x	0.72×
Viewfinder Resolution	N/A	N/A
Photography features	Sony a7S	Nikon D700
Frames per second	5 fps	8 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/8000 seconds	1/8000 seconds
Built-in Flash	No	Yes
Built-in Flash Range	N/A	N/A
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	No	Yes
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Spot	Multi Center Weighted Spot Average
Exposure Compensation	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features	Sony a7S	Nikon D700
Video recording	Yes	No
Video format	MPEG4 XAVC-S AVCHD	N/A
Video resolution		N/A
Built-in Microphone	Yes	No
Built-in Speakers	Yes	No
Storage	Sony a7S	Nikon D700
Memory Card	SD/SDHC	Compact Flash
Connectivity	Sony a7S	Nikon D700
HDMI Output	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	Yes	No
Headphone Port	Yes	No
Wireless	Yes Built-in (with NFC and wireless control via smartphone)	No
Remote Control	Yes (Wired)	Optional
GPS	No	Yes Optional through GP-1
Body & Dimensions	Sony a7S	Nikon D700
Enviromentally sealed	Yes	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery and charger	Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	380 shots	1000 shots
Width	127 mm	147 mm
Height	94 mm	123 mm
Depth	48 mm	77 mm
Weight	489 gram	1074 gram