Canon 1DX vs Sony A7S

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon 1DX vs Sony A7S

35mm 864.0mm²
18.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Canon 1DX Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 1DX.

35mm 847.3mm²
12.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 102,400

Go in depth with our full Sony A7S Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7S in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7S.
Compare Sony A7S image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7S conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon 1DX Mark II
Compare 1DX vs 1DX Mark II

Succeeded by the Sony A7S II
Compare A7S vs A7S II

Compare CANON 1DX MARK II vs SONY A7S II

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Differences

Canon 1DX advantages over Sony A7S

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 2.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1120 vs 380 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More pixels
18.1 vs 12.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Faster JPEG shooting
12.0 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
12.0 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Sony A7S advantages over Canon 1DX

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$1998 vs $5299
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 8.40 vs 6.94 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7S test data on DxO Mark 1DX test data on DxO Mark

3,702 vs 2,786 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7S test data on DxO Mark 1DX test data on DxO Mark

13.2 vs 11.8 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Thinner
48 mm vs 82 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
507g vs 1551g
Lighter weight
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
409600 vs 204800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 1DX User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7S User Reviews

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Buy the Canon 1DX

Body Only

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Buy the Sony A7S

Sony a7S

Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Canon 1DX.
Read our Canon 1DX Initial Test

Outstanding high ISO performance; excellent dynamic range; 4K video recording (via uncompressed HDMI); XAVC S option for HD video; Slightly improved battery life over A7/A7R; Built-in Wi-Fi & NFC connectivity.
4K video requires expensive external recorder; Sluggish startup time; Loud shutter; Silent Shooting mode hurts image quality; Lacks a built-in, pop-up flash; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.
Read our Sony A7S Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D4

Canon 1DX

Nikon D4

$5299
35mm

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

$4500
35mm

Fast startup
More dynamic range

Compare Canon 1DX vs Nikon D4

Sony A7S

Nikon D4

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$4500
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A7S vs Nikon D4

Compared to Canon EOS-1D C

Canon 1DX

Canon EOS-1D C

$5299
35mm

$6989
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Headphone jack

Compare Canon 1DX vs Canon EOS-1D C

Sony A7S

Canon EOS-1D C

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

$6989
35mm

Lens selection
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7S vs Canon EOS-1D C

Compared to Nikon D4S

Canon 1DX

Nikon D4S

$5299
35mm

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

$5999
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

Compare Canon 1DX vs Nikon D4S

Sony A7S

Nikon D4S

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$5999
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A7S vs Nikon D4S

Compared to Sony A7S II

Canon 1DX

Sony A7S II

$5299
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

$2398
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Canon 1DX vs Sony A7S II

Sony A7S

Sony A7S II

$1998
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

$2398
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7S vs Sony A7S II

Compared to Leica M (Typ 262)

Canon 1DX

Leica M (Typ 262)

$5299
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$4995
35mm

Thinner
Newer

Compare Canon 1DX vs Leica M (Typ 262)

Sony A7S

Leica M (Typ 262)

$1998
35mm

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$4995
35mm

More pixels
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

Compare Sony A7S vs Leica M (Typ 262)

Compare Other Cameras?