Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R vs Sony a7 III — Which Is Better?

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R and the Sony a7 III are both mirrorless full-frame cameras. The S1R, from 2019, pairs a 47.3-megapixel sensor with a large 1020-gram body. The a7 III, from 2018, is the lighter all-rounder at 24.2 megapixels and 650 grams.

Each uses a different native lens system: the S1R takes Leica L mount lenses, while the a7 III takes Sony FE. Lenses stay within their own system, so the lens range you prefer should shape the choice.

The S1R is the stronger choice for heavy cropping and large prints, because its 47.3-megapixel sensor captures far more pixels than the a7 III's 24.2-megapixel sensor. That leaves more room to crop a distant animal and still hold detail in a big print. Its 1/16000 second top shutter speed also allows shorter exposures in bright light than the a7 III's 1/8000 second.

The a7 III answers with 693 autofocus points against 225, spreading its focusing coverage across more of the frame for moving subjects, and its standard ISO range reaches 51200 against 25600. They match on in-body stabilisation, so handheld shooting is supported on either body. The S1R's viewfinder is the sharper one for fine framing, with 5,760,000 dots against 2,359,296.

For slowing fast action, the S1R is the stronger video choice, with a maximum frame rate of 60 fps against 30 fps on the a7 III. Both cameras cap recording at 4K resolution, so everyday 4K projects work on either body.

The S1R writes MP4 files, while the a7 III records XAVC S and AVCHD, so check which fits your editing workflow. Neither has a built-in interval timer, so timelapse work needs an external intervalometer.

Damp-condition shooting, wireless transfer and touch control are available on either body, because both offer weather sealing, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a touch-enabled flip screen and live view. Neither has a built-in flash or GPS.

Playback and focus checks look crisper on the S1R, whose 3.2-inch LCD carries 2,100,000 dots against 921,600 on the a7 III's 3-inch screen.

For long shooting days, the a7 III holds the battery advantage, rated at 750 shots per charge against 360 for the S1R. Both cameras offer dual card slots and USB charging, so two-card storage and cable charging work on either body.

The second slot takes different media on each body. The S1R pairs SD cards with Compact Flash, while the a7 III pairs SD with Memory Stick Duo, Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo. Cards you already own may settle that choice.