Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Detailed Comparison

In this article, we’ll be comparing a mirrorless camera to a DSLR; that is the Sony a7S vs Canon 80D. You’ll agree with us that this will be an interesting comparison.

Get the Sony a7S now!	Get the Canon 80D now!

The idea is to see the similarities that these cameras share and also the differences between them. As a result, we’ve compiled those features that you’ll find on both cameras and the ones that you’ll find on only one of the cameras.

However, if you are in a hurry and cannot be in it for the long haul, we recommend the comparison overview and comparison table sections. Those sections contain concise information that you can quickly run through to make a quick decision.

That said, be sure to check out some of our other Sony-Canon comparisons like the Sony a77II Vs Canon 70D and the Sony a6000 vs Canon M5.

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Comparison Overview

Here is a quick overview of what is contained in this review:

Overall Rating Of The Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D

While we consider both cameras good cameras, we actually believe that they each have their areas. The Sony a7S happens to be a really good camera for recording videos. It records 4k videos and can do that in 120 frames per second.

On the other hand, we consider the Canon 80D a decent blend of photography and video. It offers a pretty good picture resolution while including some other features that allow it take a good video.

Rating Of The Features Of The Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D

The Sony a7s is a mirrorless camera while the Canon 80D is a DSLR. As a result, while the Sony a7S doesn’t come with a mirror and comes with an electronic viewfinder, the Canon 80D comes with a mirror and an optical viewfinder.

Furthermore, the Canon 80D is about 0.5 pound heavier than the Sony a7S while also having a 600 shot longer battery life than the Sony a7S.

That said, they actually do have a number of features in coming. We’re looking at the inbuilt wireless connection, the microphone port, the headphone port and the weather sealing.

However, each camera has a couple of features that make it stand out from the other. The Sony a7S has its its 120 frames per second video recording, its really wide ISO range and its fully frame sensor.

On the other hand, the Canon 80D can boast of 24 megapixels, a full-flex touch screen and its top level LCD screen. One last thing. Both cameras do not only share a couple of good factors, they also share the bad. And by this we mean the absence of an image stabilization feature.

Price/Value Ratio – Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D

The Sony a7S costs significantly more than the Canon 80D. We consider the Canon 80D a decently priced camera as we believe the price it goes for matches the value you’ll get out of it.

However, for the value the Sony a7S offers, we believe it could have been more affordable, especially when compared to the Canon 80D.

About The Brands

Sony

Sony is a pretty well-known Japanese conglomerate with products that range in ventures from electronics and entertainment to gaming. It products have, overtime, come to be known for their diversity in types and price range.

Canon

Canon is another well-known Japanese organization, howbeit, with a more streamlined range of products. Canon basically only has its hands in the imaging and optics industry and if its products are anything to go by, the focus is really working for it.

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Comparison Overview

	Sony a7S	Canon 80D
Weight	1.08 pounds	1.6 pounds
Dimensions	5 by 3.7 by 1.89 inches	5.5 by 4.1 by 3.1 inches
Battery Life	360 shots per charge	960 shots per charge
Continuous Shooting	5 frames per second	7 frames per second
Built-In Flash	No	Yes
Articulating Screen	Tilting	Fully articulated
Max Resolution	12 megapixels	24 megapixels
Viewfinder	Electronic	Optical
ISO	100 to 409600	100 to 16000 and can be expanded to 25600

Get the Sony a7S now!	Get the Canon 80D now!

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Which Is Better Under What Circumstance?

Sony a7S	Canon 80D
If you are in the market for a camera that can do the serious video recording stuff, consider getting this camera. It records 4k videos.	On the other hand, if you’ll be doing more photography, consider getting this camera. It has the higher max resolution.
Also, if you’ll be traveling a lot with your camera, you might want to consider getting this one because it is the lighter camera.	Also, consider getting this camera if you are on a tight budget as it is the more affordable camera.

Get the Sony a7S now!	Get the Canon 80D now!

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Common Features

This is the section where we see how similar the Sony a7S is to the Canon 80D. As a result, we’ve compiled those features that you will find in both cameras. Note though, that while some of these features will be exactly the same, some others will be slightly different.

1. Viewfinder

First off, we have to point out that as far as similarities go, both the Sony a7S and the Canon 80D come with a viewfinder. We consider this an important thing to point out because not all mirrorless cameras come with an inbuilt viewfinder.

Actually with those that do not, you usually have two options. First off, you can rely on the LCD screen, which, as we pointed out earlier, gets to receive the digital image sent by the sensor too. However, images on the LCD screen could be difficult to see if you are in a too brightly lit.

The other option is for you to get an external viewfinder. Mirrorless cameras that come without an inbuilt viewfinder usually come with a viewfinder port. This is the better option though, if you ever decide to go for a camera that comes without a viewfinder.

That said, we need to point out that the Sony a7S has an electronic viewfinder while the Canon 80D has an optical viewfinder.

2. Articulating Screen

First off, both the Sony a7S and the Canon 80D have an articulated screen. Now, what is an articulated screen? An articulated screen is basically the kind of screen that can be angled in certain directions without necessarily moving the camera body itself.

The basic idea is for you capture your subjects from different interesting angles. Now, there are basically two types of articulating screen; the tilting screen and the full-flex screen.

With the tilting screen, which the Sony a7S comes with, you can only move the screen upward and then back down again. However, the angles to which you can tilt a tilting screen differ from camera to camera.

On the other hand, the full-flex screen, which the Canon 80D has, can be rotated such that the LCD is fully turned around. This way, such camera can be used to snap or record oneself.

Furthermore, the screen of both cameras measures a decent 3 inches. However, of the two cameras, only the Canon 80D has a touch screen.

3. Flash Shoe

While only one of these cameras comes with an in-built flash, both of them come with a shoe for an external flash. You’ll appreciate the availability of this shoe if you are ever in a place with bad lighting.

Attaching an external flash to your camera will provide that quick fix for a bad light situation. The external flash will also come in handy if you have to do something like flash photography.

4. Wireless Connection

In keeping with this digital age, both the Sony a7S and the Canon 80D come with an in-built wireless connection. With the way the whole world seems to be online, it becomes imperative to stick with devices that can guarantee you that online connection.

Granted, a good number of digital cameras allow for this internet connection. However, while some (like the cameras in this review) have this feature built in, you’ll have to get an external device for some other cameras.

Moving on, you need to know that the in-built wireless connection is not just good for online connection. You can actually make transfers from the camera to some other connected device via this connection.

Additionally, both cameras have the Near Field Communication connection. As a result of this feature, either camera can connect with other devices that are also NFC enabled. And via this connection, files can be transferred from one device to the other.

Finally, both cameras can be smartphone controlled. You’ll need to download the appropriate app for this and then connect said smartphone to said camera via said app. Once that is done, you can take your snapshots and do some other controlling from your smartphone.

Get the Sony a7S now!	Get the Canon 80D now!

5. RAW Support

This one is basically about the format in which pictures taken can be stored. Typically, photos either get stored as jpeg or as RAW and both cameras allow for both formats.

Photos saved as jpeg usually have their quality somewhat dumbed down, however, they usually do not take up so much space. On the other hand, RAW photos usually maintain their original quality (which is why people like it) but take up quite some space.

6. Microphone Port

Basically every digital camera you’ll ever come across has an in-built microphone. Why? Because they are designed to not only take photographs but also record videos. And if they will record videos, they need something to record the sounds, hence, the in-built microphone.

However, most times, the in-built microphone isn’t anything to write home about. It ends up recording more than you bargained for in the form of noise. And when you play back what you’ve recorded, you’re not happy with the results.

This is why, some cameras come with a microphone port. So, instead of using the microphone that the camera is built with, you get an external microphone that is able to focus on the sounds you want it to capture and forget about the distractions. Thankfully, both cameras have a microphone port.

7. Headphone Port

This is another feature that comes in handy when you are recording a video and not necessarily when you are taking snapshots.

Just like the in-built microphone, basically every digital camera comes with its own built-in stereo. And just like the in-built microphone, the in-built stereo isn’t much to write home about. If you try to playback what you’ve recorded via the stereo system, you’ll probably not like the quality you hear.

Thankfully, both cameras come with a headphone port. And as a result, you can attach a decent pair of headphones to your camera and enjoy your feedback how it is meant to be enjoyed.

8. Weather Sealing

When we say a camera is weather sealed, it almost always means that it is dust resistant, water resistant, waterproof or all three. The Sony a7S is both dust and water resistant while the Canon 80D is waterproof.

A camera that is water resistant can’t be used underwater. It can, however, be used in a light drizzle might not fall apart if a little water splashes on it.

On the other hand, a waterproof camera can be used underwater without restrictions. So, while both cameras have their use in certain weather conditions, the Canon 80D is the better prepared camera for the elements.

9. Time-Lapse Record

When you set your camera to time-lapse record, the camera basically records in a lower frequency than is normal. Now, when you playback the recorded video, it actually runs faster than a regular video would. This time-lapse record feature actually helps you do a little bit of creative shooting.

That said, the Canon 80D comes factory fitted to allow for this time-lapse recording. However, with the Sony a7S, you’ll have to download an app for this feature.

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – A Sony a7S Demonstration Video

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Unique Features

In other to help you appreciate the difference between the Sony a7S and the Canon 80D, we’ve put together in this one section the features that you’ll see in one camera but not the other.

We’ve also included those features that are in both cameras but are so vastly different that they cannot be considered similar.

1. Mirrorless Vs DSLR

This is, perhaps, the most significant difference between the Sony a7S and the Canon 80D. We already pointed out in the introduction, that the Sony a7S is a mirrorless camera while the Canon 80D is a DSLR. Now what is the implication of all these?

Typically, a DSLR comes with a mirror and an optical viewfinder while the mirrorless camera doesn’t. Here is how things work.

When you click your shutter button to take a shot on your DSLR, light passes through the lens and hits the mirror. Now from the mirror, said light splits up. Part of it hits the Autofocus Sensor while the other hits the optical viewfinder.

On the other hand, with the mirrorless camera, light passes through the lens and goes on straight to the sensor since there is no mirror. The sensor then sends a digital image to the electronic viewfinder (which is the replacement for the optical viewfinder) or the LCD screen.

Now, because mirrorless or DSLR is basically what a camera is, it usually accounts for a number of features including weight.

2.  Weight

First off, allow us point out that neither camera will be winning any awards for the most lightweight camera on the market. However, we cannot exactly call them the heaviest either.

That said, the Sony a7S weighs about 1.08 pounds while the Canon 80D weighs about 1.6 pounds. And while they can both be said to be of decent weight, the Sony a7S is obviously significantly lighter than Canon 80D.

This weight difference could, for us, be difference between the camera we take with us on a hike and the one we use when we don’t need to move much. However, the preferred weight of a camera is, more often than not, a personal thing. So, we’ll leave you to make that decision.

Before you make that decision though, do not forget to factor in the weight of the lenses. You will be attaching a lens to your camera to take a picture or record a video. So, the weight is of absolute importance.

However, because this is a comparison article, we won’t be going through the weight of the individual lenses that each camera comes with. Instead, we’ll look to the sensor which will give us an idea of the weight and size of lens each camera will need as against the other.

That said, the Sony a7S has a full frame sensor while the Canon 80D has an APS-C sized senor. As a result, the Sony a7S would need lenses that are longer and heavier than those of the Canon 80D is both cameras are using a similar aperture and focal length.

Thus, the lenses could be significant enough to make the Sony a7S almost as heavy, if not as heavy, as the Canon 80D.

3. Battery Life

Now, this is one feature that is consistent with the types of cameras we have; most times anyway. Now, we are not saying that the type of camera is responsible for the battery life. However we’ve found out overtime that mirrorless cameras are more likely to have a short battery life than a DSLR.

Of course, there have been a lot of exceptions, however, neither of the cameras in this review falls into the category of the exceptions. The Sony a7S can take 360 shots per charge while the Canon 80D can take 960 shots per charge.

While neither battery life is the longest of their kind, we consider the desirable battery length to be another feature that is relative. Depending on what you need your camera for, you might actually find that you are OK with 360 shots before your camera needs to be charged.

4. ISO Range

This one tells us how sensitive your camera is to light; that is, how much light it can take in. Typically, when you set your camera to a high ISO, it is more sensitive to light.

This means that it can take in more light than when it is set otherwise. And this makes a high ISO the preferable setting for when you are in a not-properly-lit place. With a high ISO, the camera basically tries to compensate for the poor light by letting in as much light as it can.

On the other hand, a low ISO forces the camera to let in as little light as possible. This is what you want the camera to do if your setting is too brightly lit. Now, knowing all these, you will agree with us that having a wide ISO is a plus. Because this way, you have room for maneuverability.

That said, the Sony a7S has the more impressive ISO range which is between 100 and 409600. On the other hand, the Canon 80D has an ISO range that is between 100 and 16000 but can be expanded to 25600.

5. Frames Per Second

Here we are trying to see how many frames either camera can take in one second. First off, there is the continuous shooting mode where the camera can take more than one still shot in just one second and with one click of the shutter button.

That said, neither camera exactly has a very impressive continuous shooting rate with the Sony a7S offering 5 frames per second and the Canon 80D offering 7 frames per second. However, the Canon 80D does boast a faster continuous shooting rate than the Sony a7S.

Furthermore, we look at recording videos and this one area where the Sony a7S has the upper hand. With the Sony a7S, you can get 120 frames per second of high speed video while the Canon 80D offers only 60 frames per second.

Since we are also talking about recording videos, note that both the Sony a7S and the the Canon 80D have a video resolution of 1920 by 1080.

Get the Sony a7S now!	Get the Canon 80D now!

6. Picture Resolution

This one basically tells us about the quality of pictures that the camera can take. With the Sony a7S, you get 12 megapixels while the Canon 80D offers 24 megapixels.

With the resolution that both cameras offer, you can actually get really decent pictures. However, unlike with the Sony a7S, the Canon 80D will give you your pictures in large details and will even allow you crop.

7. Flash

Of the two cameras, only the Canon 80D actually comes with an in-built flash. Now, you already know that both cameras come with an external flash port and that will actually be good enough for what you need to do.

However, it sure doesn’t hurt to have something extra and especially something that will always be there.

8. Top Level LCD Screen

This particular screen is smaller than the regular LCD screen and is usually used as a control panel. From this screen, you can get vital shooting information and change settings too. That said, of the two cameras, only the Canon 80D comes with this screen that makes change of settings easier.

9. Memory Card Support

Basically every digital camera saves its photos in a memory card that is slotted into the camera. There are different kinds of memory cards with the SD card being the most common. However, the Ultra-High Speed memory is very selective and is not compatible with all kinds of cameras.

The Ultra-high Speed memory card allows for transfer of files in ultra-high speed. So, you can see what the appeal is. That said, of the two cameras in this review, only the Canon 80D is compatible with an Ultra-High Speed memory card; the UHS-I to be precise.

10. Available Lenses

The Canon 80D has more lenses available to it than the Sony a7S. With the Sony a7S, you can pick from the 102 available lenses, 59 of those being full frame lenses. On the other hand, the Canon 80D has 319 lenses available to it which is 217 more than you can get with the Sony a7S.

Furthermore, neither the Sony a7S nor the Canon 80D has an image stabilization feature. As a result, both cameras could produce blurry pictures if said pictures where taken when the camera was in motion or jolted.

That said, both cameras come with optical stabilization lenses; the Sony a7S comes with 23 lenses while the Canon 80D comes with 91 lenses.

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – A Canon 80D Demonstration Video

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Unique Pros

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Pros Of The Sony a7S

• We’ll start by saying that the Sony a7S is the lighter of the two cameras.
• Furthermore, the Sony a7S has a higher video resolution than the Canon 80D.
• Also, being that the Sony a7S has a full frame sensor, it has a bigger pixel area than the Canon 80D.
• The Sony a7S has a wider ISO range than the canon 80D.
• Finally, the Sony a7S has a higher screen resolution (1230k dots) than the Canon 80D (1040k dots).

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Pros Of The Canon 80D

• The Canon 80D has a higher max resolution than the Sony a7S.
• Furthermore, the Canon 80D offers more focus points (45) than the Sony a7S (25).
• Also, the Canon 80D comes with a top level LCD screen while the Sony a7S doesn’t.
• The Canon 80D has the longer battery life of the two cameras.
• Furthermore, the Sony a7S supports the use of the UHS-I memory card while the Sony a7S does not.
• Also, the Canon 80D comes with an in-built flash.
• The Canon 80D has more lenses available to it than the Sony a7S.
• Finally, the Canon 80D is the more affordable of the two cameras.

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Unique Cons

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Cons Of The Sony a7S

• The Sony a7S doesn’t have a very impressive max resolution.
• Furthermore, the Sony a7S doesn’t have as impressive a battery life as the Canon 80D.

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Cons Of The Canon 80D

• The Canon 80D does not have as impressive an ISO range as the Sony a7S.
• Also, you can’t take 4k videos with the Canon 80D.
• Furthermore, the Canon 80D does not have as wide a pixel area as the Sony a7S.

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Common Pros

	Sony a7S	Canon 80D
Articulating Screen	The Sony a7S comes with a tilting screen which makes it easier to take shots of a subject from different angles.	Same as the Sony a7S. However, instead of a tilting screen, the Canon 80D has a full-flex screen.
Flash Shoe	The Sony a7S comes with a flash shoe to which you can attach an external flash for use in time when the lighting could be improved upon.	Same as the Sony a7S.
RAW Support	The Sony a7S allows for photos to be saved in the RAW format.	Same as the Sony a7S.
Wireless Connection	Furthermore, the Sony a7S comes with an inbuilt wireless connection which allows you access to the internet and even allows you transfer files to other devices. Also, the Sony a7S is NFC enabled and so can connect to and transfer files to other devices that are also NFC enabled. Finally, the Sony a7S can be controlled from a smartphone.	Same as the Sony a7S.
Viewfinder	The Sony a7S comes with its own electronic viewfinder.	The Canon 80D also comes with its own inbuilt viewfinder. However, it is optical.
Microphone Port	Also, the Sony a7S comes with a microphone port which allows for good audio recording.	Same as the Sony a7S.
Headphone Port	The Sony a7S comes with a headphone port that allows for noiseless playback of recorded audio.	Same as the Sony a7S.
Weather Sealing	Finally, the Sony a7S is both dust and water resistant.	Same as the Sony a7S. However, the Canon 80D is also waterproof.

Get the Sony a7S now!	Get the Canon 80D now!

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Common Cons

	Sony a7S	Canon 80D
Image Stabilization	The Sony a7S doesn’t have an inbuilt image stabilization. As a result, photos could come out looking blurry if you so much as shake the camera. However, you could balance things out by getting optical stabilization lenses.	Same as the Sony a7S.

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – What People Think About Both

Sony a7S	Canon 80D
The Sony a7S has a mix of different reactions about its body and performance. However, it is basically general consensus that this camera does a fantastic job of taking great shots in low light. According to one customer, the ISO can be set so high that you can take pictures with the a7S without needing to turn on the flash. The 120 frames per second of video recording to lead people to the conclusion that the Sony a7s is more of a video recording video.	One thing that a good number of people like about this camera is its articulating screen which is also touch sensitive. People, especially those who do a lot of their own video recording, like that the screen can be rotated to face whoever is recording, making it easier for one to record oneself. People also like the image resolution of the Canon 80D is really great. In fact, one customer describes this camera as a good fit for anybody in any level of photography expertise; beginner, semi-pro and even pro.
This is especially because of the fact that this camera only offers 12 megapixels. As a result of all these, a good number of customers seem to be more satisfied with this camera as a backup camera than as the major source of livelihood.	However, there are those that are not happy that this camera cannot record 4k videos. Some people actually decided to settle, especially because there are other things they enjoy. However, some others are not having any of that.

Get the Sony a7S now!	Get the Canon 80D now!

Sony a7S Vs Canon 80D – Our Take

Sony a7S	Canon 80D
We like the Sony a7S. However, like a good number of people have said, we prefer it as a video camera than as a phot camera. Like, look at it! It can record videos in 120 frames per second. However, its max resolution isn’t the most professional you can get. There are other things we like about this camera including the fact that it is weather sealed and has a tilting screen.	We also like the Canon 80D and consider it the better bend of video and photography. It has a decent max resolution which means you can take decent pictures with the camera. Furthermore, while doesn’t take 4k videos, it does come with a microphone port and a headphone port which will allow you record good videos at the very least. There are a number of other things we also like about this camera including the fact that it comes with a full-flex screen, inbuilt wireless connection and is weather sealed.
There are also a number of other things we do not like about the Sony a7S as we have already mentioned. However, if this is still the camera you’ve decided to go for, get the Sony a7S now!	There are also a number of things we do not like about this camera which we have already listed. However, if you still want to go for this camera, get the Canon 80D now!