The Sony a7c Review company's first entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera aimed at beginners. I'll tell you now, it's a great camera, but I have some serious concerns about it that prevent me from recommending it above some of the other cameras on the market right now. It's true that full-frame mirrorless cameras are getting more and more popular these days, with competitors like Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, and Sigma offering cameras that cost less than $2,000. I contrasted the three newest cameras—the A7C ($1798), the Nikon Z5 ($1,296), and the Panasonic S5 ($1,997)—in a previous post.
Sony A7c Specifications
- SENSOR: BIONZ X processor, 24-megapixel full-frame BSI CMOS sensor
- LENS MOUNT: Full-frame Sony E (FE)
- IMAGES REMAINING: JPG & 6000x4000 ARW (raw, compressed, or uncompressed)
- VIDEO: S-Log3 Gamma, MP4, XAVC S, 4K 30p, maximum 100 Mbps
- Expandable to ISO 50-204800, ISO: 100-51200
- AUTOFOCUS: Real-time tracking (both photo and video), face/eye detection, and 693-point hybrid autofocus
- SHOOTING SPEED (FPS): Maximum of 10 FPS
- SHUTTER SPEEDS: Flash sync 1/160 seconds, mechanical shutter up to 1/4000 seconds, and 30 seconds to 1/8000 seconds
- Yes, 5-stops, 5-axis IBIS stabilization
- VIEWFINDER: 100% coverage, 0.59x magnification, 2.36 million dots EVF
- LCD: Fully articulating touchscreen with 921K dots
- CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth, wifi, NFC, USB-C, (PD) micro HDMI, microphone, and headphones
- Storage: Supported SD (single slot), HC/XC, and UHS-II
- NP-FZ100, 2280 mAh, 740-shot CIPA rated battery
- BODY CONSTRUCTION: weather-sealed metal alloy
- SIZE: 124 x 71.1 x 59.7 mm, or 4.9 x 2.8 x 2.4 in.
- 509 g (1.1 lb) in weight
- The cost is $1,798 for the body alone, $2,098 for the kit of 28–60mm lenses, and $2,896 for the 24-105mm lenses.
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Review Of The Sony A7c: Who Should Buy It?
Sony a7c review 2023: Upon first glance, the Sony A7C appears to be a full-frame variant of the Sony A6100 or A6400 entry-level model. It adds an internal IBIS (stabilization system) and an external fully-articulating LCD screen, but really? It's actually a full-frame variant of Sony's most entry-level camera.
For certain photographers, this makes the camera one of the smallest and lightest full-frame cameras available. It also implies that those who want to work at a very high level and become extremely proficient may find themselves missing features such as the dual command dials and the dual C1/C2 top buttons, among other things. Could you utilize it for work-related purposes then? Absolutely, yes! So is the A7C the best option for professional photographers who work full-time? No, it's merely a backup or secondary camera that works best with a Sony A7 or A9 series camera.
Features Of The Sony A7c
Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor with 24.2MP Full-Frame; BIONZ X Image Processor; UHD 4K30p Video with HLG/HDR and S-Log3/2
- 15 Dynamic Range Stops
- In-Body Image Stabilisation on Five Axes
- LCD with Vari-Angle Touchscreen
- The smallest full-frame IBIS camera to date
- 10 FPS maximum rate
- 425 contrast-detection points and 693 phase-detection points
Although the Sony a7III and this one have a similar feature set, there are a few minor differences that I will try to cover in this review. I anticipate that many prospective customers will need to carefully analyse which camera best meets their needs, and I will try my best to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed choice in this review.
Sony A7c Autofocus
We really have a more advanced focus system than what we saw in the a7III thanks to the improvements made to real-time tracking over the last few years with the a7C. According to Sony, an enhanced focus algorithm that was taken from the recently released Sony a7SIII enhances the effectiveness of real-time tracking even more. Sony a7c ii release date was 2014. Nowadays, the only time I experience hunting or pulsing is when I'm testing a brand-new lens without the final firmware. Face tracking is flawless when the lenses are dependable.
Kit Lens For Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6
With the a7C, Sony unveiled a new kit lens featuring a retractable zoom mechanism. The FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens, which appears to offer an advantage over lenses with a lower zoom range, a somewhat smaller maximum aperture on the wide end (F4 vs. F3.5), and one without OSS, will probably be replaced by this. But in practise, everything about the older lens—from autofocus to image quality—was utterly unimpressive. The Sony a7c weight is 1.12lb / 17.95 oz.
Sensor Performance Of The Sony A7c
Thankfully, the a7C and a7III share the same 24Mpx Full-Frame illuminated BSI sensor. This sensor features a front-end LSI chip to speed up the camera's reading and processing, as well as a BSI construction that collects more light than traditional sensors. It can record in 14-bit RAW format, either uncompressed or compressed. This provides the a7C with a resolution of 6000 x 4000 pixels, which is enough for many users' needs and a natural resolution for 4K video.
ISO performance
Sony a7c review, the natural range of the Sony a7C is 100–51200, while its extended levels can reach as low as 50 and as high as 204800. I don't test cameras' extended ranges because I've always found that they're primarily there for marketing (with the occasional exception—I'll occasionally use ISO 50 when taking long exposures to obtain an extra shutter speed). As with the a7III, I can confidently state that the a7C is among the best models I have ever evaluated in terms of ISO performance.
Video Performance
With all the benefits of the a7III and a few more, the a7C is a fantastic video camera. Its near-perfect 6K native resolution (6000 x 4000 pixels) allows for easy down sampling to a 4K image with great detail and no "pixel-binning." Additionally, you may shoot in Super 35 Crop mode, which gives you an alternative framing option and the ability to use APS-C lenses—lenses that are specifically made for that crop—without experiencing vignette problems. Both formats are incredibly clean and perform admirably when shooting at high ISOs. When shooting in 4K30, there is a very slight crop, however it is so slight that I am not really aware of it.
Image Quality
These days, 24-megapixel full-frame sensors are widely available and have all been very good for years. They have outstanding dynamic range, remarkably low noise levels, and the ability to shoot at ISOs as high as 6400 or even 12800 for professional work, or possibly ISO 25600 for more relaxed (or emergency) shooting situations. However, 40–60 megapixels has grown more usual and popular these days. Alternatively, some photographers who use 40–60 megapixel cameras have developed the handy habit of setting their Sony camera to “Super-35” mode, which effectively doubles the resolution of their one prime lens.
Design And Durability
Even with its small size and basic ergonomic design, the A7C is nevertheless a reliable, strong camera. It is weather-sealed and has metal in the body structure itself. It's never said whether the A7C has the same superior level of weather sealing as, say, a Sony A9 II or A1, but it's safe to assume that it will endure.
In terms of design, I can see that mobility and a pleasantly comfortable grip are nicely balanced. There may be more buttons and dials on other cameras in this price range (*cough* Fuji X-T4 *cough*), but the grip/thumb ergonomics aren't usually as good.
Features And Customizations
I have previously discussed how feature-rich and flawless the Sony A7C is in this . The feature set is ideal if you take pictures and/or videos of your daily life for vlogging or just unscripted lifestyle photojournalism.
When it comes to customization, the A7C does fall slightly short of expectations. There's no AF point control joystick or front command dial, and fewer "C1" and other buttons than the more expensive A7 and A9 series.
Conclusion
The conclusion about the Sony A7C is straightforward: if you haven't previously used a Sony A7 III and grown to love the ergonomics, let alone an A7R IV or A9/A1, then you'll likely be extremely satisfied with the way the A7C feels in your hand. You'll only get moderately frustrated if you customise the buttons and/or dials a lot and are accustomed to having one or two extra Fn/C buttons and/or dials.
FAQs
Q1. Can an A7C outperform an A7 III?
Ans. Our Opinion. Essentially, the Sony α7C is a smaller version of the Sony α7 III. Because it is newer, it has a few advantages over older models, such as an improved AF tracking algorithm and autofocus system, as well as longer battery life and infinite video recording.
Q2. The Sony a7C: is it full-frame?
Ans. Review of Sony a7C: Small form factor, high sensor image quality...
The newest and smallest full-frame interchangeable lens camera from Sony is the a7C. It fits an APS-C sensor a6600-style body with a 24MP full-frame sensor and image stabilisation.
Q3. Is raw video captured by the Sony a7C?
Ans. Both when shooting in Raw and JPEG, the image quality is outstanding.
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