Practically three years after launching the Sony a7C, an ultra-compact full-frame mirrorless digital camera, Sony has returned to the sequence with two new cameras, the Sony a7C Mark II and the Sony a7CR.
Sony a7C II: 33-megapixel Sensor and Broad Enchantment
If the unique Sony a7C in 2020 was seen as a smaller and lighter Sony a7 III, the brand new a7C II is the same various to the Sony a7 IV.
Sporting the identical 33.0-megapixel back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor Bionz XR picture processing engine because the a7 IV, the a7C II is designed with images and videography lovers in thoughts.
Sony a7C II
The compact full-frame digital camera guarantees superior autofocus options, efficiency, and high-quality 4K video. Following the lead of current Sony cameras, the a7C II additionally features a devoted synthetic intelligence (AI) processing engine to drive a few of its extra refined picture and video options, together with sturdy topic recognition, real-time monitoring, and AI-based Auto Framing.
Sony a7C II
Regarding autofocus, the a7C II contains 759-point autofocus, with autofocus areas overlaying roughly 94% of the picture space. With full AF/AE monitoring, the a7C II can shoot as much as 10 frames per second utilizing its mechanical or digital shutter.
Talking of the mechanical shutter, the a7C II and a7CR even have digital first-curtain shutters, not absolutely mechanical shutters. That is advantageous for many situations however can sometimes have an effect on the form of the bokeh when utilizing super-fast lenses.
All these specs are the identical because the Sony a7 IV, save for the devoted AI processing unit and the expanded topic detection autofocus. That’s no slight distinction, nevertheless, because the cheaper and smaller a7C II outperforms the a7 IV in autofocus efficiency.
Whereas not particular to the a7C II versus a7 IV dialogue, however quite for the a7C II versus its predecessor, Sony claims that the AI delivers a 40% efficiency enchancment for photographing animals and birds, a 60% enchancment with Eye AF, and a 20% reliability increase for AE.
The a7C II (again) has a special grip and textured overlaying than the a7C (entrance). Maybe the largest change is the addition of a entrance command dial on the a7C II.
The Sony a7C II contains a big selection of different thrilling options, together with superior picture stabilization that guarantees as much as seven stops of compensation when utilizing a lens with picture stabilization, anti-flicker and high-frequency flicker-free taking pictures modes, lossless RAW, Inventive Look presets, in-camera timelapse creation, separate mic and headphone jacks, an improved entrance grip for enhanced ergonomics, and improved dials and controls that supply direct entry to extra digital camera settings. A significant enchancment comes within the type of the entrance command dial, which now provides the a7C II (and the a7CR detailed under) twin command dials, like Sony’s dearer a7-series cameras.
Sony a7C II
As for video options, the a7C II information 4K video with 7K oversampling. The digital camera additionally information 4K/60p video in Super35 format, provides 10-bit 4:2:2 shade sampling, information HLG, contains S-Log3 and S-Cinetone, and permits customers to use LUTs within the digital camera. The a7C II also can shoot video as much as 120p, though solely at Full HD decision. The a7C II additionally contains in-camera timelapse creation options.
Credit score: Sony
The Sony a7C II packs many options in its small, light-weight physique. The digital camera weighs simply 18.1 ounces (514 grams) with its battery and reminiscence card included. Regarding the reminiscence card, the digital camera has only a single UHS-II SD card slot.
The digital camera has a 3.0-type vari-angle LCD with 1.03 million dots. The OLED EVF has 0.7x magnification and a couple of.36M dot decision. Sony says that the viewfinder is sort of as shiny because the EVF featured within the Sony a7R V. The a7C II’s EVF is just not higher-res than the a7C’s, however its magnification is significantly higher — 0.7x versus 0.59x.
Whereas the a7C II’s EVF is similar decision because the a7C’s, it features a increased 0.7x magnification, up from 0.59x.
By the best way, the Sony a7 IV has a bigger, higher-resolution EVF with 0.78x magnification, so that’s one other distinction between the bigger and heavier Sony a7 IV and the brand new a7C II. The a7C II additionally lacks the a7 IV’s devoted autofocus management joystick.
The Sony a7C II is offered physique just for $2,199.99 or in a package with Sony’s 28-60mm zoom lens for $2,499.99. It is a $300 distinction in comparison with the Sony a7 IV physique. The Sony a7C II is offered in grey and black colorways. The Sony a7C II will start delivery this fall.
Sony a7CR: a7R V Sensor in a Compact Physique
Alongside the Sony a7C II, Sony has introduced its first a7CR digital camera. Just like the a7R sequence, together with its most up-to-date iteration, the Sony a7R V, the Sony a7CR provides a high-resolution picture sensor, albeit in a compact package deal.
Sony a7CR
The a7CR guarantees Sony’s finest full-frame mirrorless digital camera picture high quality in a extra petite physique. The transfer to the smaller physique is dramatic. The a7CR provides 53% much less quantity and a 29% weight discount in comparison with the Sony a7R V. The a7CR weighs 18.2 ounces (515g) with a battery and reminiscence card put in.
Sony a7CR
Just like the a7C II, the a7CR features a devoted AI Processing Unit, which drives enhanced topic detection autofocus options, improved monitoring, and Auto Framing for video.
Additionally, just like the a7C II, the a7CR borrows closely from its inspiration — on this case, the a7R V. The a7CR has the identical variety of autofocus factors (693) and the identical autofocus space protection (79%).
The a7C II proven right here and the a7CR features a devoted lever beneath the revamped mode dial. This lever permits the person to shortly swap between picture, video, and sluggish & fast taking pictures modes.
Nonetheless, the a7CR differs from the a7R V relating to taking pictures pace. Whereas the a7R V tops out at 10 fps, the a7CR can shoot as much as eight fps when utilizing its mechanical shutter and 7 fps with the digital shutter. It is a comparatively minor distinction in follow, however it’s cheap to anticipate totally different efficiency regarding the buffer.
Credit score: Sony
Whereas the a7C II boasts improved autofocus in comparison with its sensor sibling, the a7 IV, the a7CR ought to ship virtually similar autofocus efficiency in comparison with its sensor sibling, the a7R V, even when some efficiency metrics differ between the a7CR and a7R V.
The a7C II and a7CR sport a single UHS-II SD card slot.
Contemplating video efficiency, the a7CR appears to be like very like the a7R V on paper, with a major omission. Each cameras supply 4K/60p full-frame video and 6.2K oversampling in Super35. The a7CR additionally provides S-Log3, S-Cinetone, and S-gamut3.Cine. The digital camera information 10-bit 4:2:2 sampled video and might shoot FHD as much as 120p. And just like the a7C II, the a7CR sports activities sturdy timelapse creation options.
Credit score: Sony
A function lacking from the a7CR is the Sony a7R V’s 8K video recording. Whereas 8K video has not but been absolutely adopted, it provides cropping choices that 4K video doesn’t, offering videographers extra flexibility when taking pictures.
As for the physique design, the a7CR is exactly just like the a7C II, which means it has the identical 3.0-type rear show, an similar OLED EVF with 0.7x magnification, and the identical controls. The Sony a7R V, alternatively, sports activities a 3.2-type show and a 9.44M dot EVF.
Sony a7CR
The Sony a7CR can be bought in a body-only configuration for $2,999.99. Just like the a7C II, it will likely be obtainable in black and grey colorways, and can arrive at retailers this fall.
Whereas not exactly a “smaller Sony a7R V” as a consequence of some variations in options and efficiency, the Sony a7C R does supply the identical picture high quality and autofocus for $900 much less. A enjoyable inclusion is that the a7CR contains an elective accent grip that makes the digital camera barely greater, and thus somewhat simpler to carry. For photographers searching for the last word in compact cameras, this included accent can keep within the package deal. The GP-X2 extension grip is $159.99 when bought individually.
