Preorders:
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for $1,698 at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Adorama (Click here), SonyStore (Click here).
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for $1,998 at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), Adorama (Click here), SonyStore (Click here).
Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G SSM II Lens for $1,148 at BHphoto (Click here).
The Sony A7II has been officially announced at Sony Japan! I will now continually update this post with info. Very strange that we have a “pure” Japanese announcement only!
Preorders:
Available in Japan only via Amazon Japan.
Press release:
A7II press and images at Sony Japan.
Image samples here at Sony Japan.
Hot notes:
This is a Japan announcement only and no other site has any info yet
The A7II indeed has an amazing 5 axis stabilization!
It has a faster hybrid AF.
It records XAVC-S (See specs below)
There are also many of small design change (see pictures below)
Release date for the camera is December 5.
Price is 190,000 yen (current conversion: 1300 Euro or $1,600). Although I am sure price in Dollar will be lower
Sony Japan also announced the new 70-300mm II lens (article on SAR here).
In deep details:
1) 5 axis stabilization:
There is a special page on that at Sony Japan (google translation here). It works up to 4,5 stops of correction (in video up to 5 stops). Shake correction can be checked in Live View too.
2) Hybrid AF:
Sony says the A7II autofocus is 30% faster than on the previous A7. And also the subject acquisition performance and motion tracking performance has been improved.
3) Body changes:
Finally the shutter button is on the place where it always should have been…on top of the grip 🙂
The body also has another texture
Grip is now better suited to hold larger lenses too (so says Sony)
[poll id=”201″]
Images (Click on them to enlarge):
α7Ⅱ from Sony: Official Video Release
α7 Ⅱ 5-axis SteadyShot INSIDE from Sony: Official Video Release
Image samples (Click on them to enlarge):
A7m2 specs:
0 Responses
Looks good, all the focus on the IBIS want to know more about the rest, but definitely already a number of improvements.
what are you talking about? 5 axis ibis are enough for me, and they said 30% improved af speed with 179 point wide across
That’s 117 points. Doesn’t sound like an upgrade of A7. It does supposedly focus down to lower light if memory serves. Video is vastly improved, but most other things are the same.
They didn’t go for the BIG thing and didn’t put A6000-type AF in there.
This camera probably means more for A-Mount users than E-Mount users, since it takes a step towards the compatibility we’ve been hearing so much about (and renders our lengthy discussion irrelevant 🙂
Native FE users have OSS anyway
Not on all lenses, just on the zooms and Macro. This is particularly interesting to video people as well as people have wished for an OM-D that does decent video for ages, Sony just beat them to the punch! A-Mounts yes as well, an LA-EA5 would have been nice but still.
And yes, I have been saying for a while that people can’t often see beyond the here and now, suddenly the whole E-Mount v A-Mount discussion has changed. I still don’t need it for stills but I no longer have to keep OS lenses around for video any more, THAT is a huge huge plus.
Indeed, m43 is losing more and more ground.
I wonder what subject Barry will choose to piss and moan about next.
First
Not first
Yeah, A77 mark1 had been announced few couple of years ago. Admin might be too exciting of typo. A7 II
All that we are missing is an LAEA5 Adapter with wider focus screen! Let’s put the bullet on Canon’s head Sony! One final missing piece is the Adapter capable of focusing wide!
go sony go sony go!
LAEA5 without trans mirror please
it’s called LAEA3
LAEA3 too slow
well, because with LAEA3 it’s camera body doing the focusing 😀 and it can’t be improved by changing adapter
What we also missing: OVF, and adapter with rangefinder coupling for M/M39 lenses.
Only Japan release?
since when sony made in america?
ps4 was first in america hehe
Booooom!!!
great news for samyang
I guess adding IBIS, improved ergonomics and AF is considered a worthy update as I recall previously, the new CEO wanted Sony to only update the cameras once it has meaningful updates?
are you saying those 3 items aren’t meaningful updates??
It is, but I expect more things before they update it 🙂
That line from the CEO was only ever a rumor and I believe it was an incorrect rumor.
Huge ergo update for similar looking camera. Metal front with painted finish, sloped top panel for easy access to menu and custom (now 3) buttons. Shutter and dials changed, extra custom button on top (now 4 total), deeper grip.
Looking good. Hopefully it performs well.
Interesting. I think I’ll pass on this iteration but it seems to make some very worthy improvements.
We all know what this means now. Smaller and more compact lenses without OIS. Now that the camera can do that part internally. Great step towards being worlds most compact FF Mirrorless camera. Now lets just get those primes that everyone has been waiting for several years. Saying that will be too big at that F-stop. well not anymore. Take out the OIS and there you go. OH! and don’t forget when the lens doesn’t move on the inside + weather sealed = less dust everywhere inside. It could be even tiny specs from moving parts being worn out.
Sony will probably start making all the rest of the cameras with this new feature and add some nice new compact lenses exclusively without the OIS for this camera’s IBIS. Which ultimately will force people into upgrading there cameras. More $ony business. At least it is something worth upgrading. Not just A7II NOW IN CHRISTMAS WHITE!
They should make a 50mm 1.8 for $100-200 (like Canikon). Their Zeiss lenses are great, but are steep in price. Make some cheaper yet great basic primes and I will be there
These bodies are also cheaper, but the Zeiss is stellar, all in they are similarly priced but the Sony will give better IQ. They also have a ‘cheap’ 28mm f2 that should be the same or less than the Nikon.
I agree the bodies are cheaper, but a body and lens add up to be more. There are grey market d610’s for US$1200 atm, so with a 50mm 1.8 thats a steal. I am not interested in a DSLR, I think Sony should make some simple yet good cheap primes (the 50mm 1.8 is an easy lens to make)
Well A7 can be had for $999 AUD including $400 adapter, Zeiss 55mm is like $750 AUD. Zeiss 55mm is better than the Nikon (which is LOADS better than the Canon).
Where can you get it for that? tempting…
Rather, they should make 30/4.5 real pancake unlike 35/2.8 zeiss.
I never understand why these pancakes have lower F-Stop. Less glass between the front element and the sensor, right?
Yeah and not only fast primes and zooms, But I don’t like that fact that prices are rising on slow lenses. I mean like this F4 faze that they are in right now. Come on $1.3k+ for F4. What about shooting indoors or at night.
IBIS + a7s? 😛
the cheapest are 28-70 kit, but its 500+
we need 50 or 35 prime under 250
Sony really needs something like the Nikkor AF-S 28mm 1.8G. Cheap and a sharpness at 28 MPIX according to DxOmark with the D810 (Sony FE 35 has a sharpness of 23 MPIX in comparison). A problem now is that there isn’t any “best bang for the buck” that people can start out with when buying into the system.
The kit lens is a decent “bang for the buck” startup lens that covers many focal lengths. If you need better quality, you buy into the better glass. That’s how it worked for me.
You can’t compare the kit lens to the Nikkor 28mm prime that has a sharpness rating of 28 MPIX. C’mon…
No, I can’t. You are right!
Great I just got Sony A7, now I want A7II
fuck sony, like I can throw money at them each year >:(
hehehe,.. welcome to sony wolrd
The A mount 70-300 lens was also in the announcement. I wonder if this camera was the A7000 that was rumored.
There is no A7000. What would be the point? A6100 maybe, definitely.
Now you can have stabilized f/0.95. Cool, what.
Isn’t it a bit weird IBIS appears on FE body before APS-C?
They got hybrid autofocus first.. Now imagine ibis and a6000ish AF
Not really. That’s like saying isn’t it weird 5-axis appeared on the OM-D before on a Pen body.
OM-D and pen have same sensor sizes.
Just switch to APS-C mode on this new A7II and you’ve got your IBIS for APS-C. 😉
um? 10 MP with slow AF compared to 5100 & 6000?
Sad to admit… but as a long term A-mount lover (nearly 20 years), I finally have to sell my standard lenses and bodies…. already using a a7s with LAEA3 and all my fast primes and zooms (only MF, that sucks a bit…). So I would really appreciate a a9 or whatever which will most probably also features IBIS and maybe a larger body for better grip… Sony, please give that a9 a 24Mpix sensor with close to a7s low light performance and without any AA filtering…. then I will give you my money! no nonsense 45Mpix or more “resolution”… won’t carry a large telescope to be able to resolve….
new custom button 🙂
I like the black hotshot like the a6000 one, even better if it has the A6000’s black mount ring too instead of the ugly orange one
The orange ring is super sexy. A nice design detail!
If you don’t like Sony announcing in Japan first, why don’t you whine your country doesn’t make good cameras?
it works with OSS lenses 🙂
Sony you are genius!
That’s not the question. The question is does it work with manual adapted lenses that are not chipped or from Metabones 3rd party.
For sure sony can find a way to support legacy lenses without chip. It’s simple as programming the focal length in the camera’s OS
They probably don’t work together, it’s one or the other, right?
Likely yes.
They work together to get “最大限補正”, that means better result than only using IBIS for non-oss lenses.
Nope, they’re working together!!!
http://sony-club.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=47964&d=1416466310
You kids are funny. Remember the early scouts are the ones who get eaten by natives.
While awaiting your reports, I’ll be enjoying my full size a99/a77II with larger mount, bigger battery, fully articulating lcd screen, separate AF/MF and AEL buttons, a real joy stick for fast control, no dedicated EV control that can’t be repurposed, a built in LAEA that doesn’t prevent tripod with vertical grip, vertical battery grip with full controls and superb ergonomics, ultra wide AF selection and built in flash (a77II), and extremely effective, reliable, and proven IBIS from the beginning.
But I am interested in this new Sony, no doubt. You try it first, and let me know how my photos and experience will be better by losing anything from the list above. Carry on.
I will hang onto my 4 dials (one of which can’t be re purposed) smaller size, FAR wider lens selection, more effective IBIS, MUCH better video, better live view feed, better sensor, much better low light performance, apps, use of grip that still makes the camera smaller, more accessories and better real resolution of the A7 II, carry on.
is really liveview any different in A and E mount cameras?
Alpha has fully articulated screen for vertical and reverse views.
Elpha, not so much.
and now i can see ibis image on viewfinder, not like a-mount,
and play memory apps.
but im not pro, pro need big body
A-mount fanboy.
A little larger and heavier.
A7II : 126.9 x 95.7 x 59.7mm at 556g
A7: 126.9 x 94.4 x 48.2mm at 416g
Extra weight is from the body which has a more DSLR like build.
I wonder how much the IBIS mechanism adds.
having tested the a7 in the store i really was hoping they did it, cuz the a7 is too small and awkward to hold it.
It’s just the grip that is 1cm wider.
Only $1600 for this impressive specs. This camera offer the best bang for the buck.
Except lenses prices are ridiculous 😀
Since when?
FE mount lenses are quite expensive. Almost all equivalent mirrorless lenses cost more than their counterparts Nikon and Canon.
They really aren’t for comparable lenses they are priced very similarly.
You can’t compare ancient lenses that have been made for the last 20 years.
I’m comparing similar lenses. A FF Nikon 50/1,8 is 200$; the Canon one half of that. There are a whole suite of 1,8 lenses that, while not cheap, are far easier to balance than equivalents from Sony and other cameras. There are no FF zoom equivalents in small sensor mirrorless, but FF F4 zooms cost about the same as their equivalents. Most other modern lenses are more expensive on mirrorless.
Canon’s 50 f1.8 is nice and cheap but it’s nowhere near as good as Sony FE 55 f1.8. Sony 55 is almost as good as Zeiss Otus on A7r for 1/4 of it’s price.
It is a 55/1,8 lens, which is an inexpensive focal length and speed. It is a high-class lens. There are NO inexpensive primes for the FF FE mount that exist en masse on other mounts.
Ditto from other mirrorless manufacturers. As a rule, APS-C and smaller mirrorless lenses cost 200% of the price of their FF dSLR equivalents. Sony haven’t even released consumer-level primes.
And no one except Zeiss (Loxia) are even working on lenses that manually focus on real helicoids. More money for less hardware and lessened usability.
Image quality? Of course it is good. FE lenses are expensive, modern, and some of them get Zeiss treatment. That no consumer options exist is troublesome unless Sony don’t care about capturing the larger market.
But this is Sony: all they care about is the larger market.
this world is not enough for you
As a misanthrope, I would argue that it is _too much_ for me.
Well at least in Canon’s case, their newest 50mm is the f/1.2 released in 2006 with the next newest being their current f/1.4 released in 1993. The f/1.8 II was released in 1990. I’m sure what ever R&D costs they had have long since been recouped and allow them to price the f/1.8 II cheaply.
The 50/1,8 was never an expensive lens. 50/1,8’s have always been cheaper alternatives to larger, heavier 1,4 lenses.
It would be lovely to have a consumer line of nice primes from Sony. Or Fujifilm, and others. Only Sony have FF and therefore aren’t stuck designing fast wide angles to equate moderate normals on FF. And still we pay heaps.
Choice goes a long way. I’d love to see it occur in the FE mount.
If you want, you can always use Canon 50 f1.8 on A7 series with a cheap adapter. There you go, good 50mm on A7 series on budget. 🙂
And what about a Minolta AF 50mm f/1.7 or 1.4 from eBay? I am sure they won’t be worse than their Canon counterpart and dirt cheap. Now with IBIS there is one big excuse less there to say there are not enough lenses for e-mount..
PS. I don’t own neither of the lenses mentioned above, because I am damn happy with my Rokkor 1.2, 1.4, 1.7 trio on my A7.
canon’s 40/2.8 is supercheap compared to sony 35/2.8 and has only slightly worse IQ
The 40mm doesn’t have Zeiss rendering. But yeah, it is cheap.
Some native lens could be overpriced IMO (E.g. 24-70 and 16-35) but you can always use 3rd party lens on A7II
Because you will be buying 10 additional batteries LOL
well generic ones are like 2 for $25 with car charger and wall charger
Interesting, the troll (non issue) complaints are down to batteries now.
Auto-ISO doesn’t say anything about settable minimum shutter speed. They must be holding out on that hot feature for the A9.
Give me the TAv mode of the Sony’s over settable shutter speed of the Nikon / Canon’s any day thanks. Far more useful to me, min shutter speed is slow and annoying to set.
Ooh, I’m intrigued. Tell me more. I’ve never heard of TAv mode. How is it different, and what cameras was it on?
this…
Whine more so Sony can deliver more improvements and innovation 😉 the lack of IBIS has been of hot topic ever since the A7 series was introduced
Amazing! Love what Sony are doing! Will be interesting to see how/if Canikon respond to this…
Nikon already responded. They just announced the limited edition gold DX 🙂
if you mean the gold Df it cant be a response, not really.
Yeah, that 🙂
And buddy… I thought I was laying on the sarcasm pretty think on that one, no? Oh well :/
ok, finally a dream is becoming true, E mount FF body with IBIS, however, I have one BIG question, how does IBIS work with OSS native E lenses???? How does it work with me FE oSS 24-70 lens?
http://www.sony.jp/products/picture/y_a7m2_image_stabilization.jpg
They work together to get better result. So E-mount lenses with OSS will be stabilized better than non-oss A or E lenses. So I believe Sony will keep making OSS E-mount lenses to replace the outdated A-mount ones.
Not sure that’s correct – judging from the graphic above, pitch/yaw will be corrected using the lens mechanism on OSS glass, and will be corrected using IBIS on non-OSS glass. Presumably yielding the same result, or at least results with negligible differences. Either way, you get all 5 axis covered regardles of the glass you use, which is, well… F–ING AWESOME!
thanks for the info, this is so great, should be invention of the year!
Sony has to also consider making a higher capacity battery in the same shape. All these new features and constant moving IBIS is going to SWALLOW the battery.
My A7S is not thirsty at all on batteries, I don’t know what people complain about. I did a 3 hour video shoot followed by a 4 hour event shoot (stills) and didn’t use the pair of batteries in my grip, second battery was on 35%.
Wow that is a great improvement! I still own the nex 7. Do the A7 line cameras have overheating issues? Did you shoot 3hrs of video non-stop?
Not continuously, no. A7S has a 30 minute record limit on files like most still cameras, but I was shooting a drama piece so lots of stop start, but camera was on pretty much the whole time. Have had no issues and heard of no issues with A7S overheating, however I know the A7 can on occasion but still definitely improved. Obviously have no idea about the A7 II though.
I shot an engagement shoot for around 3-4 hrs and 1400 frames on one battery as well.
battery consumption will keep improving when they use newer nanometer process.
Higher capacity in same shape — it’s unlikely to have significant improvement…
Probably two slots for SAME battery is a better bet, since you can change it w/o turning off camera.
I JUST BOUGHT MY A7 A MONTH AGO. Fuck. The redone control layout looks MUCH better to me – one of the things I missed from the NEX cameras was that sloped shutter button placement.. and the new front dial looks WAY better than the current one. And XAVCS! Ah!
Lol, now E-mount cameras are officially better at stabilizing A-mount lenses.
and it add one more reason to make A-mount user switch to E-mount more easily.
Exciting news announced in the worst intro video for a camera I’ve seen, bar none.
They’re all like that in Japan, actually. I think the worst I remember is the Fuji X-P1 vid. Fairy dust everywhere. For real.
This one really looks like a 1990’s tech demo. Awful. If it was April’s Fool, or a fan group that made it, I’d understand. But this is official.
And I have the unique joy of living in Japan. I’m used to all the stupid plastic/fake stuff all the time. But still, this video went over and above the usual level of ridiculousness.
i wonder if sony would follow the rx100 trend
new models with added features but prices increased too
I think in this case the A7 is coming down to be entry level and A7 II will be similar to original A7 position.
A7II will be more expensive. IMO A7II is better than A7r and A7s too, it has much faster focusing than a7r and the same slog2 in a7s.
FUCK YOU SONY! FUCK YOU FUCKER! I spent 4 years of savings into A7 now gets replaced with IBIS, FUCK YOU
Interestingly, for native lenses the new system uses BOTH ILIS and IBIS as can be seen on one of the slides. Also nice to see they’ve put that shutter button where it belongs.
Man I want this. I just bought the A7. I don’t want to whine but I wish they placed the picture review button in a more natural position. Or at least let us reprogram it to another button.
No chimping
Any news about new A7s?
higher resolution sensor will be for the A9
i would like to know when recording video is it full pixel reading like a7s?
full pixel reading on 24mp sensor? wait for 8k era
The one thing that stops me to go from A to E mount is cheap adapter with PD AF and AF drive
A-Mount lens stocks just shot up by 25%, 100% by the end of the week.
A-mount lenses are slow and outdated. Now A-mount is dead, of course A-mount lenses will die very soon. Sony will push out more better E-mounts and no one will buy any A-mounts.
no you moron, this camera just made it so you can use all A mount lenses via adapter and have them stabilized just like on A mount.
stabilized or not, A-mount is still a dead mount. People want native E-mount lenses with fast, silence focusing, weatherseal and modern lens coating.
you clearly don’t know what are the native advantages of E-mount to say A-mount is dead. E-mount is dependant on A-mount
When more and more people switch to E from A now, A-mount lenses will flood the market and price will go down.
oh really? I just bought an a-mount lens after this announcement. waiting for my Zeiss 24-70mm f2.8 in front of my door this week.
and I will definitely buy the A7M2 and a Sony 70-200 f2.8 G2 after that.
Good luck with the Sal2470z, nice inside but ugly outside. its rubber zoom and focus rings really suck. They won’t last long. I will wait for an emount one.
how many people would buy this instead of the a7r (almost same price)
how many people would buy the a7r
how much will it cost the a7sII
How many stupid questions can koled put in one post.
What are new features could A9 add? A sensor tilt?
higher resolution sensor. premium rangefinder style.
I think FE cameras are stuck with faux pentaprism style to sell well in US
Global shutter, full sensor readout, new “stacked” sensor, 4K, ( don’t know this one got a mic in, if not:) Mic in (48v)…
This is’nt the photo/video camera you are looking for. *forces away…
None of it looks as major feature like 5-x IBIS.
4K on a 54 mp sensor seems improbable ATM, if 24 mp sensor doesn’t have it, it’s a lot harder to make it in 54 mp sensor.
The main feature will be A6000-type AF
So, looks like no global shutter around here. Siprose, vecause ibis is mostly for video, so it would be nice to kill dat rolling shutter.
Also, any mentioning of full pixel readout while video?
i also would like to know will the ibis for video being crop like with A-mount body before. But with full pixel reading being crop a little is still ok in some situation
I gues there is no full pixel readout. As you can see, the IBIS helps 4.5 stops to stills, and 5 stops to video. Dunno guys… Looks like the reason is that the center of the sensor needs far less movement to stabilize than the frame. Ergo, crop mode. I would be the happiest if turns out i’m wrong…
Shut your mouth on that crop mode. Dammit you suck that would suck
This guy. I love this guy. He got the spirit.
This guy. I love this guy!
IBIS is very much for photography. I actually hate the effect that IBIS provides for video work, stabilize when shooting video with tripod or some other method like stedicam instead.
Yeah, it kinda looks like shit to be honest.
But you got the option in this cam. If you hate it, turn it off. I like the smoothness of the handheld shots sometimes with ibis.
Function over form. This is one ugly mothafucka.
Olympus users. I’m sorry
the biggest selling point of Oly system is now…..gone, with FE mount getting IBIS…
not sure, the lenses still are excellent and SMALL, unreachable for FF;
and we get even smallish f0.95 primes, that would be HUGE on FF;
IQ with m43 is not far behind;
price is lower for a system that is perfect for most of us
micro f0.95 = 1.9 FF, FF 1.8 lenses are cheap and abundant, and many can AF.
M43 image quality sucks compared to full frame.
That’s because the m43-sensor is tiny in comparison. M43 captures only a fourth (26 %) of the light compared to a full frame sensor The lenses are smaller, but not by a factor of 4.
looks hot “shut up and take my money”
What a sweet camera! 🙂 Hopefully Sony keeps bringing in major improvements like these ones! Looking forward to see tests and reviews.
a lot a lot of Nikon/Canon shooters are looking at this , I am pretty sure.
full frame. IBIS. small and light mirrorless.
a full set of 16-35/4, 24-70/4, 70-200/4.
it’s almost all there – except the poor battery life, and AF tracking performance.
I’ve been using a GH4 for shooting video. With the IBIS on A7-II, it changed everything. Now E-mount really seems to have the brightest future.
I’m currently shooting with Canon 6D and looking to upgrade to mirrorless FF system, but the only thing I’m still missing (apart from some native fast primes) is the AF-point selection via touchscreen. I use backbutton-AF for most of the time as the AF selection in any non-touchscreen camera is such a pain, so still waiting for the A9.
It’s easier and faster using the EVF and jog button, the A9 will not use this (I-phone touch screen) feature.
I do it all the time without problems. Same with D810, A7, OMD.
There are a lot more things missing: radio flash system, specialty lenses, tracking af, fast burst, good viewfinder, durable construction, intelligent menus, lossless raw… These things don’t make it to the “sukker specs” but make the difference between a consumer toy and a dependable tool.
For many, this will be enough anyway; but also a telephone will do.
will the 5 axis stabilisation effect long exposure photography? can it be turned off if doing landscape photography of 5-10mins
I’m pretty sure it can, since we can with OSS! If not, it would be a major fail!
I would assume so, given that we can turn the IBIS off in our A-mount bodies, and OSS can be turned off in E-mount zooms.
I doubt the IBIS system is even able to function continuously for that long; I don’t remember how long it can run on the E-M1/M5 but it’s definitely not more than a few seconds. It’ll automatically disengage on exposures longer than that.
Question: when doing a 5-10 minutes exposure don’t you use a tripod?
yes but its important to have any stabilisation modes (in body or lens) turned off.
most camera disable stabilisation modes once bulb mode is turned on but not always, hence the question
IBIS (Steadyshot) can be disabled in any Sony camera with IBIS, so I think it will also be possible with this A7II.
It doesn’t do it automatically though, you have to do it yourself in the menu (or custom button perhaps)
True. With IBIS, tripod and longer exposures, images will get blurry. Don’t know why but that’s how it is. Just turn it off.
All previous IBIS systems could be turned off. I’d be amazed if this one couldn’t.
We have better IBIS in E-mount & super fast AF.
If they make a bigger body/grip on A9.
Do we still need A-mount now?
Honestly No. But I have been told there is an A-mount coming…
Hope to hear the details soon admin 😀
how about the a-mount to e-mount adapter. would it work on this new camera and if so how good or bad would it work/be?
I assume A9 will have Ibis too? And everything this one lacks. And a price that hurts. And a better battery.
I like how they positioned the buttons.
Otherwise same sensor and AF. Whats with the 1/250 flash sync?
Waiting for A9 specs and price.
The specs show 1/250th!
you can use electronic first curtain and able to sync up 1/8000
wonder what the shutter sounds like. Hopefully it’s Leica-esc
My nappy old crinkle finish Tokina ATX lenses are gonna look fabulously bedazzling on this bad little pussycat. Me-yoW!
This is such a strange announcement. It almost feels like an elaborate April Fool’s day prank.
So strange it worth a place in ripley’s believe it or not list
Nah it’s just after years of being disappointed you just expect disappointment. Me too. It does feel too good to be true.
yes, its just shocking me, im reading sr4 A7ii yesterday, and now i seen their 5 axis demo on youtube, unbelievable…
canikon only releasing teaser, crap future roadmap, etc.. and 5 years for 7DII???
and sony suddenly BOOOOOOM out of nowhere, and they release this.. impressive
7ii + Loxia = perfect combination! 🙂
agreed
Clever Sony to get OS lenses to work in conjunction with IBIS 🙂 Looking forward to the A7rII & A7sII but especially the A9
I don’t see a “Steady shot ON/OFF” button. Perhaps it is programmable to one of the C’s.
steady shoot button only exist on A300/A800/900
It’s in the menu and you can set it to any button if needed.
Making a living of an M-6, people are willing to pay 10x per picture.
I truly hope there is a way to enable IBIS with legacy glass. If not, they dropped the ball on the main attraction for me.
of course, even you dont have lens attached the ibis will work, if you half press shutter
Are you sure? According to a lot of people, the body needs to know the focal length of the attached lens to funtion properly. For instance, the IBIS was disabled on SLT cameras whenever the body was unable to communicate with the lens, ie legacy (unchipped) glass was unsupported.
no, im fine with all samyang on my a-mount body, its not perfect but its work, on pentax you have option to input lens fl.
without lens attach i can hear my A-mount ibis buzzing when half press shutter.
but without fl overide/lens comunicate my a-mount seems have the same lowest speed setting, whether i put 85 or 8 mm.
but thats a 2 axis and with 5, this should be damn great
with no chip the IBIS defaults to 50mm which is good up to 85mm and 35mm legacy lenses. Sony can just program the camera’s OS to include manual adjustment of FL for legacy lenses.
There are other IBIS cameras which allow the focal length to be entered manually. Of course, that is impracticable for a zoom, but I suspect the vast majority of such legacy glass will be primes.
Of course it might be a bit tedious, but could be assisted with good software (like saving settings for a list of legacy lenses).
Unfortunately previous A mount cameras did not have such a facility, but that might just have been because the number of “alien” lenses which could be mounted by an adapter was tiny.
Man, I wish the NFC implementation on Sony cameras was explored the way it should. Imagine a small tag on each legacy lens. When swapping lens, just hold it a couple of secs by the NFC antenna and correct lens data is transferred.
It’s possible to implement such that camera would guess lens’ FL. Fuji has a patent on this.
BAM. I officially no longer care at all about the death of A-mount. I think I see my next camera…
i just sold 3 my a-mount 2 weeks ago, but i dont expected this will come early.
this just perfect 🙂
Okay, Sony, you win. You wanted me to convert to E-mount, and you finally made a compelling argument for it. This camera, right here, is the one to get me to buy a FF E-mount. I’ve been a dyed-in-the-wool A-mount supporter since the Minolta days, but if I can have a better IBIS than ever before along with a smaller overall package, then I’m game for switching. Just promise me one thing: keep developing the LA-EA adapter modules. I rather like the idea that I can upgrade my focusing block without needing to buy a new camera. I can buy this A7II and keep it for many years as I accumulate FE lenses (as well as those of other manufacturers) and happily use my A-mount lenses for years to come. You did something good here. Can’t wait to see what else you’ve got up your sleeve.
Ditto on the focussing block.. It will make sony e mount a semi modular camera
LAEA5, which uses the cameras’ own focusing system should do the trick. Would be chaper to make, too.
Looking good. Might the sensor be slightly improved as well? Or is it the same?
same
With probably same IQ as my current A7, i will skip this iteration.
I like some of the new ergonomics features (better placement of shutter button, and front wheel) and new matte body finish.
But the zoom + button is still placed on the second worst possible place.
Sensor reflections issue of A7 is open before reviews.
IBIS is nice but not mandatory for me…. Hopefully it will work better than on my old Pentax K20D back in the days…
Another pluses are slightly improved back LCD with more megapuckles 🙂 and A7r/s metal body…. Well lets wait for the reviews and price here in Europe…
That kinda sucks. I was hoping the ISO performance was better, even though there’s IBIS.
How exciting! Sony is killing it with these FE mount bodies, I can’t wait to see (and most likely purchase) the A9.
i hope they bring oly live bulb too, i wonder what oly asking sony for return.
OMD EM9 FF?
>i wonder what oly asking sony for return.
Probably the 50 billion yen Sony invested in Oly last year covered it.
Woah such a huge investment with the financial crisis on their back
I have been hoping for this since I held the EM1. Olympus knows how to make a camera, Sony can learn a lot from them and an EM1 with FF sensor would be my dream come true!
And not a word from the “mount is too small for IBIS” troll crowd.
This just in, Sony has announced that they broke the laws of “internet forum optical engineer” physics on November 20th, 2014. Reports are coming in to suggest that these “internet forum optical engineers” have no actual training in engineering, physics, optics or any other discipline relating to camera body or lens manufacturing, but they can look at pictures of a mount and sensor and talk loudly about flange distances.
They have a point. It will be interesting to see the performance and first reviews. If it works great, this would be really nice.
The only doubt about IBIS being viable one FF is whether the lens throat had sufficient space for the required image circle. Even then, there was a workaround using a small crop (of about 5%).
Videos not too much of an issue as they often have a modest crop compared to the still frame. As far as stills are concerned, it will be interesting to see. The worst that might happen is a bit of vignetting.
Anyway, this is all to be applauded as the lack of IBIS was probably the main reason that was a disincentive to owners of A-mount glass. Provided that the adapter will provided PAF comparable to the best A-mount bodies, the whole thing looks very attractive.
or “body is too smal for IBIS”?
This new body is thicker. And yet this ibis has not been tested.
And i was not part of this crowd, (i’m no expert and never have been)
A-Mount is dead… but then I dont care somehow.
I want a Bayer-less sensor. When?
wait for A9
I’d predict a very long wait. A full colour filterless sensor (along with a global shutter) is the wholly grail, and the only one in production is the Foveon, and that has inherent problems.
What you are asking for is a revolution, and if/when it appears, then it will make huge news.
Not that very long I think, according to what Andrea posted this week 😉
What Andrea published last week is almost certainly a hoax. The specifications are not credible, the mechanism by which it was said to work ditto. It was rumoured to be a cameraphone sensor, yet it’s twice the size of any sensor yet put in a phone (and those are all very bulky).
Also, the stated method of working actually undoes one of the advantages of a “stacked” sensor, in that it still loses over half the available light as it uses filters.
It simply doesn’t make much sense.
You know these were 2 different posts right? And the sensor news for smartphone is a true one, published by Sony this week?
http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/another-sonys-first-stacked-sensor-with-plane-phase-detection-announced/
I do, and the one you link to has got a bayer filter. It’s called “stacked”, but that’s not a reference to a Foveon-type sensor. It’s just a term Sony used to describe their 3D BSI fabrication which is confusing I know, but that’s the way it is.
To repeat, it is manifestly not a filterless sensor. In fact if you look at the specification at the bottom, it specifically says “Image Format” “Bayer RAW”.
I was referring to the somewhat unbelievable “Active Pixel Colour Sampling” sensor. That’s the only non-Bayer filter sensor mentioned this week.
Bayer has advantage over B&W sensor in that PP software can reduce chromatic aberration and purple fringing, whereas in B&W it’s uncorrectable blur.
I would like to see a comparison to turn off each ibis axis if possible… I am guessing the reason why E mount lens with OSS will take care of row and yaw is because Sony wants to keep the sense cool to minimize noise?
DSLR style APS-C A7000 with IBIS and weather sealed body should be next. I wish the same comes out to be true
I hope that, too. And it should include 4K internal recording.
I also hope that there’s a APS-C with IBIS coming soon, and most of all weather sealed with weather sealed lenses would be great, A7000 please, thanks Sony.
Those handheld speeds on the sample images are crazy. 1/50sec on a 500mm lens at f/10??!
Nice to see Sony is really listening!!!!
Sony very smart here: They have OIS lenses and now IBIS for legacy and non OIS lens- you choose. That fires one back at complaints about lack of lenses and it also works in video mode, unlike Panasonic GX7 : Olympus they just ate your lunch!
It’s not smart at all. They just released 16-35/4 which could be much much smaller without OIS.
But it’s better late than never 😀
Is that true that OSS is more efficient than IBIS?
Wow! Thank you Sony! Now we have a FF choice if you want/need better IQ and see the benefit of IBIS!
This is a great move!
Congrats Sony! Very well done I must say. Thank you 🙂
A-mount is alive. The lenses at least…
They were always alive with an adapter
Yes but Sony SLT s all had ibis so no lenses had oss whereas the nex s didn’t. Now a mount lenses are much more useful with the adapter.
my guess is that they want to reserve the 36MP for A9, then have 50MP (or 4X MP) for A9r.
im a little surprise not to see 4K video. i guess that might hurt a7s sale for the time being.
I think it’s wrong to not release a new camera with 4K now. Sony should just have made it record 4K internal without S-Log and crippled the HDMI output, so professionsals will still want the A7S and consumers can still get the next big thing, which at the moment is 4K.
A7s is really for video. Who wants 12mp only stills?
Anyone shooting in low natural light and still wanting usable dynamic range, relatively clean files and not needing to print the results in very large formats or extensive cropping/post-compositing ?
The A7S doesn’t show its benefits until you are around or beyond ISO25600. ISOs like that are super cars… most people get cameras that can do them for the bragging rights rather than to actually make use of what they’re made for… and a lot of times, they’re out of place in every day use.
Nope, patently false, if you don’t believe my experience, do head over to DXOmark and compare the A7s to the A7, the A7s offers better color sensitivity/Dynamic range starting from ISO 800 and better tonal range/SNR from “base” ISO, it does have real benefits for those of us frequently in the 800 to 6400 ISO range (amateur museum/spectacle shooting); Sure, in that ISO range you can get very close with an A7 with post-processing, but some people just don’t want to waste their time in post when it can be better spent shooting (or commenting).
Besides, your comment is… weird, of course the A7s will outshine the A7 beyond ISO 25600, it’s the upper limit of the A7 anyway, so I don’t think your comment had been quite thought out…
1. DxO results aren’t very indicative of real world performance. While everyone reads and talks about DxO, only a handful actually understand how the results translate.
2. There isn’t a special switch for the a7s to someone be better right after ISO256OO. I mean the obvious/visible differences start to show then. Also see #1.
3. I should have been clearer… I was also comparing the a7s to the a7r. Long story short, the a7s is like a proper sports car in city traffic.
Yes, I get it, for your case uses, the A7r is the best fit, however your sins are a) failing to consider that other photographers may have different practice and requirements and b) trying to rationalize your choice as the only reasonable one and impose it upon others.
1) In this particular case, considering your particular claims, DxO results are very relevant. From actual direct and regular experience with all bodies (well, mostly A7s, I’ve sold the A7r and will do the same for the A7), there is an actual difference in use* (plus the pictures give a very different impression and the A7s is much more forgiving with legacy lenses).
* for my use, as stated, no very large print, no need for cropping/post-recomposing, handheld, in natural light, with a need for relative discretion.
2) Of course there’s an obvious difference, one is still shooting “natively” while the other two are in extended mode, but once again, from actual direct and regular experience with all bodies, the difference is there way before that point.
Anyone shooting in extended mode and expecting equal or better performance is a complete half-wit (just as is shooting with the A7s electronic shutter and expecting the SNR to be the same).
3) Actually that’s exactly the reverse, the A7r is a much more fussy camera, requiring more technique to actually use to its full potential, while the A7s is a very well tempered tool that can take great pictures even if your technique is slightly sloppy and outside of its primary use, also please consider the case use I mentioned. In museum conditions (handheld, no additional lighting) the shutter shock and unforgiving resolution of the A7r are a nightmare (and if your suggestion is to downsample pictures in post, what’s the point of the A7r ?), in spectacle conditions, the same problem occurs, plus the shutter sound is going to make you a real popular guy in the quietest moments.
The A7r is a specialized camera, much more so than the A7s, it’s absolutely unsuited to everyday photography except in the hands of the most seasoned photographers, of which you and, from your comments, I are certainly not part.
Frankly, with the very very short battery life of the A7 line, having to take at least 3 pictures to have at least one keeper is not in favour of the A7r as an everyday camera.
I have little use for the A7r, it’s useless for 80% of my photography (natural light, hand held), and for the other 20%, I reached the conclusion that if I have to handle it like a medium format to ensure the best results to justify it’s use, I might as well use an actual medium format (or a Nikon D8x0).
So your argument is “thee are exceptions”… let me forward this to the Nobel Prize committee to consider for the new discoveries category 🙂
1. A7s is forgiving: Talk about seeing things only your way… what about the missing 24 million pixels?
2. Disqus isn’t showing what I said in #2… what’s this extended mode again?
3. Shutter shake is not always an issue on the a7r when being handheld. See the following series where the shutter speeds are incredibly low:
https://www.flickr.com/search/?tags=canon35mmf2isstabilisationtest
“except in the hands of the most seasoned photographers, of which you, from your comments, and I are certainly not part.”
You are also inexperienced in using Google to find out about who you’re talking to 😀
Nope, it’s not about “exceptions”, it’s about everyone having different needs, wants and levels of proficiency, neither you nor I represent some sort of “regular” photographer and the other an exception to the rule, a regular photographer will probably be much better served by the A7 than by either your A7 of choice (the A7r) or mine (the A7s), we are in fact both being outliers and there’s no doubt our choices are better for ourselves, but your argument was about being better for everyday photography, not your own everyday photography.
Let me be clear, we have two ideas going at once…
I) I answered to “who wants a 12MP camera for stills” ?
from which you segued into
II) The A7s is useless, everyone should use the superior A7r, like I do, here’s why.
You’ll note that for the precise contexts I’ve specified for the precise question I’ve answered, the A7r has nothing to offer over the A7 or A7s except for some wankers bragging about high megapixel counts (see, that kind of simplistic argument works both ways).
In short, you are being a complete dick…
1. “missing 24MP”, who cares, once again, very few people actually need 36MP (just as very few people actually need ISO beyond 25600, but as I’ve said, it’s not the actual draw of the A7s for everyday photography), and you’ll notice that I’ve specified that people content with 12MP don’t need/want a) large prints and/or b) crop/recomposing ability, so your extra MP are worthless to them…
Now let’s see which is more forgiving:
– Poor handling ?
Ok for the A7s
Unforgiving for the A7r
– Under-exposed picture ?
No problem for the A7s
Less latitude for correction with the A7r
– Over-exposed picture ?
That one is a draw
– End up needing to crop your picture, rotate it by more than a few degrees, change the composition ?
Yep, in that case the A7r is vastly superior, however, all these are needs of bloody unthinking beginners, who are bound to have poor handling and will end up with blurred pictures with the same A7r.
Nope, you would have a much better case with the A7 for everyday shooting.
2. So basically, you’re trying to teach me how to read DxO results but don’t even understand what extended ISO modes are ?
Extended ISO mode usually work by using a native ISO setting and under or overexposing the result, ending up with noise a bit more noticeable, but above all less dynamic range in the final file, it’s way better to work within native range then correct exposure in post, you have a better chance of controlling noise and getting the result you want when it comes to color reproduction.
Native ISO increase are analog, extensions are digital increases.
Officially the A7/A7r are in native mode from ISO 100 to 25600, the A7s from 100 to 102400 (however some have hypothesized that the actual base ISO for the A7s is 400 or 800, not 100, based on the dynamic range at lower ISO).
3. Any photographer telling me “that camera is the panacea, that other one is useless because I don’t have a use for it” is not a seasoned photographer, he’s just a wannabe and a damn half-wit, however long he’s been working, however good his pictures and whatever his professional status.
Now, all this is very interesting but you’d have been much better arguing the interest of the A7s over the A7 II for my use… the IBIS allowing me to use lower ISO for the same exposure parameters and thus have at least the same dynamic range as the A7s with twice the pixel count, making the A7s really only interesting beyond 25600 and you would be 100% right.
In my case use, the A7/A7r offer nothing over the A7s, the A7II however is a much better proposition and one I might consider if it’s closer to the A7s than the A7 when it comes to legacy OM lenses.
But you chose to rationalize your choice of camera, rather than adopt an intelligent, measured position, which once again boils down to not being a seasoned photographer, whatever you think you are.
While true for midtones and highlights, in deeper shadows the benefits can be visible at around ISO 3200, especially in low light that is short in the blue spectrum (quite typical).
Some Pro are still using D700 or D3.
12Mp is good enough for most situation, unless you need large print or crop.
Because they are planning to launch a new A7S II.. 🙂
For someone who always complains that other websites copy info without linking back to SAR, the specs at the end look VERY suspicously like a copy past from dpreview. Even the mistakes are the same!
Who cares!
If you’re going to copy and paste, don’t copy and paste from dpreview. They are the leaders in messing it up.
Heureka!
The camera what the first iteration A7 should have been first place. Hopefully with a new more silent shutter mechanism and improved shock reduction. Non-cooked 14 bit RAWs would be nice also. Happy for the increased weight. Although the size make it best used with small prime lenses like Loxia. By the way an improved manual AF setup (more customization options) would be nice also.
Am I the only one who wants a small 50mm 1.8 lens?
I want this body but the 55mm 1.8 is too big plus has 5mm I don’t want.
I don’t want to ruin the body size using adapters or having to manually focus using legacy glass.
Extremely appealing product ! But according to its specs, it’s significantly thicker and heavier than the first Alpha7.
I think the upcoming A9 will have to expose incredible new features and characteristics to be considered as a “Pro” body and the high-end of Sony camera ! This will be an interesting challenge.
Sony’s official video release shows three cameras of the A7 series, and A7 leaves its place to A7 II, which may suggest that the whole series will be replaced soon, independent of whether there will be a “pro” A9 series or not.
Hey hey hey hey ”
※3：一部5軸手ブレ補正に対応していないレンズがあります。
”
Nobody saw this?? This may not work with legacy lenses!
Somebody might have to come up with adapters to mimic native lens electronics for this to work, like current EF adapters.
———————
Oh I forgot, the translation is “Some lenses do not work with the 5-axis stabilization”.
I wonder if adapted lenses will work. Too bad if they don’t. If it only works with a select few Sony lenses, that reduces its usefulness.
Well.. may be OSS lenses ? Would make sense, since OSS on lenses is generally better 😛
We would have reason to believe so if it said “OSS lenses do not work with the 5-axis stabilization”, it would be a great relief too. Right now we can only wait for reviews.
Engadget says that sony said OSS lenses will be stabilized with three axis, the rest will be done by the lens
I never thought of it that way, this sentence really could be put this way.
It would be less than half as useful, how many lenses would it have to stabilize? Not too many certainly.
There will eventually be a way around it anyways, as I’ve mentioned before.
I was wondering if it worked with lenses that didn’t have electronic contacts, too. I guess it might be too difficult for the camera to calculate the compensation if it doesn’t know which lens it’s using! But I think that it means that most likely no FE lenses will have OSS.
“But I think that it means that most likely no FE lenses will have OSS.”
What do you mean? Some FE lenses already have OSS.
I mean, future FE lenses, sorry!
To me that would be a drawback. I’m used to Olympus 5axis and it can “control” focal lenghts from 8mm to 1000mm. You just need to set the focal lenght in a menu.
I wonder if the (possible) limitation is due to the big size of the sensor and the little space the E mount leaves.
I reckon it means, that lenses with OSS use only 3-axis ibis and lens itself takes on the x + y axis. There’s no reason the ibis would not work with legacy lenses, you just need to input the focal length to the camera.
I’m come to realize that, only they really should’ve phrased the sentence more clearly..
It says that the grip is larger and the mount is reinforced…they really listened！
I love that texture – it looks similar to the NEX-6’s finish. It’s far better wearing than the A7’s paint, which is very easy to mark.
If the ISO perfromance hasn’t been upgraded, I won’t upgrade. Waiting for the A9 to get rid of that ugly noise my A7 has.
While I agree to some degree, adding IBIS will allow you to shoot at lower iso in many cases 🙂
Yes indeed. However, I shoot weddings/events so the 1/160 or 1/250 shutter speeds are necessary to freeze any movement. Sometimes the long exposure would be cool though, to have people blurred when they are walking/dancing etc.
Which lenses do you use for shooting weddings with your A7?
I shoot with A7 only on daylight times and as soon as it get’s dark I only use 5D Mk III (because 5D can actually deliver with ISO 6400, A7 can’t, just too much noise).
I have used the Zeiss 55 and 35, sometimes Voigtländer 40/1.4 Classic for manual focus / portrait shots.
Here’s my blog with pics: http://www.arihallami.com/blogi
I’m surprised at that. The SNR between the 5D MkIII and A7 is almost identical across the entire ISO range.
Yep, I was as well. But the noise is more harsh looking with the A7. SNR isn’t the only thing to look at. Fuji X-trans for example makes a lot better looking noise than any full frame body from Canon Sony or Nikon. I have uploaded some examples here: http://www.arihallami.com/blogi/2014/sony-a7-uuden-polven-ammattilaiskameroiden-uranuurtaja
Just buy a A7S then…
Yes, I’ve considered that as well, but I don’t shoot video and the 2500 usd price tag is a bit much for it’s 12mpx photos (even if they look really good on high ISO). Af with A7s is still worse than with the 5D in dark, so hopefully the A9 will fix that.
Is it so much uglier than what a D610 produces? I don’t have a problem with ISO up to 6400, as you usually resize down to smaller resolution anyway. I’m interested in your observation and experience.
Sorry, I have no experience in using Nikon :/.
They have basically the same 24MPix sensor, so noise should be similar. The D610 produces really nice high ISO samples.
For a comparison of Caon/A7:
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Sony_Alpha_A7/Sony_A7_vs_Canon_EOS_5D_Mark_III_noise.shtml
Any news on whether the shutter has been made quieter?
I love my A7 but the shutter really draws attention.
I too hope they have done something to this, since they seem to have listened to a lot of other feedback regarding the original a7. Loud shutter has been something a lot of people have commented on since release.
axsis stabilisation is great.
But. Why didn’t they add a felxible Display like the A77. If they mount a Display flex display like the A77,… have. I will move to E Mount System.
too bulky
As A77II says, it would probably add some bulk due to bigger/more sturdier hinge.
I have seen a lit of compact cameras with this cheap hinge which lets you turn the display around. It really adds bulk!
Four A7 models in a bit over a year. That’s kind of excessive isn’t it?
No one says you need to buy them all, and as far as I care, progress is most welcome.
This isn’t progress, it’s more about Sony having tech and waiting to release it just to increase sales. Real progress would be to release everything they got and not holding back on features.
And make money how? RND has a big cost overhead. It takes time to develop these features and time is money.
If you release everything at once for one product, that product would become very expensive. Some things also need time to figure out. The A7 is a small body. It needs time to figure out where to place all those components and make it still user friendly while reducing technical issues. Some ideas and innovation no matter how small they are could have come at a later point. And also you can’t wait for competition to outrun you.
That’s in hindsight. I’m sure when Sony released the FF E bodies they weren’t sure if people were going to even care.
Yeah, that may be true. I find it a bit hard to trust Sony due to their lacking firmware updates though. They have always had a bit of a problem with such things with all their hardware (phones etc).
The Nex line is an example of a good fw update policy by Sony.
The first gen Nex bodies didn’t even have focus peaking and Sony added it because people asked for it to use with third party lenses.
There were also lots of early criticisms of the GUI layout and again they addressed this with a fw update.
And yes… I too have a bricked Sony Ericsson Android phone because they didn’t release a fw update to fix a design issue… but the Nex/E/FE line is arguably Sony’s best work so far.
There has been critisim for the lack of a good bracketing function since the NEX-series was released though. So i can’t agree on that Sonys track record with FW updates is that great.
No manufacturer has added every feature people asked for in a fw update or even in a top of the line camera release. Adding focus peaking so people could other manufacturers’ lenses is more than generous, especially coming from the king of proprietary 🙂 The interface customisation is also a great sign of Sony listening to what current users want.
Yeah, well… yeah. 🙂
My primary wish is that they just add a macro (script) record + playback function though and that one could add those via a computer (via USB-connector or WIFI) since one then can both write and share stuff easily. Such a function would solve most problems people have with simple functions such as bracketing since one then could just program something like (pseudo code):
takePicture(EV:0);
takePicture(EV:2);
takePicture(EV:-2);
The WIFI-api already got similar functions but it would be much, much.. more useful just to be able to create macros and play them back and bind them to the custom buttons.
I think this is the one that finally lures in more of the A-mount crowd, though…. Also, releasing a hot new product right before Xmas never hurt any company.
Nope, that’s not the one. A9 may be, if they put A6000-type AF in there.
A6000 AF with -4 EV sensitivity! Go Sony!
This does claim -1Ev, which is well sufficient for pretty much 98% of work. That -4Ev in A7s is best of anything, ever. D4s claims the same though.
I actually tried an A6000 the other day. The AF is seriously impressive.
The A9 is supposedly improved over the A6000 (not surprising) and if Sony manage to improve on low light AF, they will have a genuine winner.
Well, they’re luring me in… 🙂
Yes, it’s commonly known fathers buy 6000 dollar gear for christmas…
That is the great thing about the simple construction of these cameras….No more 4 year life cycles!!!
This looks good and thumbs up for moving shutter release button (does it still have AA?)
Ok, we’re getting there.
Now, please:
– drop the SCN thing (these are after all pro cameras….), and add one or two more custom memories instead; you can even leave an empty space, just remove the darn thing
– put the zoom on the button inside the multi-control gear, where it should rightfully be
– electronic shutter (I don’t want to go back to scaring half the woods population like in my Pentax 6×7 days)
– put a 50 or 140* megapixel sensor in there 🙂
Oh, and please all of the above for less than 2000€ would be nice :)))
*btw, no, these are not monster resolutions that will clog your pc: I usually work on (stitched or medium and large format scans) files between 60 and 180 megapixels without a hitch on my 3 years old iMac (with plenty of ram, of course, but all the rest stock). I’ve just have to wait 20-30s when I first load a 180Mp file in Lightroom at 100%, but after that the processing is buttery smooth
When there are features to make cameras usable for dummies, there is larger market for a camera, and you, professional photographer, win because prices become lower.
50 mpx is obviosuly reserved for A9 (or A9R)
Then I guess I will have just to cover the thing with a black sharpie 🙂
So 1 file loads 20-30s. Imagine you got several hundred from an event to look at.
Also I can imagine buffer filling up instantly with 60Mp files…
I hope Sony keeps releasing bodies with reasonable resolution, like 12Mp.
Every digital camera I have used had selectable resolution in the menu… even 1 MP.
Yeah but not for RAW…
Get a Canon.
These resolution are not for event photography, obviously. As they say: horses for courses.
For events and general photography I agree with you: 12Mp are more than enough, even if you print fairly big. But for natural (not just cityscapes) landscapes (lots and lots of finer and finer details in the wilderness) the more the better.
My view could be a bit skewed though, because growing up shooting extremely costly film (I used to spend my allowance on Ektachrome 64) I’m still used to shoot sparingly: when I reach 100 pictures in a full day shooting (considering in the number multiple shots for hdr and stitching) it has been a field day…and if I’m out with the medium format gear I rarely shoot more than 12-15 pictures in a day!
So there will be A7R II & A7S II coming as well? 😛
a7RII with IBIS, fixed shutter mechanism and better AF would indeed be interesting..
Yes, 36Mp sensor with Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter
Wow, Now imagine A7sII with 5 Axis stablization and a Mitakon 50mm 0.95. Handheld milkyway shots? 🙂
The battery would run dry before exposure completes 😛
Yes, well now we wait.
Would have enjoyed seeing a Global Shutter but this Camera has some crazy noise processing features that (along with the improved Stabilizer) promise a somewhat better than expected result,
I do not know why they did not start with the “R”, it would have made more sense (to me; but I do not run the Company and they seem to be doing OK without me in charge :).
any word if it has improved weather sealing over a7r/a7s/a7? and is the mount all metal like the a7s?
They claim a more robust mount in the literature, and given the body redesign it seems entirely plausible.
No mention of improved sealing, it’s a different body (though mainly in the same shape) so it could be better or worse…
This isn’t the full pro model. I believe a9 will incorporate everything possible and that’ll be the body they will put up against D4s and 1Dx. Including weather sealing.
This is up against 5d3 and b610 and does well in its range.
I’ve always maintained that IBIS on E mount was technically possible, even with FF and that Sony never said it wasn’t. Many claimed it was impossible, I heard some rely on a certain Sony representative at an event claiming it wasn’t possible, which in my opinion made no technical sense, only marketing sense.
And here we have confirmation. A mount lenses (and the adapter) just got a boost again too.
Unfortunately the long term prospects for survival of A-mount didn’t get a boost. There are very few reasons that can justify long term A-mount body releases now that IBIS seems to be in Sony’s long term plans for E-mount. The future of A-mount appears to almost certainly rest with adapters.
Maybe not long term, but shorter term, 3 A mount lens updates were announced too (70-300, 16-35 and 24-70).
Here’s hoping that the top tier portrait primes (85 and 135) are next in line for an update.
The long term test is if Sony release new optical designs and new bodies in A-mount.
90/2.8 has been rumored.
Hmm, yes, a new LAE-5 with more focus points seems all of a sudden to be more desirable now than the A99ii! Not?
For some people, yes, it will be.
But why is that such a bad thing? If AF can be made as good, IBIS is better than on A mount bodies, and Sony comes out with some chunkier DSLR-styled bodies what future *should* A mount have other than adapters? Honest question, nothing against A mount.
I didn’t say it was a bad thing. I agree with you.
Sony I have THREE main questions, did you make in A7II:
– RAW 14Bit?
– Quieter shutter?
– Longer battery life?
Sony has been having 14-bit raw for a while… if you’re trying to be smart with the raw compression talk, you need to know that one of the reasons why people want raw is for the smooth transitions that come as a result of high precision data… that was never compromised by the “compression”. It’s only the abrupt/low precision transitions that were affected.
And I doubt the shutter is quieter… also don’t see battery life being better since it’s the same battery and there’s now IBIS.
Sure, we make many things in A7II.
We also make cofee. You want some?
I would like to know the Build in 5 Axis Image Stabilization works with other lenses? Or the lens has to be made by Sony? Thanks
There’s no reason why they’d disable that. Sony has always promoted the use of third party lenses from day one of the Nex/E line.
Without knowing the focal length there’s no way to know how much to move the sensor in response to detected motion, so it’s not a case of disabling it with other lenses, but it would take more effort to get it to work with other lenses (there’d have to be a UI and menu options for selecting focal length, then what would you do with a zoom lens etc.) which probably hasn’t been done.
As long as the lens has contacts and can “talk” to the body, the IBIS should work automatically.
If there are no contacts at all then you have to manually set the focal lenght of the lens via menu.
This is what happens with Olympus bodies and it works great.
What about zooms?
Same thing. If no electronic contacts, you have to set manually at every different FL. If there’re electronic contacts, auto IBIS.
This is nothing new… Check Olympus and Pentax
It would be new to Sony – the A mount cams with IBIS don’t support this, so why would the E cameras automatically be different?
I seriously hope they have this feature, but it’s by no means guaranteed!
The philosophies between A and E are very different. They’re doing it right with the E mount.
As per admin’s latest announcements, you can dial in the focal lengths as I said before.
Sony owns a big chunk of Olympus.
Does this also mean new lenses won’t need to have OSS, and they will be of a smaller factor?
There’s a menu to set FL for IBIS:
http://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/1466/1462/original.jpg?w=600&h
Excellent, thanks.
Ibis works with any lens on a mount bodies.
This camera is so close to release I wonder if they have sent some review models out in the wild in Japan and some Japanese photographers already have reviews ready?
I want IBIS to automatically straighten skewed horizons 😀
Not doable.
Even if there was enough sensor play to correct a let’s say a 2% skewed horizon (which most probably there isn’t) then you’d lose the play to correct for shake.
What you are asking is to divert the use of your most effective weapon on a very secondary target to which it’s not even efficient.
He was joking…
No I wasn’t
LOL
Wouldn’t you settle instead for the camera to write a skew% tag in EXIF that would be automatically read and corrected by your RAW developer of choice?
That’s what I do when I spot a skewed image, I correct in Post.
Correction of skew in post requires small crop and degrades sharpness.
And it’s better to make it right in the first place
I don’t think the horizon scope (or whatever it’s called) on the camera is sensitive enough to straighten 0.5%
I think you’ll notice a degradation due to lack of IBIS 10x faster than you will (if ever) notice a degradation from a 2% rotation (if you use the right resampling algo).
But… to each his own.
You’re imposing a false dichotomy.
the play to correct for shake would be lost only when the sensor is on boundary. if, say, IBIS can correct 2% and I want to straighten 0.5%, the amount of play decreases to 1.5% instead of 2%
Where are the nay-sayers now? 😀 Bye bye A-mount 🙂
Not yet. 3 A mount lens updates announced too (70-300, 16-35 and 24-70).
There are plenty more lenses out there for the average A mount user to buy but it doesn’t make the argument for A mount any stronger.
No, but it makes the argument that it’s bye-bye-gone, weaker.
Cool:
“If an E-mount lens with OSS is attached, the camera will detect it and use a combination of in-lens and in-body stabilization.”
It means it will be able to function very well on lenses with really long focal length too!
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/5893009647/sony-announces-alpha-7-ii-full-frame-mirrorless-camera-with-5-axis-is
What did I say? The more you wish, the faster you get!
Well done SAR wish-list makers!
Omg!! where is the 120fps 720p slomo? ><" unbelieveable
Could this camera consolidate my Nikon FF + m43 world? Partially.
Good stuff:
– great body
– up-to-date specs
Not so great:
– remarkably unimpressive lens line-up (even keeping 3rd party products in mind). The dire lense topic alone might push me in the Fujifilm direction.
– no touch screen, no buy. The combination of a touch screen with direct controls works extremely well on products such as the GX7. Would never want to give that up.
– lack of 4k video with internal recording. It is not an absolute must but it’s still hard to believe Sony is not advancing this.
– silent shutter. I seem to need this less than other people but I would first want to check this aspect before a purchase. Electronic shutter would be nice as an option.
Enjoy your full frame fuji…
Best stay with m43, unless you know if a Fuji with decent video, internal 4k, and a touchscreen.
I don’t understand how people don’t understand a technological breakthrough when it appears.
The important news is that Sony managed to stuck IBIS into A7 body – that’s great!
A7 cameras in the very near future (next year, or, very likely, next several months) will have touch screens, 4k and silent shutter. This is the cheapest A7 – some things ought to be omitted.
As for the lenses – I’m not a pro, but even I shoot with only one lens (sel50f18) and occasionally add two more. If you are a pro, you will be specialized in one area only, and you won’t need more than 4 lenses for whatever you need.
With the line-up of already presented lenses and lenses that are rumored to be announced in the next 6 months, you’re covered for wedding photography, street photography, photo journalism, landscape photography, macro and astrophotography. The only areas that are not covered are sports and wildlife photography (fast tele lenses with good focus speeds). Although, I’m quite impressed by that 500mm f/10 photograph shot at 1/50…
****************************************************************************************
Dear A-mount users.
Stop complaining.
Learn from the E-mount wish-list makers and start wishing for your dream camera.
It will come true!!
Just look at what happened here!
****************************************************************************************
I have a revision for you:
Dear A and E mount users,
Stop complaining. If you are unable to achieve the photos you hope for or envision, it is not Sony’s fault – they have done everything to enable amazing photography with their tools. If you are dissatisfied with your photos, blame the 5 inches behind the camera and seek to improve your craft through improving your skills and expanding your vision. Painters or sculptors cannot blame their brushes or chisels for lousy work, photographers no longer have any excuses.
Be careful what you wish for…
C.
This has been true for decades. I think that the availability of technology today allows people to wish for more and more gear and the achieve-ability of technical details on photography allows for people to wish for features more and more.
This is the spoiled character of today’s consumers, not professionals and not advanced enthusiasts who understand a thing or three about craft.
SAR must be 92% consumer, 6% advanced enthusiasts and 2% professionals.
The sad thing is that this 92% people seek to “find their own vision” at the expense of the technical prowess of photography gear today, holding it accountable for their own failure while attempting to learn from iconic imagery made with tools far more primitive than what they carry in their pocket today.
This is the sad state of affairs that makes me wish Sony wouldn’t be an “all listening” company because features alone do not make great cameras.
You must be a Canon Rebel XTi user. 🙂
1D-x and a99 actually, but I could take great photos with a rebel.
Plus side, might be worth hanging on to my beercan. Minus side, now I want to upgrade again…
Jap source says A7m2 will be sold alongside with the older A7 models.
http://www.digitalcamera.jp/
Bad idea. Better discontinue the A7 ASAP and develop the A7R/S replacements as well
Good news about vintage/non-electronic lenses is from engadget.com:
“If E-mount lenses are used, however, the body will correct in just three directions and let the lens do the rest. The type of stabilization used is shown in the display, and you can even manually input the focal length for a better result. All of that will help reduce blur in low-light situations, even with a vintage lens.”
I am a Canon user (have been a Sony user but I hated the colors), but this camera is just too good to pass up. This combined with the Zeiss FE 35mm and IBIS could provide awsome video results, and also great photo results. I am seriously thinking about getting one. To be honest, I wish they made a more compact model without the EVF and its hump but I think I am in minority here. And the IBIS probably wouldn’t fit without the hump.
Man, I hate the Canon colors…
Just be aware that the FE35 has Focus-by-wire. Not optimal for video.
You left Sony because of Sony’s color? omg, this is the 1st time I heard something like this, most people came to Sony because of its Minolta vivid color! you should consider switching again since Canon’s color is all over magenta and green!
not big deal – nikon d750 beats it, specially when it comes to autofocus, DR and high-ISO performance…
care to share how do you activate IBIS in Nikon D750? we all want to know.
really, do you thing IBIS is THAT important?? go take some pics, dude!
just because you don’t want it doesn’t mean other people don’t needed
it moron.
Yes, I think 4,5 stops makes a bit of difference. D750 isn’t bad, this just seems to be hell of a lot better.
nikon d750 is only 100g HEAVIER! and is a much better camera!!!!
It is not a much better camera. I’ve shot it- it’s a so so camera. 1/4000th shutter speed? What is this, 2004? Exterior build is mediocre, shutter is loud. You know what you’re paying for? Your paying for the dual card slots and awesome grip….plus a bit of a tweeked Sony sensor. Is that worth 2300.00 dollars? Hellllllll NOOOOOOO. 6.5FPS….sllllllooooooowwwwwww. Skip.
Real-life DR and high ISO will be the same because it is the same sensor. But D750 beats it in AF and sequential fps for sure. And the most important – lens availability and prices. Nikon 70-300/4-5.6 is $129, for sports shooting lack of stabilization is OK as shutter speeds should be about 1/1000s anyway. Sone FE 70-200 is $1500, A-mount 70-300/4.5-5.6 is $1000 and requires $350 adapter to work…
Something like 24-120/4 kit for D750 is not even available for FE, while it is a no-brainer kit for D750 for reasonable $600 or so (in the kit).
most exciting camera in the last decade, a true revolution in FF cameras. THIS is the so great.
problem is the incredibly poor lens availability. will IBIS work with adapters for other lenses?
because if not it will be kinda pointless and worthless since most lenses are already overpriced and have IS.
Adapters my friend. Sony has given us focus peaking …
but will IBIS work with non native lens?
What is the likelihood there will be IBIS in a 7R replacement? Or will they keep it A7 only as a selling feature. I’m waiting for a replacement A7R to get into their system.
My biggest reasons not to buy the current A7R
1) Noisy shutter
2) Short Battery life
3) 36mp sensor is several years old.
4) No 2.8 zooms
Same here.
1) and 3) I agree
4) is a matter of what you shoot, obviously (I prefer fast fixed focal lengths anyway)
2) the batteries are so small and light that you can pop 3 of them in a pocket and forget they are here
and in my case:
5) close enough to the sweet spot, but no cigar. With that I mean that for what I shoot (mostly natural landscapes) and how big I want to be able to print (around 50x50in max) I’ve found the “sweet spot” in resolution (or at least the minimum threshold of “good-enough-ingness”) to be around 50 megapixels.
6) an awful lot of full size examples I saw online (raw files) appeared to suffer from micro-blur from, presumably, shutter slap even when shot on a tripod. I remember the same thing used to happen with the Pentax 6×7 if you didn’t use a solid enough tripod+head system. And no, I don’t want to lug around again my 5Kg tripod + 1Kg Arca head, ever! 🙂
“Finally the shutter button is on the place where it always should have been…on top of the grip ”
But the video record button is still very poorly placed on the upper half of the rear grip. . .
Where would you like it? As this is no video camera, I sure am glad I won’t bump into it when handling my camera
The A7s was conceived primarily as a video camera Ole and both the A7 and A7r were designed for decent quality full frame video functionality, other than the placement of the video record button that is. . . It should be on the top plate or on the back-plate, but definitely not buried under one’s hand as one is holding the camera.
Hopefully they’ve made it re-assignable, but probably not. However, I’m actually fine with it’s location – I think they just need to make it protrude from the body and easier to press.
Do you own any non stabilized lenses? This ll version weights 25% more and is few mm thicker.
It’s another model, not an upgrade man 🙂
So this is a major breakthrough announcement (with IBIS) that came out of the left field, and SAR got it one day before from another site (there was one tiny IBIS rumor via the Sony marketing mistake thought)… So, all the trusted sources seem to have been working on other things it seems. Anyway, time to order the LAE-3..
It seems like a design upgrade (relocation of 2nd scroll wheel, C1/C2 custom options at finger tip, power option changed, etc) and a minor technical upgrade with the 5-axis SSI. So … my question, is that really worth it to folks? Maybe …. just not over my current setup.
whoever decided to stick to this stupid retro design should be executed. has any serious photographer ever realised how much less the view finder in the corner of a nex 7 (or a leica) puts between you and your subject?
A couple of centimeters?
This design kicks ass! The Nex looked nothing like a Leica anyway. It wasn’t a rangefinder more of a bar of soap.
This design is awesome!
Does IBIS fix “shutter vibration”?
a7 didn’t suffer from it in the first place.
Huh. Was it just the a7r? I wonder why
Better resolution, no AA filter (both making blur more noticeable) and no electronic first curtain (more movement and energy), use the full mechanical shutter on the A7 and you will start to have problems too (less pronounced than on the A7r, but noticeable nonetheless if you’re searching for it).
I would guess the A7s exhibits it too when using the full mechanical shutter but it’s lower resolution make it hardly noticeable in my experience.
Huh. Was it just the a7r? I wonder why that would be.
Does anyone know if the front cover is still plastic or have they made it metal now like the a7r’s?
I’m curious about the changes in form factor for the A9 and also how Sony is going to divide their FF E-mount bodies from now on, I doubt that after the A9 they are going to keep 3 line ups for the A7 family.