With the three mirrorless Sony A7 series cameras, Sony proves that the advantages of a large full-format sensor can be realized with a 475 g lightweight, 4.8 cm slim system camera housing. A7, A7R and A7S are the same as each other, the same as the other, differed primarily by their nominal resolution and the autofocus: the best in the trio, the A7 for around 1500 euros, works with 24 megapixels and a hybrid autofocus Code>
Housing
The Alpha 7R for around 2100 euros is Sony's specialist for high resolution, with 36-megapixel sensor without low-pass filter an interesting, much more compact and cheaper alternative to the D810. It does not, however, like the A7 on a hybrid, but on a contrast autofocus. The same applies to the third party, the A7S for around 2400 euros. As a full-size camera with only 12 megapixels, it is a perfect counterpole to the A7R and promises outstanding picture quality in low light and high ISO settings up to ISO 409 600 - the goals they have with the two professional housings Canon EOS-1D X and Nikon D4s
Searcher and Monitor
The innovative, junior A7er system still has a catch: At the moment, there are only five full-size E-mount lenses, the FE 3.5-5.6 / 28-70 mm, the Zeiss Sonnar T * The Zeiss Vario-Tessar T * FE 4 / 24-70 mm ZA OSS and the FE 4 / 70-200 mm G OSS At prices between 500 and 1500 euros. Of course, all other E-bayonet lenses (formerly known as NEX) calculated for APS-C models can also be used, but the three full-format cameras then switch to the APS-C format according to the picture circle and reduce the resolution. A-bayonet lenses (the former Minolta bayonet) can only be connected via the optional adapter LA-EA4 (about 350 euros).
Autofocus and Performance
The housing, which is made mainly of magnesium alloy, measures only 3.3 cm without or 4.8 cm with the slip-resistant coated handle. The Alpha is comfortable to hold and to handle, because it weighs only 620 with the fixed focal length FE 2,8 / 35 mm, with the kit zoom FE 3,5-5,6 / 28-70 mm only 764 g . Based on the SLR design, the alphas have their viewfinder bobbins directly above the optical axis, although this is an electronic viewfinder that is independent of the position.
Exposure Metering
Although Sony completes the case, the splash protection on the battery and memory card bay is less trustworthy than on the EOS-1D X, D4s, D810 and Df. SDHC / XC or MS-Pro-Duo cards serve as storage media. There is no flash-out flash and sensor-shift image stabilizer.
One of the biggest drawbacks of the A7er series is the weak battery NP-FW50, which with 1080 mAh according to the CIPA standard is only for 340 (A7, A7R) and 380 shots per load (A7S), who shoots with an electronic viewfinder, Must have an even shorter runtime. To recharge the A7 and the A7R is a power supply without charging indicator, the A7S additionally a decent battery charger. Practical: All three alphas have integrated the WLAN / NFC module for wireless data transmission in the housing.
Unlike Canon and Nikon, Sony has an adjustable monitor in its three full-size cameras: it can be turned 90 degrees upwards and about 45 degrees downwards - this does not help for self-portraits, but in the case of overhead and ground-level recordings And especially when shooting. With 307,200 RGB pixels, the display provides a decent picture, but it loses quality relatively quickly in the sunlight and from the side.
As soon as the eye sensor detects an object in its vicinity, the alphas automatically switch from the monitor to the viewfinder mode. On the one hand practical, sometimes however also disturbing: The cameras respond thereby very sensitive and leave often also the monitor display disappear, if one one of the neighboring controls.
Alternatively, the photographer can disable the eye sensor in the Finder / Monitor system menu and manually switch from the monitor to the large, high-resolution 100% viewfinder with an effective 0.71x magnification. Compared to the clear, clean image of a SLR-Pentaprismaucher, a slight flicker and minimal jerking in the camera pan is noticed here. To do this, the live view image includes an exposure preview and allows manual focus through the viewfinder.
While Sony considers the two more expensive models 7R and 7S with a 25-field contrast autofocus, an additional 117-point phase detection at the recording sensor is added in the Alpha 7. It is not a matter of course that this hybrid solution is able to increase its tempo with good light conditions: at 1000 lux, it dissipated in the laboratory after 0.29 s, the 7R needed 0.44 s, and the 7S again longer Code>
In the case of low ambient light, on the other hand, the 7S is 0.46 s ahead, followed by the A7 with 0.73 s and the A7R with disappointing 0.81 s. The switch-on delay is also 1.8 (A7) to 2.5 s A7S) are too long, and the sonys do not just glow with a fade speed of 3.6 (A7R), 4.5 (A7) and 5.0 B / s (A7S). The autofocus can be configured in a variety of ways.
In addition to the automatic measuring field, there is, for example, a spot measurement, the AF point of which can be displaced with the thumb (horizontal) and pointer finger (vertically) on the image field and can be increased or decreased in three steps by rotating the four-directional switch wheel. There is also a facial and a three-step adjustable smile recognition. In manual focusing, a magnifying glass view and a focus peaking function can be provided on request. Although the Sonys does not fold a mirror, the sound is comparatively noisy, especially the A7R.
The exposure metering is carried out on 1200 zones with a measuring sensitivity range from EV0 to EV20 (A7, A7R) or EV3 to EV20 (A7S). In addition, fast shutter speeds of up to 1/8000 s and a flash sync time of 1/250 s (A7, A7S) or 1/160 s (A7R) are supported. In addition to the modes Auto, P, A, S and M, nine motif programs are available, including one for portrait, sports and macro shooting. In addition, there are setup options such as panpanorama and two user-defined program memories on the mode dial.
Video function
As the only candidates in this test, the Sony-Vollformater the focus during the filming quite inconspicuously and more accurate. They also adapted the exposure for us to a large extent, without disturbing brightness changes, provided the conditions did not change too quickly. Practically also, that the video recording can be started easily by push-button printing and the manually adjusted recording parameters remain effective. The dedicated video mode is only needed to control the sound in 32 levels and to display the level in the thumbnail.
The films of the A7S are sharp, natural, hardly rushing and show quite a good dynamics. Compared to this, the A7R's videos show more noise and artifacts, and the A7 also makes a fuzzy impression. As a special feature, the A7S can create high-resolution 4K videos with 3840 x 2160 pixels and uncompressed in XAVC-S format with 4: 2: 2 color scanning via an external 4K recorder to hard disk. A compressed output of the 4K files on memory cards is not provided.
Operating concept
Inputs are made exclusively using classic controls, there is no touch screen, but a whole series of setting wheels. Among them are the non-lockable mode and the detent exposure correction wheel with a setting range of -3 to +3 stops. The dialwheels on the front and rear of the case, which are easy to reach for index fingers and thumbs, as well as the somewhat too easy to handle knurling wheel integrated into the 4-way switch, are multifunctional, depending on the shooting mode, among other things, for setting program shift, ISO number, or aperture Shutter speed, moreover, for efficient navigation in the menu and for changing the recording parameters in the fast menu (Fn-key)
If you want to ensure that these wheels do not move unnoticed during transport, you can temporarily deactivate them by pressing the Fn button longer - provided the "Controller / wheel lock" is switched on in the system menu, the mode and exposure compensation wheel remain unaffected by the lock Code>
Winner after points is the Sony-comparison the 36-megapixel model A7R. Their measured resolution is between 2553 (ISO 100) and 1962 LP / BH (ISO 12 800) - higher than that of Nikon's 36-megapixel Pendant D810. The high dead-leaved values are due, among other things, to artificially intensified color contrasts and therefore lead to point deduction (2348 to 1551 LP / BH)
Image quality
Conclusion
Despite this, the A7R delivers relatively moderate texture losses up to ISO 3200, an exceptionally weak noise (0.4 to 1.0 VN from ISO 100 to 12 800) and a high dynamic range, which still has 10.0 stops even at ISO 1600 , A head-to-head race with the outstanding D810. The A7S keeps the resolution relatively constant over the entire measured ISO range, reaching only 12 megapixels but a maximum of 1286 LP / BH.
On the other hand, it shines with exceptionally weak texture losses (kurtosis 0.1 to 0.5 at ISO 100 to 6400), a low visual noise (0.6 to 1.5 VN) and good dynamics (9.7 to 9.0 stops) At ISO 3200 to 12 800). This makes it one of the best full-formaters currently available in the market at higher ISO 1600 sensitivities. In the A7S, diffraction losses occur only at diaphragm 13.8. With 24 megapixels the A7 chooses a solid medium path between A7R and A7S: up to 1917 LP / BH limit resolution, which fits, especially in combination with the good texture, dynamics and the weak noise in the range of ISO 100 to 800 >
The three Sony full-featured models set a whole lot of different accents: the A7R, with 36 megapixels, exorbitantly sharp images at low to medium ISO values and thus Nikon's D810 perhaps some potential buyers wanting to go on the road a light but powerful camera. Buytipp image quality!
The 12-megapixel variant A7S scores in the upper sensitivity range with particularly good fine-tuning and dynamics. The A7 is the all-rounder in the Alpha team, the most favorable model of the entire test field and still at the forefront with the picture quality. Purchase price. As criticisms remain the still clear lens offer, the weak battery and the long switch-on as well as triggering delay in weak light
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