Sony A7S vs Sigma SD10 Comparison

Camera to replace

Change

Sony A7S

12 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

CHECK PRICE

Change

Sigma SD10

3 MP | APS-C (20.7 x 13.8 mm) CMOS (Foveon X3) Sensor

CHECK PRICE

Sony A7S vs Sigma SD10 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Sony A7S, which was introduced in April 2014 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 12.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Sigma SD10, which was introduced in March 2004 is a Advanced DSLR camera with a 3.0MP APS-C sensor. As you can see, SD10 is 10 years older than A7S. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Despite some fundamental differences of these two body types, Mirrorless cameras are becoming serious alternatives to DSLR cameras thanks to their size/weight advantages and recent improvements in their focus speeds , which makes this comparison even more interesting.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Sony A7S and Sigma SD10 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony A7S Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2014-04-06

12MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 409600

Sony E Mount

3 Tilting Screen

2359k dot Electronic viewfinder

5 fps continuous shooting

4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

120 fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

489g. 127 x 94 x 48 mm

Weather Sealed Body

Sigma SD10 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2004-03-19

3MP - APS-C CMOS (Foveon X3) Sensor

ISO 100 - 800 ( expands to 1600)

Sigma SA Bayonet Mount

1.8" Fixed Type Screen

Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder

continuous shooting

No Video Mode

950g. 152 x 120 x 79 mm

Replaced Sigma SD9 Compare

Sony A7S was replaced by Sony Alpha 7S II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha 7S II vs Sony Alpha A7S
Sony Alpha 7S II vs Sigma SD10

Sigma SD10 was replaced by Sigma SD14. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sigma SD14 vs Sigma SD10
Sigma SD14 vs Sony Alpha A7S

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony A7S and Sigma SD10 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7S over Sigma SD10

Wireless Connection	Built-In vs None	Better connectivity
LCD Screen	Tilting vs Fixed Type	Flexible shooting positions
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution	12 MP vs 3 MP	300% more pixels
Max ISO	409.600 vs 800	51100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size	3 vs 1.8"	1.2 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution	1.230k dots vs 130k dots	846% higher resolution screen
Viewfinder Coverage	100% vs 98%	More accurate viewfinder
Max Mech. Shutter	1/8000s vs 1/6000s	faster mechanical shutter
Weight	489 g vs 950 g	461 g lighter
Microphone Port	Yes vs No	High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port	Yes vs No	better video control
Environmental Sealing	Yes vs No	shoot at tough conditions
Max Video Resolution	3840 x 2160 vs None	Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing	Yes vs No	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection	Yes vs No	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs No	Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Reasons to choose Sigma SD10 over Sony Alpha A7S

Viewfinder Magnification	0.77x vs 0.71x	Larger Viewfinder
Sensor Pixel Area	83.28µm² vs 71.24µm²	16% larger pixel area

Common Strengths of Sony Alpha A7S and Sigma SD10

External Flash Shoe	Yes vs Yes	Better for flash photography
Viewfinder	Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Optical)	Better framing and control
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality

Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha A7S and Sigma SD10

In-body Image Stabilization	No vs No	No Built-in stabilization
Built-in Flash	No vs No	Require external flash
LCD Screen Size	3 vs 1.8"	Small display

Sony A7S vs Sigma SD10: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Sony A7S and Sigma SD10 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony A7S has external dimensions of 127 x 94 x 48 mm (5 x 3.7 x 1.89″) and weighs 489 g (1.08 lb / 17.25 oz) (including batteries). Sigma SD10 has external dimensions of 152 x 120 x 79 mm (5.98 x 4.72 x 3.11″) and weighs 950 g (2.09 lb / 33.51 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony A7S and Sigma SD10. Sony A7S is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 25mm narrower, 26mm shorter and 31mm thinner than Sigma SD10.

Comparison image of Sony A7S and Sigma SD10 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony A7S is significantly lighter (461g ) than the Sigma SD10 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since Sony A7S has a Full frame sensor and Sigma SD10 has a smaller APS-C sensor, Sigma SD10's lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will generally be lighter and smaller than the Sony A7S lenses.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

A7S

SD10

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

A7S

SD10

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

With its weather sealed body, we believe that A7S has a big advantage over SD10 which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony A7S's 3 LCD screen is slightly larger than Sigma SD10's 1.8" screen.

In addition to the size advantage, Sony A7S LCD screen also has a Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels. On the other hand, Sigma SD10 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to A7S.

Sony A7S vs Sigma SD10: Sensor Comparison

Sony A7S has a 12.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. On the other hand, Sigma SD10 has a 3.0MP APS-C (20.7 x 13.8 mm ) sized CMOS (Foveon X3) sensor .

Sony A7S's sensor provides 9MP more than Sigma SD10's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the A7S and SD10 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A7S and Sigma SD10 Cameras

As seen above, Sony A7S has a 3.0x Larger sensor area than Sigma SD10. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Sony A7S vs Sigma SD10 Comparison of Available Lenses

Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that Sony A7S has an advantage over Sigma SD10. There are 122 lenses for Sony A7S's Sony E mount, on the other hand there are only 76 lenses for Sigma SD10's Sigma SA Bayonet lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 30 lenses for Sony E mount and 28 lenses for Sigma SA Bayonet mount with IS.

Lens Type	# of Sony A7S Lenses	# of Sigma SD10 Lenses
Standard Zoom	11 (8 Full Frame)	9
Standard Prime	18 (9 Full Frame)	5
Wideangle Zoom	7 (6 Full Frame)	8
Wideangle Prime	39 (23 Full Frame)	8
Telephoto Zoom	9 (7 Full Frame)	18
Telephoto Prime	18 (14 Full Frame)	8
SuperZoom	8 (1 Full Frame)	9
Wideangle Fisheye Prime	2 (0 Full Frame)	4
Macro Prime	8 (7 Full Frame)	7
Perspective Control Prime	2 (2 Full Frame)	n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime	n/a	n/a
TOTAL	122 (77 Full Frame)	76

What types of Photography are Sony A7S and Sigma SD10 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Sony A7S and Sigma SD10 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony A7S for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Sigma SD10 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Large APS-C (20.7 x 13.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 3.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Sony A7S for Street Photography

GOOD

Sigma SD10 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Large APS-C (20.7 x 13.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
No Live-view
Large Body
Read the details

Sony A7S for Sports Photography

GOOD

Sigma SD10 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
25 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/6000s
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Read the details

Sony A7S for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Sigma SD10 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
489g
Body Thickness 48mm
Read the details

Large APS-C (20.7 x 13.8 mm) sensor
Large Body
950g
Body Thickness 79mm
Read the details

Sony A7S for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Sigma SD10 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Read the details

Large APS-C (20.7 x 13.8 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 3.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
No Live-view
Read the details

Sony A7S vs Sigma SD10: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Sony A7S and Sigma SD10, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony A7S and Sigma SD10 scores compare:

Sony A7S

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #38 out of 85 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #70 out of 1218 in all Cameras

Sigma SD10

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #91 out of 94 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #904 out of 1218 in all Cameras

Sony A7S is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sigma SD10 in all criteria. It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Sony A7S

CHECK PRICE

Sigma SD10

CHECK PRICE

Sigma SD10 vs Sony A7S Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Sony Alpha A7S	Sigma SD10
Brand	Sony	Sigma
Announced	2014-04-06	2004-03-19
Body Type	SLR-style mirrorless	Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Type	CMOS	CMOS (Foveon X3)
Size	Full frame	APS-C
Dimensions	35.8 x 23.9 mm	20.7 x 13.8 mm
Area	855.62mm²	285.66mm²
Megapixels	12 megapixels	3 megapixels
Max Resolution	4240 x 2832	2268 x 1512
Max Native Light sensitivity	409,600 ISO	800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	-	1600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 ISO	100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	25	n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Sony E	Sigma SA Bayonet
Number of Available Lenses	122	76
Screen
Type	Tilting	Fixed type
Size	3	1.8"
Resolution	1,230k dots	130k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Resolution	2,359k dots	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	98%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.71x	0.77x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/8000s	1/6000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	No	No
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync	no built-in flash	1/180s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	5.0 fps	n/a
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	3840 x 2160	None
Video Formats	MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC	n/a
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	489g	950g
Dimensions	127 x 94 x 48mm	152 x 120 x 79mm
Battery Life	360 shots	n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording	With Downloadable App
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	87	not tested
DxO Color Depth	23.9	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	13.2	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	3702	not tested
	Report a correction	Report a correction