Sony Alpha 7C Review

Last Updated on December 6, 2023 by Sharon Advik

Sony Alpha 7C Review:

My Personal View of the Sony Alpha 7C:

I adore shooting people. It’s not only my job; I’m passionate about it.

My employer tasked me with taking exact photos of my model while we were out and about in the city.

I gave it everything I had because my model did an excellent job.

I created this portrait project using my Sony Alpha 7C.

I merely wanted to bring up a point for anyone considering getting a full-frame mirrorless camera.

Who doesn’t know the fundamentals of how to operate a camera?

Since this is my first camera, I’ve taken some photos that I think are excellent portraits.

Although I think it is a bit expensive, believe me when I say it is worthwhile.

Product Description:

With a potent full-frame sensor built inside a small, practical body for everyday use, the Sony A7C offers the best of both worlds.

It’s made up of people who don’t want to sacrifice quality to get things done.

It is built around a BIONZ X image processor and a 24.2MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor.

With 15 stops of dynamic range, pictures and movies can be given a fresh new look.

Utilize your device with confidence in both dim and bright settings due to the enhanced light sensitivity of ISO 50–204800. The 10 fps continuous shooting rate will help you catch the action when working with moving targets.

With video recording resolutions up to 4K UHD at 30 frames per second, the A7C impresses. In terms of autofocus, the A7C isn’t far behind either.

A Fast Hybrid AF system combines 693 phase-detection points and 425 contrast-detection points to deliver nearly instantaneous, precise focusing performance.

The real-time eye AF and tracking AF capability make it even better for use in different conditions.

Utilize the 5-axis in-body picture stabilization to capture breathtaking handheld video.

Specifications:

Brand	Sony
Model Number	ILCE7C/B
Photo Sensor Technology	CMOS
Auto Focus Technology	Phase Detection, Contrast Detection
Effective Still Resolution	24.2 MP
Photo Sensor Size	Full Frame (35mm)
Video Capture Resolution	2160p
Maximum Focal Length	35 Millimeters
Minimum Focal Length	35 Millimeters
Color	Black

Features:

Image Processing with a 24.1MP Full-Frame BSI Sensor:

The full-frame 24.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor, which has a back-illuminated design, works with the BIONZ X image engine to provide high-resolution stills and video while reducing noise and enhancing speed.

This sensor structure works with a gapless on-chip lens design and an anti-reflection coating to increase light collection and improve detail.

The copper wiring layer also accelerates data transmission for producing 14-bit, high-resolution stills with a native sensitivity range of ISO 100–51200 and an additional ISO 50–204800 range.

Versatility in Quick, Continuous Shooting and Recording:

With a mechanical or electronic shutter, the sensor and processor combination allows for quick continuous shooting at up to 10 fps at full quality, for about 115 consecutive raw files or JPEGs, and with full-time AF/AE.

Additionally, it offers full-frame, full-HD 4K internal video recording with a wide dynamic range.

The BIONZ X processor also works with a high-speed front-end LSI to make processing times faster and capture a fantastic 15-stop dynamic range at low-sensitivity settings.

5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization:

Despite the a7C’s slim design, it has a 5-stop effective 5-axis SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilization system that reduces various types of camera shake that can occur when taking still photos and videos with a handheld camera.

This lets users take important pictures with any lens, even ones that have been changed, without worrying about blur from camera shake.

The technology will make pitch and yaw corrections for long focal lengths.

On the other hand, incorporating horizontal and vertical shift compensation will be advantageous for macro and high-magnification pictures.

All shooting techniques will benefit from the roll compensation.

All 5 stabilization axes will always function, even with third-party lenses and adapters or lenses with built-in optical stabilization.

EVF with LCD with Vari-Angle Built-In:

• The a7C is a smart and portable camera for everyday shooting due to its small and light body design and layout, both inspired by rangefinders.

The a7C is similar to an APS-C format camera but 20% lighter and smaller than previous a7-series cameras.

• A weather-sealed design and a magnesium-alloy chassis provide a robust overall build for various environments.

•The large-capacity NP-FZ100 battery provides roughly 740 shots when using the rear LCD and 680 shots when using the EVF on a single charge.

• For quick transfer speeds, a single SD memory card slot is certified to support UHS-II memory cards.

Interfaces and Ports

• A USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C connector enables fast, dependable tethering and simultaneous charging from the host power supply.

• The ECM-B1M Shotgun Microphone and XLR-K3M XLR Adapter Kit, which are optional, provide better, clearer audio recording sound by sending a digital audio signal to the camera rather than an analog signal, and the Multi Interface Shoe supports working with these accessories.

• There are 3.5mm ports for headphones and microphones, allowing for more flexible audio recording.

Mobile Internet Access:

• Because of the built-in Wi-Fi, the a7C can quickly send images to mobile devices for direct online sharing on social networking sites, via email, and to cloud storage sites.

Wireless tethered shooting is also supported due to compatibility with the 2.4 and 5.0 GHz bands.

Acquiring location data is made possible by Bluetooth communication.

• Near Field Communication (NFC) is also supported, allowing for a one-touch connection between the camera and a mobile device.

Once connected, the phone can control the camera’s shutter from a distance and show a live-view image on its screen.

Sony Alpha A7C vs. Sony Alpha A7 IV

The popular A7 series has recently upgraded with the A7 IV, and this fourth version offers several enhancements over the A7 III.

The A7C departed from the A7/A9 design, resembling Sony’s APS-C series more.

With a minor adjustment, the camera is internally a lot more comparable to the A7 Mark 3. Check out how the A7 IV and A7C stack up.

1. Controls and Design: 

The A7C’s design is similar to the A6xxx APS-C series.

The viewfinder is on the left side and is part of the camera’s primary frame rather than sticking out at the top in the middle.

Compared to the A7 IV, the A7C is smaller, lighter, and more portable.

The A7 IV’s bigger size is partly due to the heat dissipation system created to minimize overheating when capturing 4K footage.

A7 IV

: 131.3 x 96.4 x 79.8mm, 658g

A7C

: 124 71.1 59.7mm, 509g

Although the two cameras are weatherproof, the A7 IV’s front, top, and internal frame are made of magnesium alloy, while the A7C’s top, bottom, and rear cover are made of the same metal.

In terms of appearance, the A7C is available in black or silver/black, but the A7 IV is only available in one all-dark color.

Due to its smaller size, the A7C has fewer buttons than the A7 IV.

The front dial, the AF joystick on the back, and the photo/video switch under the main shooting dial are all gone.

Additionally, the A7 IV provides more customization.

Essential parameters like aperture, ISO, and white balance may be set separately for stills and movie mode. All the dials can be customized according to the shooting mode used.

The back monitor can rotate 180 degrees, has a multi-angle mechanism on both cameras, and is touch-sensitive.

The A7 IV also includes the following:

• A new menu structure (compatible with touch sensitivity on the LCD)
• An HDMI port with full size (vs. Micro HDMI on the A7C)
• USB C 3.2 Gen2 10Gbps (vs. A7C Gen1 5Gbps)

Each camera has a microphone input and a headphone output (3.5mm mini-jack).

Digital audio is compatible with their multi-interface shoe.

The two cameras’ batteries are identical (NP-FZ100), but the A7C maintains a higher rating (CIPA): 740 frames compared to 610 for the Mark IV model (when using the LCD screen).

USB power delivery is a characteristic of both cameras.

Slots for memory cards:

The A7 IV supports the simultaneous use of two cards.

The two slots support UHS-II SD cards, while the first slot also supports CFexpress cards (Type A).

The second one is more expensive but has the best buffer and speed for continuously shooting.

The UHS-II standard is compatible with the A7C, which has just one SD card port.

Electronic Viewfinder:

In addition to the EVF’s different placement, which we discussed in the first point, the A7 IV viewfinder is larger and has a higher resolution (3.69M vs. 2.36M dots) (0.5-in vs. 0.39-in OLED panel).

As a result, the A7 mark 4’s eyepoint is longer, and the magnification is also higher (0.78x vs. 0.59x) (23mm vs. 20mm).

They both operate at refresh rates of up to 120Hz.

A photo sensor:

While the A7C and A7 III use the same chip, the A7 IV has a freshly created 33MP sensor (24.2MP).

The Mark 4 model’s sensor lacks an AA filter; both have a BSI construction.

The ISO range is 50 to 204,800 or 100 to 51,200 (normal) (extended).

Compared to the A7C, the A7 IV has a faster BionZ XR processor and a few different settings, including HEIF (HDR) format and lossless compression for RAW files.

Autofocus:

The A7 IV autofocus system employs 425 contrast detection points and 759 phase-detection points.

Additionally, it has real-time tracking and Eye AF, which may record photographs and videos of people, animals, and birds.

693 phase and 425 contrast detector points are present on the A7C.

Real-time tracking and Eye AF are also included, though Eye AF can only find people in video mode and doesn’t work well with birds.

Both cameras have the same low light sensitivity: -4Ev, with an aperture of f/2.

They also use the same video settings for AF Transition Speed and AF Subject Shift Sensitivity to modify the AF’s behavior.

While working in C-AF and Tracking modes, the A7 IV also features an additional setting called AF Assist that enables you to override the autofocus with the focus ring.

Speed and Buffer:

The maximum frame rate for the A7 IV and A7C is 10 per second (with AF and exposure tracking).

However, when compressed RAW (lossy) or JPG is chosen, the A7 IV can operate at that pace.

The speed decreases to 6 fps if lossless compression or uncompressed is turned on.

Also, early reports from people like Gordon Laing suggest you need a CFexpress card for 10 frames per second with compressed RAW.

Another distinction is the capacity to take a particular number of photos at full speed or the buffer memory.

When using the faster CFexpress Type A card, the A7 IV has an excellent rating of over 1,000 frames with JPG or lossy compressed RAW.

Comparatively, the A7C can handle roughly 220 JPGs or 115 compressed RAW.

Video:

These two cameras significantly differ in their movie recording options.

The A7 IV mainly includes the following features that the A7C lacks:

• Internal 10-bit 4:2:2 recording
• Without sensor crop, 4K at 30p
• All-Intra compression up to 600Mbps
• The A7C records in 4K from a 6K area (24/25p) or 5K area, whereas the A7IV uses the equivalent of 7K when recording in 4K with full pixel readout and no pixel binning (30p).
• The Creative Looks, a fresh image profile set that replaces the previous Creative Styles, is also available on the A7 IV (found in the A7C). Instead of the Creative Styles, the Looks are intended for both stills and video. To even out skin tones, there is a Soft Skin Effect mode.
• The Picture Profiles are available on the two cameras for customers who need more refined control or need to match a Sony movie camera.
• The A7 IV also comes with other settings that let you, for instance, decrease focus, breathe, and modify the white balance while recording without the video’s colors abruptly changing.

Five-axis stabilization:

The two cameras include sensor stabilization that utilizes five axes (roll, X, Y, pitch, and yaw).

Compared to the A7C, the A7 IV has a slightly higher compensation rating of 5.5 stops than 5 stops.

So, in theory, you could take a hand-held photo with a shutter speed of 5.5 times (or 5 times) slower than the suggested number.

For example, with a 50mm lens, you could use a shutter speed of 1/50s.

The A7 IV provides an additional “Active mode” setting when recording video.

It takes advantage of the gyro sensor data from the camera to enhance the stabilization outcome.

The field of view is slightly constricted (about 1.1x).

With both cameras, you can use Sony’s Catalyst software to stabilize the video footage after the fact.

This software can get data from the cameras’ gyro sensors and does a better job than the typical warp stabilization in video editing software.

Streaming:

The A7 IV has a good variety of added features. One uses the camera as a webcam with a simple USB connection and no additional software.

You must choose from the menu and attach the camera’s USB cable to your computer. The A7 IV will appear as a video or audio source on your streaming service.

The streaming mode can operate in 4K but at a reduced frame rate of 15p or Full HD up to 60p.

Streaming is also possible with the A7C, but you have less control over the video resolution and must install the Imaging Edge Webcam program on your PC.

Conclusion:

It hasn’t compromised the appearance of quality construction in its downsizing.

Performance-wise, the a7C is essentially an a7 III with improved focusing, which is just about enough to make it competitive. But the a7C’s main selling point is its size and how little it had to give up to get there.

Combined with the retractable 28-60mm F4-5.6 lens, it makes a package much smaller than its predecessors or competitors.

This makes it possible to use the camera to take full-frame pictures in places where you might not have brought a camera before.

However, there are drawbacks: the kit zoom’s focal length and aperture ranges limit your wide-angle capabilities, and you can’t fully utilize the camera’s low-light or narrow depth-of-field capabilities unless you purchase a larger zoom or travel with a second prime lens.

This lessens but does not entirely lessen its universal appeal.

Another obvious trade-off is the tiny, compact camera-like viewfinder and the absence of an AF joystick (not that you’ll need one frequently).

But in exchange, you receive a more portable camera than its competitors, which is equally competent and has a longer battery life—helpful features while you’re on the go.

Although the a7C’s video feature set is reasonable, switching between stills and video to choose the best settings takes far longer on average than on models with similar interfaces.

You might need to adjust the settings for exposure, color, and even touchscreen behavior when going from one shooting method to another.

The Sony a7C does many things right; although the “What we like” column above is brief, it covers the most important factors.

But along with its frequently excellent capabilities, it also inherited many of the a7 III’s flaws, which are becoming increasingly awkward with time (mainly as Sony has addressed some of them in the a7S III but not applied those improvements here).

Because everything must be controlled with your thumb, the a7C is an unrivaled travel companion rather than a camera you shoot for the love of photography.

One of the simplest full-frame cameras to carry around, it will perform admirably in almost every circumstance you put it in, from social to sporting. It becomes more obvious the more you use it.

Compared to:

Sony a7 III: The a7 III is still a compelling camera despite its age, and the choice between these two models mostly depends on your needs.

The AF system of the a7C is superior, with improved subject tracking overall and better integration of eye-AF into the system.

Beyond that, it comes down to choosing between the 7C’s convenient package and the a7 III’s superior controls and viewfinder.

We recommend using the newer model’s superior AF if you’re hesitant.

Nikon Z6 II: The revised Z6 model offers a feature set comparable primarily to the a7C.

It is also a bigger camera that uses the added size to provide more ergonomically pleasing controls and a better viewfinder.

The Nikon does a better job of allowing you to switch from video to stills and back without constantly re-adjust settings than the Sony, despite the Sony’s AF system being more efficient and user-friendly.

The Z6 II may be the best camera if you’re interested in video because it allows you to send 10-bit HLG or LOG footage to an external recorder.

Panasonic DC-S5 – At the risk of repeating ourselves, the Panasonic DC-S5 is substantially less portable than the S5, but it is also more comfortable (and perhaps fun) to use as a camera.

The Panasonic outperforms the S5 in autofocus, but the Sony still comes out as a combination of stills and video cameras.

Canon EOS R6-The R6 is significantly larger and more expensive than the Sony.

The Canon has the best-looking video feature set in its class and provides an experience similar to a DSLR (though the rolling shutter somewhat undermines this).

It mostly comes down to priorities because there isn’t much difference in autofocus performance or image quality between the two cameras.

Although the Sony is easier to carry, the Canon is more excellent for photography due to its smaller size and longer battery life.

Final Words:

The Sony a7C sacrifices very few functions to achieve its tiny size.

Although it has outstanding image clarity and excellent autofocus, the experience is slightly diminished by the viewfinder’s small size.

Although its video and menus aren’t as well done as its competitors, its size and battery life work well together.

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