Note: Sony A7m2 preorders will be available the coming week (likely around November 27). I will inform you when those will be online. For now the camera is only listed on Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony Italy, Sony France, Sony Australia, Digitalrev. With only preorders accepted at Amazon Japan.
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).
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These are the very first real extensive hands-on pictures and reports coming from Sonyshop-satouchi, Biglobo and Yagumo-Camera. You can see many new details on these pictures like the different battery and connection slot (Click on them to see the larger version). The sites also do report a lot of other details:
– The A7mII feels really good in hand. Shutter button is easy to touch now and it’s easier to hold lenses due the larger grip
– A7m2 has not “4D focus” as the a6000 because the number of AF points doesn’t meet the required standard
– AF speeds is as fast as the A6000 anyway
– Sony again repeats the 5 axis stabilization has been developed by Sony and is not taken from Olympus
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191 Responses
1st blood! v(^.^) thanks admin for update A7II
The ergonomics and ipso facto the haptics of the A7 MII look to be far superior to that of the original A7. Imagine how many millions Sony would have saved if they had just gotten it right the first time. Let’s just hope the new 5 axis feature doesn’t need a second gen learning curve as well.
It’s what happens when you rush a product to market and then change the design so close to launch. This time it appears it is the PR launch itself they have rushed.
It’s always a rush to the market with new products! You do not save money when you take it easy. You loose momentum, sales comes later, competion comes before you etc. Sony just does what the market economy demands. OK an updated version after one year. Perfect Sony
And why didn’t the Ford Model -T have hydraulic brakes and fuel injection? What a stupid comment.
Yes, if only Ford would have waited 30 years to introduce the Model T. What was he thinking? 🙂
I guess you can see it as a rush to market or the fact that they are listening to the feedback. Either way it seems a be a more functional body design.
It is evident in the picture that Sony needs to start focusing on native lenses that are proportionate to the size of the camera body. With that adapter and lens, I don’t see any advantage over using a full frame DSLR. And, I don’t even use DSLRs anymore.
I am sure it will be a good camera (if they resolved their quality control issues and stopped cooking their raw files). But, without a full set of high-quality native lenses, the system is still in its infant stage. And, I am not a fan of AA filters (an A7r II would be better) as you shouldn’t have to sharpen your images to get seemingly sharp images.
I think the A7II is very attractive for A-mount users as the can now use both mounts lenses on the same body and have full functionality (IBIS). There are many A-mount user who see the advantage of having a smaller camera body and being able to use them with small FE lenses or manual glas, something you simply can’t do on a SLT or SLR. There might be no need for a second body then. With the A7II for me Sony’s claims about “one-alpha-system” suddenly makes much more sense.
I agree on the AA filter, I hope they’ll remove them from their new cameras. For landscapers it makes such a big difference, actually bigger than the one from 24 vs 36MP. Is the AA filter in the A7II confirmed?
I think the —> A7.2 <—- is very attractive as well
With IBIS that’s one more reason to just use M-mount lenses and be done with it.
the problem with M-mount lenses is, they are very expensive because of their mechanical rangefinder coupling. Many of them are also not optimized for digital sensors. In my opinion it makes sense for M-lens users to invest in and A7II or A7s as an alternative to the expensive Leica bodies, but as an A7 (r/s/II) user I would rather buy the modern Zeiss Loxia lenses that are much more convenient to use (MF zoom), have Exif, are lighter, don’t need an adapter and are probably cheaper than their M-counterparts. There are some really small and relatively cheap Voigtlaenders in M-mount though and they are optimized for digital bodies. Those are the only ones I’d personally consider buying new.
ZMs and VMs are much cheaper, and it’s not that there are no usable E lenses, he could replace the ones that he thinks are too big with M-mount lenses. And there are working lenses(I mean minimal smear and color shift) at every focal range.
Besides, some third party M-mount lenses aren’t even coupled.
————————
I don’t trust lenses that aren’t fully mechanical, they could easily die out with a mount or something.
great job by Sony!
Three things I´m curious about:
1) Now that there is a second generation A7II and an A9 coming soon, what will happen to the A7s and A7r? Will Sony release an A7rII and A7sII with 5-axis stabilization too?
2a) Is the A7II sensor newly designed, or the A7 sensor with some changes and tweaks?
2b) If Sony releases an A7sII and A7rII, what will most likely be the sensor in those – new, or an overhauled first-gen sensor?
3) Is there any intel on the likely MP-count for the A9?
I think the A7r and A7s are such specialized cameras (landscape and video), I doubt Sony will release an update soon for those 2. Both of these cameras don’t gain much from IBIS as well, and Sony’s G video lenses already have OIS.
My guess is, both of these cameras are going to be replaced by an A9, probably with some new sensor tech that has high resolution AND high sensitivity as well as 4k capability combined. But I might be wrong and that’s just what I’d wish for 😉
Your words in god´s ear, so to speak…
If that were true, a camera combining more MPs than A7r/Nikon D800, low light (downsampled) and video performance comparable to A7s, including 5-axis stabilization and A6000 like af-system, then I would gladly bankrupt myself for such a gem….!
answer to Q1: A7, A7r, A7S just a begining point to show off our (Sony) capabilities (sport/studio/low light photography & video), as well as test the water (market response). No worries, IBIS will be new baseline for all camera onward regardless APS-C/FF. After A9 (highest FF model in 2015), we will release another mirrorless FF which will mixed of both great stuff from A7r/A6000. Watching out for the model A8. However, we will watch over market opportunity if there is demand, we will make.believe!
answer to Q2a: A7M2 sensor is tweak sensor with some components upgrade such as motherboard and processor to catch up the processing speed and enabled XACV S, etc.
answer to 2b: A9 will be 1st generation incorporated with APSC. while A8 which is replacement for A7r will be new sensor but not APSC. This to offer not so high MP while improving low light ISO performance. you guess it 🙂
answer to 3: A9 is 28MP APSC sensor
1st blood!
Stop confusing people. Its called APCS.
You should spell out the acronyms, that one in particular is not well know. APSC = Active-Pixel Color Sampling
http://petapixel.com/2014/11/12/sony-plans-wants-take-dynamic-range-incredible-heights-active-pixel-color-sampling-sensors/
That sounds very promising and helps tie everything together. Many great options to look forward to. Thanks
A9 would be FF. A9000 would be apsc.
corrections
…..a second generation A7.2….
…will Sony release an A7r.2 and A7s.2….
…Is the A7.2 sense newly…
….If Sony releases an A7s.2 and A7r.2….
“Like the different battery”…
Well, Andrea, according to the specs (Sony site) the A7II uses exactly the same battery as all the other A7s and some good old NEX: NP-FW50.
“..like the different battery and connection slot.”
admin meant the battery slot, not the battery
yep 🙂
Ok, fair enough.
I’m probably too picky.
I’d written “different battery slot and grip connection”… ;P
Correction:
I’d have written… LOL
This must be the most gorgeous camere I’ve ever seen. I’m new to sony and this will be my first sony camera. Just sold by canon 6d,canon 35 L,85 1.2 L ii,24-70 L ii is next… So it was a big decision…but…I think I won’t regret it.
You won’t. You’ll just need to get used to the EVF.
The first second I tried the EVF(a7s)…I was like…WHY aren’t canon and nikon doing this!!!Oh…canonitis…
Same here, I largely prefer EVFs. With a few exceptions, it is the better solution.
Man you could’ve kept the 85/1.2, there’s no Sony equivalent and it could be used with electronic adapters.
I’ll get the FD…I got it figured out already…:-)
Good choice！
I doubt this is true, but if it is, you are either a paid shill or you are going to regret it – I could never even think of such a heresy.
Why regret it…
1. 35L has far less IQ than the sigma 35 wich I’ll get it (had 2 copies…focused like shit on 6D…with the evf I’ll have no issues)
Besides, the new distagon 35 1.4 will be 100% great…just check the leica mount version.
2.85 1.2…I’ll get the FD…cheaper and lightweight… 1.0kg of glass wasn’t funny…and from the leftover I’ll get the sony 55 1.8
3.24-70 2.8…yeah…can’t replace it… But didn’t used it too much anyway…primes are far better. The zeiss 16-35 will suit me much better…
And the 6D…I don’t think I’ll miss it…it was an ok FF camera…not much more to say.
So…why regret it…DSLR’s are old tech…they aren’t dead just smell bad. I’ll jump again on canon side as soon as they release someting truly new…and I see a point to it. At this point in time I see no reason to carry the prism, mirror, shutter,added weight with me…just because it’s canon. I’m not waiting to burry my invested money in the same grave with EF
Already replyed…but used a bad word to describe sigma 35 vs canon 35 and post is gone.
You are wrong…
Stay with canon if you like it that much…I wasn’t a fan of anyone just want good value for money, not old tech repackaged again and again…not to mention crippled…I had a 6d…
I have a 24-70 2.8 II if you are interested 🙂
Repackaged = tried and tested.
Crippled = pay more, you will get more.
Innovation = the customer is the beta tester.
Pushing the envelope = see how far I can get before the customers burn down the hq.
Let me put ti this way: if you won’t regret it, you never needed it in the first place. You would not be alone.
no…
repackaged=marketing (make the most income with as little to no actual improvements)
crippled=marketing (yes…I could afford to pay more…but for what? 5Dmk3 is missing the wifi…sensor is a bit behind the 6D, weight and size is too much…I would rather buy the A7R and A7S that one 5Dmk3)
Innovation= what I’m seeing from sony…so far…they have great QA so no need for beta testing… BUT… with the A72 it seems that they actually care about what the customers say…so please wait another 5 years for the 7dmk3 :D(with same old sensor)…
“Let me put ti this way: if you won’t regret it, you never needed it in the first place. You would not be alone.”
This is tipical fanboy internet attack. I see what the problem is here… your are a canon fan boy. I’m not, I was a canon user…
A camera to me is just a camera…a man made device. I choose to evolve with technology…no use in caring that prism, shutter, mirror and added side effects. If you like to stay with canon please do… I don’t care. 🙂 enjoy
yes …5dmk3 has a better AF… but can’t actually
complain about the 6D, it focused very good with the 85 even at 1.2
That’s a nice assortment of Canon glass, you’re making a big decision. Hope you’re happy with the new kit.
We’ll see…hope so…
I wonder without a touchscreen, how many focus points would be of any actual use anyway? Not that any of that is really necessary.
Focus points on the A7 don’t work like on a DSLR i.e. you can’t just select a focus point. you can have a square that you move around just like CDAF (moving the box around is slow), or the presets of wide, zone etc.. I eneded learning this the hard way after I bought my A7. Still I love the camera.
It’s the same thing, if it doesn’t make some focus points even harder to access…
Well, it looks great. Now they just need to fix that grip.
Why, does it fall off?
Lol, what?
Is this camera being produced in Thailand?
Is this A7 properly weather sealed?
They are all sealed well enough.
Really? Have you tried them all? Do you do much shooting outdoors?
Nope, I haven’t. But if they can stand running water as evidenced by videos, then surely they are protected well enough.
I see, you have not tried anything but you’ve been watching videos. Thanks for your penetrative insight!
Feel free to provide a better advice.
One thing I’m worried about is the grip, which now is even less high due to the button and wheel on front. The fact its deeper doesnt help here.
Actually I find the opposite to be true. The biggest problem I had with the A7 grip was how shallow it was. It was an awkward grip design that didn’t fit any natural position of my hand, at best leaving a bunch of empty space between my fingers and the front of the grip. This grip looks substantially better in that it should fill out the hand more naturally, which will lead to a more sure grip.
Your point about the height of the grip still stands though, it is much too short on either design. Here’s hoping that the A9 casts off any misguided attempts to be compact to the detriment of ergonomics.
It looks… big lol. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Could this be the hybrid model that was rumored last year???
I’m not stupid…just slightly. One thing I do know, A9R is coming. I’ll wait for the big boy.
The new hand grip on the camera looks good. I don’t have a problem with the current shutter placement but the A7II looks more like the NEX 7 placement which I find more natural. I do struggle to find the custom button though next to it without looking where I have focus magnification.
Camera looks great. Sure to be a successful game changer.
Vertical grip seems better than a7X version… BUT… We lost the lower shutter button of Alpha style. Forces hand to raise higher, more difficult to keep right elbow on chest. That was a distinctive Alpha advantage over CaNikon.
Olympus OM1-4, Leica R8/9 and S2 all provided lower shutter release like Alpha are supposed to. Sony/Minolta did it better by making vertical release nearly identical to horizontal release, with button on the same plane as viewfinder.
The way this release is designed, requiring hand so high on grip, isn’t much different than not using grip at all and shooting with hand on top of standard grip. Not easy for the portrait photographer shooting all day to keep hand raised so high. Better to lower the button and keep right elbow on chest for comfort and stability.
Vertical button on top like that is more susceptible to accidental firing. Alpha style lower is hidden and protected from that. My a7R grip must be turned off when using normal release because the palm of my hand accidentally fires the release when holding horizontal. The designers would change this back to Alpha style if they were forced to use it all day on assignment.
They didn’t design it to make Alpha users more comfortable. They designed it so CaNikon converts would feel more at home after switching. Smart move Sony!
I can’t mount tripod onto LAEA-4 adapter when vertical grip is attached onto a7. This doesn’t look any better. Kind of thoughtless.
Pity the battery life is so crap.
Soon it will be like in the old days when you had to change after 36 shots
And 36 exposures was a big roll of film with the standard being 24 shots. But now people cry about getting 350 shots on a battery.
And it’s a lot easier to change a battery than rethread a roll of film.
There’s an easy workaround.
Wish they kill those old strap lugs and get rid of the protrusions that bite hands. Why not style them recessed into body like on the vertical grip? A 2015 camera design can get rid of strap lugs from the 1930’s.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the announced AF speedup w/regard to A7 was the effect of using 5-axis stabilization while focusing without any change to the AF system itself. I wish they included this 5-axis IBIS in the A99m2 together with stabilized EVF during focusing/composing, A77m2-alike. This could mean a great improvement of AF usability compared to A99.
It is a processor / software upgrade it seems, bringing the ‘smarts’ of the A6000 to the A7 sensors which while having PDAF had a lousy implementation. This has the same multi point tracking etc from the A6000.
Yes, except that the PDAF points are grouped in the middle and not spread over the whole frame like the A6000.
That will probably be solved with the A9.
Overall, this seems like a solid upgrade.
It can’t be, because it would also mean different speed of A7 focusing with ois and non-ois lenses.
is there a silent shutter?
No, but high blood pressure is the silent killer.
Does anybody else think that the battery door on the A7II looks substantially bigger than on the a7? Could there possibly be an expanded Infolithium W type battery that will become available for this camera?
No, same battery, but better sealed and thus slightly bigger door.
that would be A7.2 right?
The a7ii looks beefed up!!
a7ii: Do you even lift, bro??
a7: ……
you mean A7.2?
It’s the grip. They respond to people saying they like the grip better on larger cameras by making the grip larger. The difference in size of the rest of the A7II vs the A7 is small. The increase in the grip size is significant.
That picture with the hand holding the camera: it looks just as big as my D600 with a grip! Someone mentioned that these were the cameras to get me to switch, but the size advantage has just disappeared. And then I gotta put adapters on just to use my lenses- if anything, this makes me less likely to consider switching.
Then keep your D600, and don’t forget the sensor cleaning kit. 🙂
One of the pluses of being a D600 owner is that you can add “sensor cleaning” to your resume as a skill/proficiency.
Oil spill cleanup. LOL
The BP of cameras!
The resale value of the D600 is about equal to recycled oats (horse shi*) so you might as well keep it.
And my nex7 is worth less than that!
You have to factor in the size of the sensor cleaning kit before you consider switching.
That person clearly has little baby hands.
The D600 is almost a new camera, why would you even consider replacing it so soon, Are you just trolling.
Keep the Nikon, are you mad? And the mount does not wobble! Use it man, enjoy it, take it to rough places, it can do things this toy can only dream about.
That’s right, it was designed to use in the mud, the blood and the oil. Opps, did I say oil.
Plus it’s virtually worthless on the used market, use is and abuse it until it dies. Then throw it in the trash like any other plastic throw away item. You may want to keep the sensor, that’s the only quality part on the whole camera.
I actually own both nikon and Sony (nex7), I was just saying that one of the incentives people use to dump the dslr and jump ship to an A7 is the size difference and that send to be a non issue now. But I agree, the nex7 is my teeny camera, and the d600 is my work camera.
Who do you work for, are you a full-time pro? I’m just a beginner but I love to hear what you professionals do. I would love to do photography after I finish college. Thanx,
Hi Jen – I would say the first thing you should do is figure out what kind of photography you like to do. It fits with so many different genres, that it would be impossible to plan based on a general interest. I work in a studio full-time that specializes in very technical reproduction.
your logic is highly flawed. lenses for your caveman camera are still the same size on either camera..yet the alpha camera itself is still smaller and therefor setup is small and lighter… use a-mount Or e-mount..with a removable adapter..as needed. more e-mount lenses are becoming available..sony and zeiss and G most humbly apologizes just to you their time machine wouldnt allow faster development of FE lenses to happen more quicklys than 1 years. but there coming.
Relax, relax, we are all here to have fun. You go back watching your star trek huh? Good boy.
i am having fun. are you not, captain?
Your too emotional..your not supposed to have fun.
It’s gushing oil captain, I just don’t understand it. Give me everything you got Scotty, we can clean up the oil spots later.
Lock photon torpedos on the oil spots, fire when ready!
You could just send it into Nikon repair for a shutter replacement and prevent an inter-galactic war.
Nonsense, those oil Klingons have be edging for a fight. We settle it now.
But captain, the oil just keeps coming back, even after a shutter replacement.
Lock on and fire full phasors, blow that camera to hell. Then replace it with a shiny new A7II.
Lock on and fire full phasors, blow that camera to Hades, then replace it with a shiny new A7II.
Ooooooooo I have a fan!
One free repair later, and the enterprise is ready to crush some Klingon butt!
But one of the big incentives everyone mentions to switch is that I don’t have to go buy new lenses, but add the adapter and all of a sudden I’ve got a camera as big as the original without autofocus.
Man man, I hope you will try extensively before you buy!!
Not planning on buying. After all, the a7 is only half a pound lighter, slightly smaller, and you lose most of that after you clamp a metabones on there just so you can take advantage of the wonderful world of nikon glass!
I fully agree, some ounces less will not make up for a totally inferior camera. Your Nikon will still sing in many light situations when this one already raised the white flag.
And that is where your logic fails. If you are coming from Canon or Nikon and are going to switch then buck up and switch. Ditch your lenses and commit to the FE mount. You will have a small, fast and capable system. If there is something you need that isn’t in the lineup, then get the LAEA-4 and the comparable A-mount lens. The Minolta and Sony/Zeiss lenses are just as good, and in some cases better than the Canon and Nikon stuff and you will retain AF. It is so painful to watch the Canikonians struggle with holding onto their lenses when the solution is right in front of them.
Except that Sony has not proven themselves to be committed to a lens mount. Have you seem a new APS-C lens roadmap? A working photographer needs to know that the system they marry will continue to be supported, and Sony is letting apsc and a mount either on the vine.
Spock suck kokk! HULK poet now!
So many answers, and not a single serious one. Just fanboys and trolls. Pathetic that they have to troll about the oil leak, as if Sony never has defects on their cameras. Just look at photos with banding, sensor reflections, light leaks, weak mount, lossy compression raw files.
I have a Nex-6 and an A6000, and the size difference is what kept me from going full frame, as small size is what got me into mirrorless in the first place.
With the IBIS and increased grip size they made the A7mII even bigger; nice camera feature wise, but no thanks, not for me.
If you don’t care about size, it’s a fantastic camera. But so are Nikon DSLRs, and those have probably more autofocus lenses available (for sure without adapters).
The A7mII might be slightly smaller, but what’s the point of going slightly smaller if you still need a bag/backpack? Smaller size imo makes sense only as long as it fits in a pocket or pouch so that you can have it always with you.
The A7mII can be nice for A-mount shooters, or for people who have many legacy lenses and love to manual focus. The A9 might get interesting in case it has a new sensor capable of leading in the IQ department, but so far these are only rumors.
For the rest I think you have a valid point.
Just my thought, everybody has different needs/opinions.
Banding? Not on mine. Sensor reflections? You put a hole in the body to put a mirror in that takes up otherwise unnecessary room that happens to absorb reflected light around it and wonder why cameras without it have sensor reflections? Light leaks? Tested, and about as much as Canon and Nikon models, besides, they don’t get in the way of usual short exposures, unlike the oil leak. Weak mount? Already fixed with the model in the page you’re commenting under? It doesn’t affect use with the native light E-mount lenses anyway, it mostly gets in the way with heavy adapted lenses, unlike the oil leak. Lossy RAW? It’s a choice of design rather than a defect. You don’t get some samples with and some samples without them.
The grip isn’t bigger, it’s longer but narrower. And compared to mirrorless, DSLRs are crap for the money. So many useless in-between models, such ridiculous pricing. Oh, at least K-3 is more worth the money than 7DII, the ridiculous pricing goes mostly for the big C&N.
Who calls that camera “A7m2”? A7M2 is a World War II aeroplane design by Mitsubishi, not a camera. The camera in question is called “Alpha 7 II” or “A7 II” in short.
Yes, it’s so easy to confuse a camera built in 2014 with a WW2 aeroplane. 🙂
Lighten up man – virtually nobody that is going to use this camera was alive when that airplane flew. 😉 And there isn’t a human being alive that will confuse the two. A7M2 is going to stick whether it was an airplane 70 years ago or not. 😉
Then it’s time to unstick it! I vote for A7.2 and that’s what I shall call it from now on. Everyone join me! A7.2 A7.2 A7.2 A7.2 A7.2 !!!!!
The tripod landing gear is sold seperately.
I guess It depends on level of education thou …
I personally know someone who was 11 when that airplane flew, and it was only recently that he bought a D7100, which is neither an A7 II nor an A7M2, but close enough to the former that he might just as well be interested in an A7 II 😉
I’m not convinced yet about “A7m2” going to stick, I’m still hoping that people see it’s neither a significant abbreviation nor a sensible one. Look at the “m” in it, it is without any obvious meaning. What does it stand for? “Model”? Why? “Mark”, like Canon does it? But while Canon’s cameras are actually called “Mark” something, Sony’s have never been and the A7 II isn’t, either, and it’s usually abbreviated “Mk”, anyway… 😉
So I didn’t notice it anywhere, but is this camera weather resistant?? I appreciate the various upgrades, but weather sealing is something I’d really like to have on my next camera upgrade. I’m not yet completely sold on the idea of going FF, so maybe the A7000 will be the camera for me??
Puny camera ashamed of puniness, compensate with huge lenses. A7 syndrome = Napoleon syndrome of cameradom. HULK has degree of camera psychology!
This camera has some great features for an entry/mid level camera.
IBIS of course is the major new feature.
Since the new pro level camera should also have IBIS I cant wait to see what the A9 will be like.
I would also imagine that the LAEA4 will be upgraded as it is due for one…and users of this these cameras on A mount lenses will want the fastest possible focus.
I am looking for the highest level camera I can get so will be anxiosly watching and waiting.
I also hope Sigma will be impressed enough by the new camera to build a Sony version of thier new 150-600 sport.
HULK hope Sigma will make much heavy lens. Will break puny wobble mounts, even HULK somtimes tired of SMASH!
Product design wise from an aesthetics point of view, the A7 mk1 is definately more harmonious and consistent. Some usability things like shutter button positioning have been improved. But design wise the A7II is no update really (telling from the pictures only). The vertical positioning of the plugs on the left side looked much better on the mk I. The way the body protrudes at where the display is does not look as nice and deliberate as on the Sony A7 mk1. The matte body finish will have it’s advantages, but the whole look of the camera is more blunt and won’t go as nicely with vintage or voigtländer and leica lenses as the A7I which had a nice and steampunked look to it. A7II design looks alot less sharp edged and deliberate. I can’t help myself, but next to the A7 mkI it kind of looks like a “mockup” or preproduction model… I hope sony will do better on the A7000!!!
Uh, Hipster complain modern Sony not look like Leica of cavemanage! Carrotjeans SMASH! nuts yours. HULK lol
Hipster? Not at all, 100kg Crossfit athlete here couldn’t even fit my forearm through carrot jeans lol. I’m a product design student and at least the A7s design was a USP over what else is on the market.
Uh, 100kg…like pectoralis major of HULK. Still a Leica hipster. Embrace it. Makes things easier.
If it were full brass or with a chrome finish I might call it steampunk, but the shape still says otherwise, totally don’t get how you reached that conclusion.
I think to me, as well as most other target consumers, the camera looked more blunt in that cheap shiny finish.
And it goes perfectly with vintage lenses, some lenses were even made in that (visually) exact finish. The finish reminds me of Kinoptik lenses. Doesn’t fit as well together with Sony’s own E-mount lenses though, especially some cheap grey ones, but I don’t think there are any grey ones that cover FF.
Fab camera, but I don’t like the matte paint as much as the traditional, shiny, paint of the original A7. It makes it look dull, and a little ‘military black ops’ for me – it’s less sophisticated and I’m not sure who it’s supposed to be appealing for?
Military black ops, HULK educate you!
People who take photos.
Holy crap, the original feels like dried glue, it’s primitive and not common of Japanese companies to use, and made the a7 seem even more unfinished. Just look at NEX-7’s finish, or G7X‘s, Japanese companies usually choose textures with more…taste, at least on their more advanced offerings.
HULK = Admin trolling?
good pictures to compare to previous version but i have so many unanswered questions. first thing I notice is a small annoyance which means my newer L bracket most likely won’t work when it comes to the left side ports as the open from the top which means I’ll be unable to open the doors to attach my remote trigger, why open in that direction seems odd, I honestly prefer the original method, but oh well.
I was really hoping the A7R would get upgraded firmware to address and provide enhancements such as:
1. offer 5 , 7 and 9 brackets instead of easily 3 brackets – does a72 offer this??
2. Timer for bracketing. it blows me mind how sony never bothered to offer firmware to provide a timer so as to do bracketing so one does not have to hold button down or use a remote. my style of photography is heavy on HDR and yes i can live with 3 brackets but not being able to fire off 3 shots automatically is absurd.
3. has shutter shock been addressed? I use wide angle so not a biggie for me but I know for others its a real concern. using long lens…you had to be careful what shutter speed you were shooting at, as it might induce some camera shake.
4. not a big issue but the shutter noise. is it possible to get a 100% electronic curtain like on the i think its a7s where you can fire off pictures in complete silence, this would be much welcomed. the shutter seems loud n clunky.
5. can we really now totally customize buttons? on a7r they claim this but lets be honest there was no way to map a button to disable LCD. you can turn off the LCD but each time you turn camera on and off it reverts, plus if you turn off LCD you must now use the viewfinder exclusively, there is a better solution, allow as to LCD for menu options. instead you are like a dumbs looking into viewfinder trying to find that option that does this or that when in fact doing that on LCD would be simpler and there is no way to map that special function to a button there by making LCD accessible with 1 button. Remember turning off the LCD screen is NOT really turning it off, it still drains the battery – I am referring to the menu option >gears icon> page 3, Finder/monitor. When you disable this, you are truly turning off the LCD there by consuming way way less battery, it would be nice to be able to map that function.
6. being able to plug the usb to recharge and use camera to take pictures at same time – would be nice enhancement. its a bit retarded that camera is useless while usb plugged in. imagine doing star trails and camera needs to take pictures for say 3 to 4 hours. plugging in a small usb charger would go a long way to solve small better issue which i’m okay with.
7. can we now shoot with flash sync past 160/s its a bit crippling to only be able to do so a 160/s it would be nice if it could match what most dslrs can do with a flash gun.
8. will it be able to use any flashgun. i currently use a cactus to connect my nikon flash gun, but all thats needed is firmware update or some code to camera to let it talk more universally to other flashguns.
9. has the light leak been addressed. I use a hairband to prevent light leaks, it a very real problem, i found an easy solution but it would be nice if sony made a better mounting ring that solves this.
10. lastly the biggest problem software wise is the fact developers don’t have as to the higher API functions because they are denied. so when you use an app, notice how you can’t use your mapped buttons to zoom in! or focus peak. within the app you have to do this manually, this slows down the photographer and its annoying. it would be nice if sony opened up the api functions so we can take full advantage and work faster. what i do is setup the shot first, focus, zoom in, make sure its all good and than launch the app, like time-lapse or star trails.
11. and finally. please god is there a built in intervelometer? way way cheaper cameras come with this option that sony for some reason won’t include them?? nor offer them in a firmware upgrade.
my biggest update request is, self timer for HDR bracketing, more brackets- up to 9 please and intervalometer.
Uh, you so much time spent writing wishlist to Santa or Sony. HULK hope Sony, SMASHED! Santa. Not bring HULK enough camera for practice SMASH! so practice on Santa.
Load ‘BRACKET PRO” software from SONY and you are fine. Remember in nowadays it is all software rather then hardware.
The Bracket Pro app doesn’t allow one to shoot frames with different EV only in the way John wants. There’s even threads about bracketing over at Sony.
Is there rumors about A7r 2 ?
Most everything about the new camera is looking good to me except for the vertical grip – it’s a shame they did adopt the style of the a99 vertical grip which allows 3 batteries and is also smaller and easy to carry in a bag when not in use because it doesn’t have the l-shape.
Maybe the aftermarket will address that.
Sadly I don’t think it’s possible – the a99 has a connection on the underside of the camera for all the electronic communication with the vertical grip which then allows the battery to remain in the camera.
With the a7II it looks like all the connections are inside the battery compartment again – almost as though Sony forgot that they now had a better way to do it!
Can someone please explain to me why an adapter that interfaces between an A-mount lens and the A7M2 needs an independent focusing system? As I understand it the the A7M2 achieves this new, fast, hybrid focusing speed by using the light striking the sensor. It seems to me that the adapter only needs to serves as a spacer to move A-mount lenses the proper distance from the sensor. Granted, it also need a motor or contacts to drive the focusing mechanism of the lens. Why can’t electrical contacts be provided to interface between the adapter and the existing focusing already in the camera?
A mount lenses (as Nikon F or Canon EF lenses) are optimized for phase AF systems and not for contrast AF. Contrast AF needs lenses that not only have fast focusing drives but also drives that are able to stop (and start) very fast but they don’t need very high precision because AF is approximating. Phase AF knows how far the drive has to go for correct focus so it has different needs: much more precision in the drive but lower start/stop times… So AF performance with the combination of phase AF lenses and contrast AF cams would be really slow…
The A7 (and its successor) and the A6000 have both systems on board the other E mount cams only have contrast AF. And even the A7/A6000 phase AF is a hybrid one using contrast AF to optimize the result…
So Sony decided to include a complete SLT phase AF system in the EA-LA2/4 adapters – but for unknown reasons the decided to use the second best one (at the time of development): the one from the A65. On an A7 with its bigger sensor it’s nearly like in the old days of the Minolta 7000 with only one AF point in the center…
Achim, Thank you for responding to my question. I have read your explanation thru several times. If I understand what you are saying, A-Mount lenses (Sony,Minolta, etc) are optimized for “Phase” AF. This is amazing because I thought Phase AF was a relatively new thing. I did not think anyone was doing back in the Minolta times. I guess it was possible because the old film SLRs did have a mirror. In defense of A-mount lens I find they all worked okay on my A900 with Contrast-only AF. They worked much better on my A77M2 with Phase-only AF.
Some of the old screw drive lenses seem to me to be just as fast as my newer SSM lenses. Admittedly, the screw drive lenses to make much more noise.
I think Phase Detection is as old as autofocus. It uses a dedicated module which is fed the image through the mirror of a DSLR and
detects at what distance the element that you want to have in focus is. Based on that information it calculates where the glass needs to be in order for your image to be in focus. In other words this process comes out with one piece of information (where the glass needs to be) and then the AF motor goes full speed to there, whether its front or back it knows just the destination. The system does not know where the glass is or how far it has to travel but just where it needs to go. In fact you can hear the “click” that abruptly stops the glass on some lenses like to 70-210 beercan. The AF motor is pretty much an on/off affair.
In a Contrast Detection AF system, there is no dedicated AF
module. The contrast readings are done off the sensor. The system does not know where the glass needs to be, it does not know if it has to move forward or backwards. It just knows if it is in focus or not and if things are getting better or worse. This is done through a gazillion calculations which feed into an algorithm I presume. But for it to work, at each of those calculation points the system needs to know where it is in relation to the previous readings and to maximize that they use stepping AF motors which give a more precise control of the distance traveled and allows the glass to stop by a certain point where it is in focus rather than be stopped at the point where it should be in focus.
Anyway, that is how I understand it.
I think, but do not know for a fact, that Phase Detection
lenses do not work well on Contract Detection systems but dot see why Contrast Detection lenses would be handicapped on a Phase Detection system.
Boy, I was wrong when I thought my A900 used contrast-AF!
Here is a link I found that explains more than you ever wanted to know about AF:
http://brayebrookobservatory.org/BrayObsWebSite/HOMEPAGE/SONY_AF_ADAPTER.htm
I’m still confused about how “mirror-less” cameras can achieve phase detection when there is no mirror to provide two light paths.
It splits the light path into two at selected pixels.
Thank you S.Yu, I love it when complex things can be explained with one concise sentence.
Now this brings us back to my original question. If PD AF is achieved at selected microscopic pixels on the imaging array for E-mount lenses, why can’t the same circuitry be applied to an A-mount lens placed at the proper focusing distance? We now all agree that A-mount lenses are designed to operate with PD AF systems.
…I guess that does it? To be frank I’m a MF guy and don’t really care about this, if they update the processor, my attention is on whether it improves burst, operation, and r/w speeds or not.
I take a lot of wildlife and flying hummingbird photos, as in my avatar. I willingly accept all the help the camera will give me. 😉
The same PDAF circuitry can be applied to A-mount lenses and it is through the use of the LAEA-3 adapter which is pretty much just a spacer with some electronic contacts. It’s just really slow.
You can get the other adapter la-ea3 (?) without focusing system. In that case the A7 uses its own focusing system, but it only works on lenses with their own focus motor.
The la-ea4 comes with focusing mirror AND focusing motor for older lenses.
The drive motor is mandatory for several of the more interesting A-mount lenses, f. i. the Planar 85 f/1,4 – so, even if there was no good reason for the additional AF system, there are good reasons for having it with a camera like the A6000 or the A7ii…
Does anybody know if the A7m2 has the silent electronic shutter as the A7s does?
No. FFS.
You don’t know or it does not have the silent shutter like the A7s? FFS?!?!
Why Sony did not make a full step forward with its A7mk2?
It would have been a greater idea to have A6000 AF features implemented on A7mk2 instead of that little improvements ( > 179 Phase AF points, 10 fps ) and to improve life battery by making a more compact battery ( more energy in same form factor)…
Seems to me it’s never ending story of marketing, to add new features drop by drop.
Moreover i m afraid A9 will be around 3000$/€ if they decided to put all features in one body and they sell A7m2 about 500$ more than A7 after adding a 5 axis stabilization system and a few software modifications.
Is it SONY a7II or A7mk2 you are referring to … A7mk2 sounds like Russian machine gun …
:p wish AF of the new A7II could be as fast as a machine gun 😉
Why aren’t people ever happy.
I HOPE TO GOD the a9 is at least 3000$, Cheap professional cameras are ruining professional photography by flooding the market with a bunch of hacks who think they can spend 1000$ and become instant pro point and shoot style.
You CAN become an instant pro point and shoot professional- if you know how to capture compelling images. I’d say what is ruining “professional” photography isn’t an influx of new wanna be photographers. It’s consumers who have very poor taste or who are indifferent regarding the technical and non-technical merits of “good” photography. A higher price point only creates more bragging rights, but I doubt at this point it will act as a hurdle to entry for budding photogs. Cheap full frame cameras are already abundantly available. That’s before I even mention hipsters with their 35mm film cameras.
Plus don’t forget, while many photographers are now trying to go upstream (FF)- at the same time many pro’s are choosing APSC over FF citing advantages in cost, overall IQ for basic work and versatility. APSC mirror less is really the new FF.
If an amateur with a pro body is ruining your professional photography, then your photography was a POS to begin with.
Since acquiring the A7 a week ago I’ve slowly started selling my Olympus gear. I think next is an A77II. I don’t plan on acquiring any FE lenses though. All A mount….and might I add, the Minolta Rokkor-X lenses are freaking awesome. I can’t believe the quality I’m getting out of them . Next up is grabbing myself the fisheye…or maybe the 35mm 1.8…or the 200…..screw it, I’ll just buy them all.
What do you think about the 21/2.8? They say it’s more of a 24 than a 21, if that’s a non-issue, it should be an ultrawide of great value, if it proves to be an issue… then there would be tons of better alternatives.
Interesting, I didn’t know about that one. I use an A mount minolta 24mm 2.8 right now for wide. It’s actually pretty good, but not a lot of fun when manual focusing. I’m not much of a wide guy until recently so still getting into it.
I bought a 135mm 3.5 and 50mm 1.7 to start. They both use 55mm filter threads which is great. Next up I’m going to buy the 35mm 2.8 and possibly the 16mm fisheye after my 9-18 olympus sells on ebay. I hear the only one to stay away from is the 28mm 2.8…something goes wrong with the coating on those.
I want something more like 15mm or 18mm. I’m thinking the newer version of the Voigtlander 15mm in February might do it.
> AF speeds is as fast as the A6000 anyway
??? so which is it? “30% faster than A7” or “as fast as the A6000” in AF-C?
Does it have the A6000 subject tracking?
Yes.
I thought that was reserved for A9… could you please point to the source?
Well just looking at the pictures from the Sony site, it offers the same tracking modes / features of the A6000. Does it perform as well? Don’t know, but am keen to find out. I have read in a few places that Sony says 30% faster but not in regards to tracking as such, they just say that it is significantly improved. Sony actually didn’t make any great claims to tracking with the A6000, they made claims about the AF speed more so. It only needs to do 5fps (which is fine by me), so it is VERY possible this tracks as well as the A6000 (though it does have a smaller coverage area).
Thanks… and you’re right, pictures show that.
I prefer the old design. I like the cool dials on the original A7, and am not a fan of these cheap Nikon-style dials.
I also don’t like the extended grip, I prefer modest grips or no grip. I don’t get the big deal with grips: imagine people would demand such grips in their phones or other devices? Imagine Leica would start attaching hideous grips to the M cameras? Grips were originally designed as a place to hide the battery on digital cameras.
Without dramatic improvement in AF I don’t see a reason to upgrade. I’ll wait to see what the A9 brings and if not keep an eye on the A7s line.
You mean like the separate grips Leica make to go onto their cameras.
Is there some sort of requirement that people displaying new cameras are small, or have tiny hands?
It doesn’t seem to matter where you look, from manufacturers images to somewhere like DPR, every time I think I can put a camera into a real world context by judging it against the hands that are holding it, the cameras look HUGE! The A7II is a small camera by anyone’s standards, but looking at it in these pictures you would think it matches the Canon 1D!!
Please, can we start seeing images being held by a full grown adult?
Where is the aperture control ring?
in front.. like a nikon
Maybe in another world. Where do you see it ?
In this world…under the shutter
I like the ergonomics of the A7II, even though the emptyness on the camera’s left shoulder to me looks like wasted space…
Fine it is as fast as the a6000 – the real question is did they fix the abysmal low light focusing issues of the camera. I could not use the original a7 at wedding receptions. Trying to shoot first dances or pretty much anything else was an impossible nightmare. AF would not lock. Not even with the grotesque orange light AF assist, and the cameras will not activate the AF assist light from flashes. If they didn’t fix that the this camera is still half useless.