Even while the market for small system cameras is still in its infancy compared to the rest of the camera industry, it can still generate new cameras capable of somewhat disrupting the system.
Sony made its debut in full-frame photography with the release of the Alpha A7 and Alpha A7R simultaneously. It has subsequently succeeded by the Alpha A7 II and the Alpha A7 III, which is now our top pick for a mirrorless camera; nonetheless, it is still on the market and more affordable than ever.
In comparison to more recent models, the Alpha A7’s performance is a little bit sluggish; however, if you’re looking for a very affordable way to get started with full-frame photography, the Alpha A7 (also known as the Sony ILCE7KB by some retailers) is something you should take a look at.
Sony a7 Build Quality
Even while the camera body is quite a bit bigger than NEX cameras, which have an APS-C sized sensor, the A7 is smaller than other full-frame interchangeable lens cameras such as the Nikon D610 or the Canon EOS 6D. This will probably be the first thing you notice about the A7.
Despite this, it still has a substantial grip that provides excellent traction, mainly when operating the camera with one hand. The overall appearance of the camera is quite boxy, which some people may find appealing while others will find it unappealing.
Although it doesn’t have the classic gorgeousness of Fuji’s X system cameras, it does have a particular attraction to those who appreciate straightforward and uncomplicated things. In addition, the camera has a sufficient amount of dials and buttons, which is something that photography lovers, the audience that the camera is trying to appeal to, would be pleased to see.
Sony a7 Performance
The Sony A7 and the Sony A7R are two of the year’s most exciting cameras. They both represent a true advancement in the technology of mirrorless cameras. With the A7 employing the same primary sensor as the Sony Alpha 99, something that we already knew to be a solid performance and for which we had very high hopes, we were extremely excited about both models.
Thankfully, the photographs that the A7 can generate have not left us feeling underwhelmed. Even though it is the less expensive of the two Sony cameras and has a lesser resolution, it is more than capable of competing with the other model regarding image quality.
The colors are rendered accurately and are vivid and punchy while avoiding excessive vibrancy. There are a variety of Creative Styles available to choose from, such as Vivid and Black and White, if you find it necessary to alter the color output of the camera. In addition, the skies are accurately shown and do not exhibit excessive blue tones, while the skin tones are likewise highly realistic.
Sony a7 Image Quality
During this evaluation, the Sony A7 captured photographs of exceptionally high quality. The ISO range of the Sony A7 is rather extensive and highly useable, reaching up to 25,600. ISO 50–1600 is noise-free, while ISO 3200 and 6400 yield more satisfactory results, and even ISO 12,800 and 25,600 are suitable for usage in an emergency. However, the RAW examples show how much processing the camera undertakes by default since they are significantly noisier than their JPEG counterparts across the board, regardless of the ISO value.
The 24-megapixel photographs come out of the camera slightly soft when using the default creative style. For the best results, you should sharpen them some more by utilizing an application such as Adobe Photoshop; alternatively, you may adjust the degree of sharpening that the camera applies automatically. The night shot turned out well thanks to the camera’s maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds and its Bulb mode, which allow lots of room for creative experimentation during nighttime shooting.
A practical Dynamic Range Optimizer function will extract additional data from an image’s shadow and highlight sections without adding any noise or other artifacts that aren’t intended.
The High Dynamic Range mode combines the results of two separate images taken at various exposures into a single image. The result is an image that has a higher dynamic range than what would be produced by a single photograph. However, it does yield some excellent effects even though it can only function with JPEGs and stationary subjects.
Even after all these years, they are using Sony’s Sweep Panorama, which is still a delightful experience. While the many Picture Effects enable you to create unique looks in a short amount of time, which would generally need you to spend a significant amount of time in the digital darkroom, the Creative Styles make it simple and quick to adjust the JPEG photos captured by the camera.
Sony a7 Specs
| Body type | SLR-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 6000 x 4000 |
| Other resolutions | 6000 x 3376, 3936 x 2624, 3936 x 2216, 3008 x 1688, 3008 x 2000 |
| Image ratio w h | 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 24 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 25 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Bionz X |
| Color space | sRGB, AdobeRGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | 100-25600 |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 50 |
| White balance presets | 10 |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Extra fine, fine, standard |
| File format | JPEG (DCF 2.0, EXIF 2.3)RAW (ARW 2.3) |
| Image parameters | Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Autumn Leaves, Black & White, Sepia |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointSingleContinuousFace DetectionLive view. |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Digital zoom | Yes (4) |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 117 |
| Lens mount | Sony E |
| Screen/viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Tilting |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,230,000 |
| Touch screen | No |
| Screen type | Xtra Fine LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.71× |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,359,000 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 sec |
| Exposure modes | AutoProgramAperture priorityShutter priorityManual |
| Scene modes | Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night Portrait, Night Scene, Hand-held Twilight, Anti Motion Blur |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (via Multi Interface shoe) |
| Drive modes | Single, continuous, speed priority constant, self-timer, bracketing (AE, white balance, DRO) |
| Continuous drive | 5.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weighted spot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±5 (3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes |
| Videography features | |
| Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) |
| Format | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
| Videography notes | headphone and microphone ports, XLR support via adapter |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (micro-HDMI port with 4K still, uncompressed video output) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | Yes |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | with NFC and wireless control via the PlayMemories Mobile app |
| Remote control | Yes (wired) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery and charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 340 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 474 g (1.04 lb / 16.72 oz) |
| Dimensions | 127 x 94 x 48 mm (5 x 3.7 x 1.89″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | No |
| GPS | None |
Sony a7 Verdict
The A7 is the best option in terms of price and size. This is a camera for those who like to be on the cutting edge of technology, but it’s a great leap forward, and we’re already excited for the next version.
Although the Alpha 7 is far from perfect, it represents a genuine step forward in camera technology that could mean a significant shift in how we view interchangeable lens cameras. Although, indeed, the Alpha 7 is far from perfect, what it means is a genuine step forward in camera technology.
