Sony Alpha A7S 12 2MP Digital Camera 12027869768

Still a great camera in 2024. Low light is still impressive. Can shoot 4k with external recorder. A great overall carry around video camera. Perfect for documentary style videography especially when you don't want to be noticed and have no control over lighting. One of the few ways to get a usable shot in very poor lighting. And a very cheap option in 2024.

The Sony a7sIII …. The most comprehensive still/video camera with a 24mp sensor. Optimized for low light, especially in video. Full HDMI connection. 4K video, dual SD card slots. It’s truly the best camera I’ve owned. Doesn’t overheat in extreme heat and it out performs in the cold. Outstanding camera for harsh environments, light moisture proof.For a versatile photographer and videographer this Sony a7sIII camera is a no-brainer.

Sony truly excels in image quality, and this camera is no exception. It performs brilliantly in both bright and low-light conditions, ensuring you capture stunning photos no matter the setting. The interface is smooth and user-friendly, and its lightweight design makes it perfect for travel. Plus, tkhe battery life is impressive, easily lasting an entire day of shooting. I couldn’t be happier with this purchase!

Easy enough for novices

I bought this a month ago, and it really hasn't been the weather to try it out since then due to all the storms, but I have finally had a chance to test it on the night of the last full moon of 2018! I am a novice, and have been using a smaller camera for a while now, but wanted more clarity and accuracy in my pictures, as I love taking nature shots or seascapes, and I just couldn't get the detail from the one I had, especially for Makro shots. The weight of this one is obviously more than I am used to, but it's easily manageable, and doesn't feel cumbersome in the hand. The grip is great because it doesn't feel like it's going to slip, but if somone has quite a large hand it could be a bit tight to be comfortable. I had this on auto for my first use, because I ... MoreI bought this a month ago, and it really hasn't been the weather to try it out since then due to all the storms, but I have finally had a chance to test it on the night of the last full moon of 2018! I am a novice, and have been using a smaller camera for a while now, but wanted more clarity and accuracy in my pictures, as I love taking nature shots or seascapes, and I just couldn't get the detail from the one I had, especially for Makro shots. The weight of this one is obviously more than I am used to, but it's easily manageable, and doesn't feel cumbersome in the hand. The grip is great because it doesn't feel like it's going to slip, but if somone has quite a large hand it could be a bit tight to be comfortable. I had this on auto for my first use, because I still have to learn all the features, but I was impressed with it, and the fact that I can click so quickly in succession instead of having to wait for a shot to load up and clear the screen again. The screen and viewfinder make this versatile to either step away and look around at what you wish to photograph, then just point/click, or use the viewfinder to be more precise. I obviously havent had much chance to experiment yet, but I was pleased by the clarity of the shot, on a cloudy night, of the moon in all its glory. I cannot wait to test this out on other subjects! I know that when i am trying to capture birds or anything which moves, this is going to be so quick compared to what I am used to, and hopefully I can say goodbye to all the blurs now! I am very happy I chose this one, and look forward to entering some competitions with this one! (Once I've practiced a little more to know where everything is!) ;-)

Full Frame

At the time I purchased the Sony A7 it was the least expensive Full Frame camera I could find new. It has just about all the features I could ask for from a regular digital camera. Only the later Sony models have any features of any extra value as I type this review. In my opinion the lens supplied is very good in the middle but a little soft at the corners. The left side in particular can be frustratingly soft even at f5.6 when shooting at 28mm but improving somewhat at f8. It may be that the lens I have is a little below standard or maybe its just especially good in the centre. In terms of build quality the body looks to be good and the lens is good for a kit lens. The menu system could do with being redesigned but at least it will be familiar to users of other ... MoreAt the time I purchased the Sony A7 it was the least expensive Full Frame camera I could find new. It has just about all the features I could ask for from a regular digital camera. Only the later Sony models have any features of any extra value as I type this review. In my opinion the lens supplied is very good in the middle but a little soft at the corners. The left side in particular can be frustratingly soft even at f5.6 when shooting at 28mm but improving somewhat at f8. It may be that the lens I have is a little below standard or maybe its just especially good in the centre. In terms of build quality the body looks to be good and the lens is good for a kit lens. The menu system could do with being redesigned but at least it will be familiar to users of other Sony cameras. The A7 has 3 custom buttons along with a custom menu and 2 custom settings on the main dial. Focusing is as you may expect is quick in most circumstances, slowing down in poor light and with difficult subjects. For taking family photo's and holidays etc I think it's excellent and not too big or heavy to carry around all day. The LCD screen can tilt but cannot flip around to the front for blogging. The electronic viewfinder is a big plus for me particularly in bright light. A built in shade for the LCD would be a good modification for Sony to incorporate or even a clip on screen protector may help to make the LCD easier to view. Just my thoughts of course.

Great value, better performance

Been using the Alpha 7 for about two weeks now and I've been very impressed. Image quality is clean and detailed, even at high ISO. Autofocus performance is decent and does a surprisingly good job at moving subjects like dogs and cars (I wouldn't recommend it as a sports camera, however). A 23 RAW buffer size is a godsend for taking photos of moving subjects too.The best thing about the camera is the controls, which are very customisable and versatile. Having three wheels for ISO, shutter speed and aperture, all of which are interchangeable, is very convenient and along with the live-view like EVF, makes changing settings between shots a breeze. The menus are well laid out and easy to use and understand, much easier than previous Canon models I have tried. The ... MoreBeen using the Alpha 7 for about two weeks now and I've been very impressed. Image quality is clean and detailed, even at high ISO. Autofocus performance is decent and does a surprisingly good job at moving subjects like dogs and cars (I wouldn't recommend it as a sports camera, however). A 23 RAW buffer size is a godsend for taking photos of moving subjects too.The best thing about the camera is the controls, which are very customisable and versatile. Having three wheels for ISO, shutter speed and aperture, all of which are interchangeable, is very convenient and along with the live-view like EVF, makes changing settings between shots a breeze. The menus are well laid out and easy to use and understand, much easier than previous Canon models I have tried. The selection of native lenses is versatile too, across both range of focal lengths and price points. For those using non-native glass or wanting something the FE mount does not yet offer, adapters are available and work well, but users wanting good AF performance should consider a newer model. I'm using the FE 50mm f/1.8 from Sony and it's a very capable combination on the A7 body, useful for many situations and all lighting conditions.The 24mp sensor is very crisp and detailed with high resolution, good colour output and low noise up to several thousand ISO. Shutter speeds of up to 1/8000 allow for good isolation of moving subjects, but a 30 second long exposure yields great results in low light as well. Using a decent memory card also allows for quick writing speeds; I've not once had the camera lock up and make me stop shooting, even the base A7 is always good to go.The most impressive feature aside from the sensor is the wifi connectivity, which allows you to use a mobile phone as a remote for the camera and you can also instantly transfer files to the phone, no internet connection or cables required. This is a godsend for social shooting where people want quick access to their photos, as well as doing long exposure shots without the need to set a timer.Overall, the base A7 is a cheap and versatile way to get into higher level photography. While newer models outperform in terms of speed and raw pixel count and lowlight performance, the A7 is still a very good camera in 2017 and a steal for those on a budget who don't want to compromise on quality.

It's a great camera, but not the latest spec

I got this as a stop-gap while saving for the mk3. Was on double promotion, so great value for money.Moved from a Canon 550d, and this is smaller and slightly lighter which is makes the whole mirrorless worth it. No complaints about battery life, maybe because I'm coming from a very old camera.Buttons could be a bit nicer placement. I think the later versions fixed these issues. I'm ok with that, for the price I paid.I'm upset that it won't let me preview through a laptop (my 10-year-old Canon did!), and the workflow doesn't seem that smooth - I struggled to have photos taken on computer transfer smoothly, so I gave up and just shoot in-camera & take the memory card out of the camera or transfer via USB rather than shoot on computer.Image quality is very ... MoreI got this as a stop-gap while saving for the mk3. Was on double promotion, so great value for money.Moved from a Canon 550d, and this is smaller and slightly lighter which is makes the whole mirrorless worth it. No complaints about battery life, maybe because I'm coming from a very old camera.Buttons could be a bit nicer placement. I think the later versions fixed these issues. I'm ok with that, for the price I paid.I'm upset that it won't let me preview through a laptop (my 10-year-old Canon did!), and the workflow doesn't seem that smooth - I struggled to have photos taken on computer transfer smoothly, so I gave up and just shoot in-camera & take the memory card out of the camera or transfer via USB rather than shoot on computer.Image quality is very nice. I think I need more lenses, but the Canon L lens I've been using with an adapter works well and had some lovely quality. Enjoying the extra dynamic range Sony has over Canon.The kit lens included is ok. It works very smoothly, and I love the manual focus feature (where it zooms in when it senses that you're turning the focus ring, then out again). I've also tried using a 50-year-old M42 lens with a tilt-shift adapter for some lovely arty images - and was able to set one of the custom buttons to do the zoom in/out feature as obviously an old lens wouldn't be able to tell the camera it was being focused.Overall, I'm very happy with this, but at the same time, I can see myself wanting to upgrade in the near future (when I have money!).

Lightweight with great features

The A7 was the first iteration of Sony's full-frame, mirrorless, interchangeable-lens camera (ILC) lineup. There have been multiple versions and variations since, but to my mind, they got it right first time. Photographs from the 24MP sensor are colourful and detailed. I recommend shooting RAW because of the creative possibilities it offers, but if you're a JPEG-only shooter, you won't be disappointed. The sensor's dynamic range can cope with most situations. I work with lights indoors, so low-light performance (not up there with cutting-edge designs) isn't an issue for me. There's no 4K video, which in all honesty, is an advantage. 1920 x 1080 full HD is more than enough for the most exacting professional shoots. Plus, you won't be forever swapping SD cards. ... MoreThe A7 was the first iteration of Sony's full-frame, mirrorless, interchangeable-lens camera (ILC) lineup. There have been multiple versions and variations since, but to my mind, they got it right first time. Photographs from the 24MP sensor are colourful and detailed. I recommend shooting RAW because of the creative possibilities it offers, but if you're a JPEG-only shooter, you won't be disappointed. The sensor's dynamic range can cope with most situations. I work with lights indoors, so low-light performance (not up there with cutting-edge designs) isn't an issue for me. There's no 4K video, which in all honesty, is an advantage. 1920 x 1080 full HD is more than enough for the most exacting professional shoots. Plus, you won't be forever swapping SD cards. Crucially, there are seperate 3.5mm mirophone and headphone ports, making this a great tool for serious videographers. Spend 15 minutes exploring the menus and you'll soon get to grips with the simple, logical interface. I used Sony's A1 and Z1 DV cameras when I worked for the BBC and I loved their simplicity, but the A7's interface is better. You can concentrate on being creative and trust Sony's elves to take care of the rest. Sony improved the battery capacity of subsequent cameras in the Alpha range. The original A7 is no weakling, but it pays to have a couple of spares handy. Third-party batteries are cheap and readily available on eBay. I'm using Neewers which came with a charger. Bonus! Finally, this is a small, light camera, especially considering the full-frame sensor. I'm a M43 shooter and I wanted to try out my old Canon FD lenses on an inexpensive, full-frame digital body. After spending a couple of weeks with the A7 I'm tempted swap my Lumix GH5 and GH5s kit for the Sony system.

Nice build quality...but.

Bought as I needed better resolution and less noise than a m43 can provide.I photograph extreme macro subject up to 7x lifesize and wanted the better signal/noise a 35mm sensor can provide. My previous camera had all kinds of ergonomic deficits, namely buttons in the wrong place that kept getting unintentionally pressed and was causing me to lose shots due to incorrect settings.This camera handles very well, is beautifully made and handles exactly as I need it to. Most of the buttons are in the right place, though the review zoom button magnifies the screen image massively and I always have to zoom out to actually see the detail I want. The button is also in a difficult to reach position.The menu system, as with most Sony cameras is just rubbish. It looks 10 ... MoreBought as I needed better resolution and less noise than a m43 can provide.I photograph extreme macro subject up to 7x lifesize and wanted the better signal/noise a 35mm sensor can provide. My previous camera had all kinds of ergonomic deficits, namely buttons in the wrong place that kept getting unintentionally pressed and was causing me to lose shots due to incorrect settings.This camera handles very well, is beautifully made and handles exactly as I need it to. Most of the buttons are in the right place, though the review zoom button magnifies the screen image massively and I always have to zoom out to actually see the detail I want. The button is also in a difficult to reach position.The menu system, as with most Sony cameras is just rubbish. It looks 10 years out of date, is unnecessarily complicated and requires the user to scroll through the whole menu instead of having sub-menus. Controlling the camera via wifi is difficult, non-intuitive and basically a painful experience, though this is down to the rubbish software that Sony has foisted upon us. It is not a fault of the camera.I use this camera with non-system lenses when not involved with macro work and find the ev to be less than good, and the exposure meter non-intuitive and unreliable. Need to make a test exposure and check against a histogram.I'm sure it would be more user friendly with system lenses, though these are very expensive.Another very surprising problem, and this is quite a nuisance, is that there is no intervalometer built into the camera. I assumed any camera of this calibre would have one, but no, you need to download and install one from Sony for £8.00. This is a problem for astronomical photographers or those wanting to do time lapse. Come on Sony, give us what we expect.

The best full hd video of any mirrorless full frame camera.

I used this camera almost entirely for video. What a lot of people don't know about the A7S is that this camera as well as offering 4k via hdmi out to a seperate moniter like the Ninja V, it down samples internally the 4k information from the sensor and converts it into full high definition. This camera has the best full HD of any current full frame mirroless camera. It is the last full frame camera that Sony developed for sole full HD 60p recording. If you want to get into making videos don't waste huge amounts on the latest gear. This camera with a good lens is more than good enough to dip your toe in the water and get great video. The A7S2 camera may tempted you and offers some ergonomic improvements but is only 8 bit 25/30p 4K and It has dire rolling shutter ... MoreI used this camera almost entirely for video. What a lot of people don't know about the A7S is that this camera as well as offering 4k via hdmi out to a seperate moniter like the Ninja V, it down samples internally the 4k information from the sensor and converts it into full high definition. This camera has the best full HD of any current full frame mirroless camera. It is the last full frame camera that Sony developed for sole full HD 60p recording. If you want to get into making videos don't waste huge amounts on the latest gear. This camera with a good lens is more than good enough to dip your toe in the water and get great video. The A7S2 camera may tempted you and offers some ergonomic improvements but is only 8 bit 25/30p 4K and It has dire rolling shutter with lower quality HD.