The Sony A7S may seem confusing at first sight: anyone who nowadays equipped a system camera with “only” 12 megapixels may risk a critical view, because of the comparatively moderate resolution, but this ensures a considerable potential for shooting in low light – Especially if it is like the Sony Alpha 7S a brand new 12.2 MP full-format sensor.
Noise pictures
With it, the Sony A7S is an interesting counterpoint to the two first A7 full-size models, which are based on the double or even triple rated resolution - the A7 works with 24, the A7R without low-pass filters even with 36 megapixels
Contrast Autofocus
The Sony A7S is about other qualities, such as good image quality at high speeds, an extended ISO range up to ISO 409.600 (A7 / A7R: max ISO 25 600) and a contrast autofocus over the A7R, better with low light situations And moving objects.
New 4K video function
In addition, Sony introduces the A7S the 4K video function for quadruple full HD resolution into the Alpha system. Sony is not stubborn, however, with modifications to the design, the operating concept and the equipment such as the OLED viewfinder, the adjustable 3-inch monitor and the wireless communication function via WLAN / NFC. Whoever wants to keep the three A7 variants apart? To the type designation at the front.
Picture gallery
This is not a laboratory test, but a practice test because we had only a pre-production device available - detailed results follow as soon as final specimens are on the market. Then the image quality, especially with higher ISO figures, is at the center of our interest. Finally, Sony promises "extremely low-noise images", because the individual pixels of the A7S with a diameter of 8.4 instead of only 4.9 (A7R) and 6 μm (A7) more light capture and the camera therefore the signal less massive amplification .
In fact, the results of the pre-production device look promising: in the case of higher sensitivities, two to three ISO stages can be obtained in comparison to the A7R, and in the lower ISO range, the images of the Sony A7S look somewhat more natural, softer. How many blinds you gain with the S against an R, however, can only be assessed with a series model, because image quality and tuning can change to the A7S market maturity.
The fact that the A7S sets on less, but on larger pixels than the two sibling models, also brings advantages for fade-out: Thus with it only with a favorable aperture of f13.8 diffraction losses occur, with A7 / A7R already starting from f9,8 / f8. With the S, you can extend the sharpening depth - provided the lens plays with.
Sony equips the A7S with a modified variant of the 25-field contrast autofocus of the A7R. Both in good light conditions and during the blue hour, the pre-production device hardly made any mistakes and focused noticeably faster than the A7R. Apparently, Sony has approached the problem with the long release delay (A7R: 0.44 / 0.81 s at 1000/30 Lux) and made progress.
As for the AF setting options, there is no significant news. The Sony A7S also offers next to the automatic measuring field, a center and a spot measurement, facial, smile detection and a lot more. If you want to focus manually, you can display a magnified view and highlighted edges ("Focus Peaking")
After the Panasonic GH4 can now also Sony's A7S 4K-Videos with 3840 x 2160 pixels record. It uses the XAVC-S decoupled from the XAVC-Profiformat and allows a 4: 2: 2 recording with 50 MBit / s. However, it does not store the 4K clips on the memory card, but only on a hard drive via a 4K recorder connected via HDMI.
For example, the Sharp 4-in-1 4K Pro Apple 7-inch Pro Rs 7 "cost around 1,450 euros - too much to try out the 4K option for fun Code>
Well, the A7S also created decent full-HD videos with 24 to 60 full-frames per second. According to Sony, the camera reads all pixels of the sensor. The continuous sharpening function worked in the test together with the Sonnar FE 1.8 / 55 mm ZA quite inconspicuously and accurate, had only problems with abruptly changing motive distance.
Practical: If the user starts the video recording directly from one of the photo modes via the red button, the manual settings of the aperture, shutter speed and ISO number (ISO 200 to 409 600) remain effective
Magnesium housing
The sealed, 480 g light and surprisingly compact magnesium housing takes Sony more or less unchanged from the A7R. It is good in the hand and makes a solid impression. As usual, the 3-inch monitor can be turned 90 degrees upwards and downwards by approximately 45 degrees, but the large electronic OLED viewer shows a clear, coherent picture, but a slight jerking of the camera is also possible This may be due to the pre-production status.
As in the A7 and the A7R, Sony in the A7S neither pop-up flash nor sensor-shift image stabilizer, and the trigger noise is quite loud compared to other mirrorless system cameras.
Controls
However, the short run-time of the lithium-ion battery is still a problem, according to the manufacturer, according to the CIPA standard, it is 320 in the viewfinder and 380 in the monitor.
In addition, there are currently only five FE-lenses suitable for the E-mount bayonet, which are expected for the KB format: two from Sony and three from Zeiss with focal lengths between 24 and 200 mm. Another full-size zoom FE 4 / 28-135 mm is announced. Alternatively, one can also use the E-mount lenses developed for NEX cameras, but the A7-Vollformater then switch to the APS-C format and reduce the resolution. The A-lenses require an optional adapter.
In spite of its wide range of setting options, A7 cameras can be used effectively and comfortably, as long as the function of the many buttons and wheels is already internalized.
Conclusion
In addition to the usual mode wheel, which makes the standard exposure (auto, P, A, S, M) and motif programs, the swingpanoramamodus and two user profiles easily accessible, there is a universally applicable dial for the thumb and thumb. In addition, there is a wheel for the exposure correction, which, however, only provides settings from -3 to +3 frames.
If you want to use the entire range from -5 to +5 iris, you have to set the wheel to position "0", press the Fn button to open the speed menu and adjust the exposure compensation, or press the confirmation button to enter the appropriate sub-menu Change the parameter directly in the quick menu with the slightly too soft wheel of the four-directional rocker.
In the menu, Sony adheres to a simple, but all the clearer layout with six horizontally aligned registers. A total of 26 pages, each with a maximum of six entries, can be recorded at a glance. Despite the many options, the menu navigation is easy to navigate - thanks to the dials, from the front to the vertical (shifting), the backward to the horizontal scrolling (register and page change)
A full-size sensor in a sleek, sealed housing, a generous range of features including WLAN, a good OLED viewfinder and fold-out monitor - all go almost unchanged from the first two models of the A7 series to the A7S >
While the A7 and A7R have a high limit resolution, the A7S scores with its 12.2 megapixel sensor especially in low ambient light and higher sensitivities - the results of the pre-production device are already very promising
The modifications at the contrast autofocus seem to have succeeded, it worked in the test even at night astonishingly accurate and compared to the A7R faster. If you want to use the 4K video function, you have to grab the accessory equipment deep into the pocket. Criticisms are the still quite clear FE-lens assortment and the short recharge time - which can change with the serial model.
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