The
Sony
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including Sony Corporation (electronics), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (i ...
α7, α7R, α7S and α7C (the α is sometimes spelled out as Alpha) are four closely related families of
full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera
A mirrorless camera (sometimes referred to as a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (MILC) or digital single-lens mirrorless (DSLM)) is a digital camera which, in contrast to DSLRs, does not use a mirror in order to ensure that the image ...
s. The first two were announced in October 2013,
[Sony announces α7 and α7R: first full-frame mirrorless cameras: Digital Photography Review](_blank)
Dpreview.com. Retrieved on 2013-10-30. the third in April 2014 and the fourth in September 2020. The α7 series was the first
full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
A mirrorless camera (sometimes referred to as a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (MILC) or digital single-lens mirrorless (DSLM)) is a digital camera which, in contrast to DSLRs, does not use a mirror in order to ensure that the image ...
on the market.
They share the
E-mount with the company's smaller sensor
NEX series.
The
α7 II was announced in November 2014, and is the first in the family to revise the original body and ergonomics. The α7C introduced an even more compact form factor, being the smallest full-frame camera with
in-body image stabilization.
The α7 series is targeted at experienced users, enthusiasts and professionals.
[Sony Global - Sony Global - Digital Imaging - α7](_blank)
Sony.net (2013-10-16). Retrieved on 2013-10-30.
The Sony α7 and α7R have the model numbers ILCE-7 and ILCE-7R respectively. In addition, the α7S, the α7 II, and the α7R II have the model numbers ILCE-7S, ILCE-7M2, and ILCE-7RM2. Sony's new model naming prefix strives to unify model names. "ILC" stands for Interchangeable Lens Camera, followed by an indicator of
A-mount "A" or
E-mount "E".
Pre-announcement rumours speculated that the new camera would be named "Sony NEX-9".
Variations
A7 rear.jpg, Sony A7 Rear
Sony A7, A7R, A7S - by Henry Söderlund (14700037048).jpg, All three cameras of the first A7 generation: A7, A7R, A7S side by side
In 2014/2015, three new models became available forming the second generation of α7 series. They are the α7 II (ILCE-7M2), α7R II (ILCE-7RM2) and α7S II (ILCE-7SM2).
Sony
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including Sony Corporation (electronics), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (i ...
continues to produce the first generation models α7 and α7S, even three years after the launch, only the α7 has been discontinued in April 2019.
The basic α7 II model has 24 MP and has manual focus and hybrid autofocus.
The second generation common ground is the newer and improved body design as well as the world's first five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization system for a full-frame ILC. Sony claims that this can compensate a 4.5-stop equivalent of camera shake. In-body stabilization requires no special lens features, and mirrorless system cameras can typically accommodate lenses from any SLR system. As an upgrade of the α7, the α7 II has the same 50 Mbit XAVC-S codec as the α7S but lacks 4K video, and the five-axis stabilization is less effective in video mode than that used in the
Olympus OM-D E-M1
The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Micro Four Thirds
The is a standard released by Olympus Corporation, Olympus Imaging Corporation and Panasonic in 2008, for the design and development of mirrorless interchangeable lens digital cameras, camcorders and Cam ...
.
However, the crop mode used in the α7 II does not incur "very much loss in image quality", unlike that of the
Nikon D750.
On 14 June 2015,
Hasselblad
Victor Hasselblad AB is a Sweden, Swedish manufacturer of medium format (film), medium format cameras, photographic equipment and image scanners based in Gothenburg, Sweden. The company originally became known for its classic analog medium-for ...
announced the Lusso, a variant of the Sony α7R marketed by Hasselblad.
The third generation started in 2017, and the fourth was announced in July 2019.
Model differences
BIONZ
BIONZ is a line of
image processors
An image or picture is a visual representation. An image can be two-dimensional, such as a drawing, painting, or photograph, or three-dimensional, such as a carving or sculpture. Images may be displayed through other media, including a projec ...
used in
Sony
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including Sony Corporation (electronics), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (i ...
digital cameras. It is currently used in many
Sony α DSLR and
mirrorless cameras
A mirrorless camera (sometimes referred to as a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (MILC) or digital single-lens mirrorless (DSLM)) is a digital camera which, in contrast to digital single-lens reflex camera, DSLRs, does not use a mirror ...
. Image processing in the camera converts the raw data from a CCD or CMOS image sensor into the format that is stored on the
memory card
A memory card is an electronic data storage device used for storing digital information, typically using flash memory. These are commonly used in digital portable electronic devices, such as digital cameras as well as in many early games conso ...
. This processing is one of the bottlenecks in digital camera speed, so manufacturers put much effort into making, and marketing, the fastest processors for this step that they can.
Sony designs the circuitry of the processor in-house, and outsources the manufacturing to semiconductor foundries such as MegaChips and (mostly) GlobalFoundries, as they currently do not own any fabrication plant capable of producing a system on a chip (SoC).
Sony also sources
DRAM
Dram, DRAM, or drams may refer to:
Technology and engineering
* Dram (unit), a unit of mass and volume, and an informal name for a small amount of liquor, especially whisky or whiskey
* Dynamic random-access memory, a type of electronic semicondu ...
chips from various manufacturers namely
Samsung
Samsung Group (; stylised as SΛMSUNG) is a South Korean Multinational corporation, multinational manufacturing Conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered in the Samsung Town office complex in Seoul. The group consists of numerous a ...
,
SK Hynix
SK Hynix Inc. () is a South Korean supplier of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips and flash memory chips. SK Hynix is one of the world's largest semiconductor vendors.
Founded as Hyundai Electronics in 1983, SK Hynix was integrated into ...
and
Micron Technology
Micron Technology, Inc. is an American producer of computer memory and computer data storage including dynamic random-access memory, flash memory, and solid-state drives (SSDs). It is headquartered in Boise, Idaho. Micron's consumer produc ...
.
BIONZ utilizes two chips in its design. The first chip is an SoC that manages overall functionality of the camera such as SD card storage management, wired connection such as USB and HDMI, and wireless protocols such as
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for Wireless LAN, local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by ...
and NFC that are increasingly common on modern Sony α cameras. The BIONZ SoC can be identified by its part number "CXD900xx". The second chip is the ISP (image signal processor). It handles the data directly from the
CMOS
Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS, pronounced "sea-moss
", , ) is a type of MOSFET, metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) semiconductor device fabrication, fabrication process that uses complementary an ...
image sensor, and it is directly responsible for the camera's high-ISO noise characteristics in a low-light environment. The ISP can be identified by the part number "CXD4xxx".
Features (universal for α7-series)
* Exmor CMOS full-frame sensor (with different megapixels depending on camera version)
* TruBlack XtraFine LCD screen (3 inch/7.5 cm) with tilt functionality
* 1.3 cm (0.5 inch) electronic viewfinder
* 1200-zone evaluative light metering
* Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC
* LED-auto focus illuminator
*
Multi Interface Shoe (α7R IV adds digital audio interface)
* 9+1 customizable buttons (10+1 starting with second generation) / 45+ assignable functions
Usage in Filmmaking
The Sony α7 series has been adopted by various filmmakers for its compact design and high-quality imaging. The α7S model, in particular, has been favored by independent filmmakers for its affordability and low-light capabilities. Notably, ''The Bastard Sword'' (2018), a 187-minute British fantasy film, was shot entirely using the Sony α7S, demonstrating the camera's suitability for long-form, microbudget productions.
Critical reception and awards
The
Sony α
Sony α (the lower case to Greek language, Greek letter Alpha (letter), alpha, often transliterated as ''Sony Alpha'') is a brand of digital camera. This line has been active since 2006, building upon the Konica Minolta camera technologies, who ...
(Alpha) cameras, particularly the α7 and α7R models, garnered widespread acclaim from critics and industry experts.
DxOMark, a reputable source for camera and lens evaluations, crowned the α7R as the highest ranking full-frame mirrorless camera, with a score of 95 (the same score as the
Nikon D800, but one point behind the Nikon D800E). The α7 achieved a score of 90, higher than the
Nikon Df and
Nikon D4 professional DSLR cameras, and even Sony's own
SLT-A99. ''
The Verge
''The Verge'' is an American Technology journalism, technology news website headquarters, headquartered in Lower Manhattan, New York City and operated by Vox Media. The website publishes news, feature stories, guidebooks, product reviews, cons ...
'' rated the cameras 8.3 out of 10, commenting that "It might be a few years before we realize it, but when the DSLR is relegated to a niche status among specialty photographers and full-frame mirrorless cameras dominate the market, we'll have the α7's to thank as the cameras that started it all." EPhotozine which rated the α7 5 stars, meanwhile praised the α7 series' price point for making them "the cheapest full-frame digital cameras currently available" while being lighter and smaller than comparable cameras. It awarded the α7 "Camera of the Year". The α7R was awarded by Imaging Resource as the "Camera of the Year".
Top 13 for 2013: The Best Cameras, Lenses and Technologies of the Year
by Dave Etchells, Imaging Resource posted 11 December 2013
See also
* Sony α7II
* Sony α6000
* List of Sony E-mount cameras
* List of lightest mirrorless cameras
References
External links
{{Sony MILC cameras
α7
Cameras introduced in 2013
Full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras