Photo: Sony
‘The A7C II takes inspiration from the 33-megapixel A7 IV, while the A7C R draws from the 61-megapixel A7R V.’
Sony Introduces New Models in A7C Series, Offering Lower-Cost Versions of Higher-End Cameras
Sony has recently announced the split of its small form-factor full-frame A7C series into two, providing more affordable alternatives to their higher-end counterparts. This move is similar to what Sony did with the ZV-E1 vlogging camera. The two new models are the A7C II, featuring a 33-megapixel sensor based on the A7 IV, and the A7C R, a miniaturized version of the A7R V with a 61-megapixel sensor. While both models offer key ergonomic improvements, they lack certain features that professionals often consider essential.
Starting with the A7C R, it is an entirely new model that addresses some ergonomic concerns found in previous Sony cameras. It boasts a softer and grippier material, as well as a deeper handle. Additionally, it comes with an add-on grip extension that provides more comfort but compromises its compactness.
Despite these enhancements, the A7C R remains significantly lighter and smaller than the A7R V, weighing only 515 grams compared to the latter’s 723 grams. This makes the A7C R a preferred choice for street photography and other applications. The camera also features a flip-out one-million dot display, a 2.36-million dot OLED electronic viewfinder with improved magnification, and full in-body stabilization with 7.0 stops of compensation. Other notable features include mic/headphone ports, USB-C 3.2, a micro HDMI connector, and a single UHS-II card slot. However, the absence of a backup card slot may be a drawback for professional users concerned about data redundancy.
In terms of photo capabilities, the A7C R closely matches the image quality of the A7R V. It offers 61-megapixel RAW images at up to 8fps, slightly lower than the A7R V’s 10fps. The A7C R also shares the same autofocus system with 693 autofocus points and 79 percent coverage. Additionally, it provides a 240.8-megapixel resolution using Sony’s Pixel Shift Multi-Shot feature.
While the A7C R cannot shoot 8K video like the A7R V due to potential overheating issues, it offers impressive 4K 60p full-frame video with pixel binning and 6.2K oversampled 1.5x cropped 4K 60p video. The camera supports various video recording features, including S-Log3, S-Cinetone, and S-gamut3 Cine, and can shoot up to 120 fps in 1080p mode. Notably, it records 10-bit 4:2:2 sampled video and achieves data rates of up to 600Mbps in XAVC S-I 4K mode.
The A7C R is priced at $3,000, offering a substantial $900 discount compared to the A7R V. It is expected to be available in fall 2023.
Moving on to the A7C II, it shares the same 33-megapixel sensor and several specifications with the A7 IV. The A7C II retains the form factor and weight of the A7C R, providing users with the same additional dial, updated grip, and improved electronic viewfinder. However, it does not include the add-on grip extension in the package.
The A7C II offers faster shooting speeds of 10fps in mechanical or electronic shutter mode. It also benefits from superior autofocus performance compared to the A7 IV, thanks to the inclusion of the same dedicated AI processing unit found in the A7C R and A7R V. Sony promises a 40 percent improvement in animal and bird AF tracking, 60 percent improvement in eye AF, and 20 percent improvement in auto exposure tracking compared to the A7C.
Similar to the A7 IV, the A7C II delivers excellent image quality with sharper photos and impressive low-light capability. However, it may exhibit rolling shutter issues, similar to the A7 IV.
Regarding video capabilities, the A7C II outperforms the A7C R. It provides sharp full-frame 4K 30p video with 7K oversampling or 4K 60p video with a 1.5x crop. The camera supports 10-bit 4:2:2 color sampling, S-Log3, and S-Cinetone, with built-in LUTs available.
The Sony A7C II is available in silver and black, priced at $2,200, which is $300 less than the A7 IV. It offers a better overall package, except for the absence of a second card slot.