Hold on to your hats, photo enthusiasts! The Sony alpha 7C is a game-changer. This tiny titan squeezes a powerful full-frame sensor into a super compact body, making it perfect for travel and those who hate lugging heavy gear. It shoots fantastic photos and videos, with amazing autofocus to keep your shots crisp, all without sacrificing image quality.
Key Features
Model No: ILCE7C/B
- BIONZ X Image Processor
- 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI Sensor
- 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
- UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas
- 693-Point Hybrid AF System
- 5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization
- 3.0″ 921.6k-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Connectivity
- Shooting Up to 10 fps, ISO 50-204800
- REVIEW
- SPECS
Sony Alpha 7C: A Compact Full-Frame Powerhouse for Travel and Everyday Photography
The Sony Alpha 7C is a unique entry in the Sony Alpha 7 series, offering a full-frame sensor in a surprisingly compact and lightweight body. This makes it an attractive option for travel photographers, everyday shooters, and videographers seeking a balance between portability and image quality.
Full-Frame Sensor and Excellent Image Quality
The Alpha 7C features a 24.2-megapixel full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor. This sensor delivers exceptional image quality, especially in good lighting conditions, thanks to its large size. It also offers good low-light performance with minimal noise.
Fast Hybrid Autofocus and Capable Performance
The Alpha 7C boasts a 693-point hybrid autofocus system similar to the Alpha 7 III. This system offers excellent autofocus speed and accuracy for both stills and video, ensuring sharp focus on your subjects. The camera’s BIONZ X image processor ensures fast image processing speeds for everyday photography and videography.
4K Video Recording and Well-Suited for Vlogging
The Alpha 7C offers 4K HDR (HLG) internal recording at up to 30 frames per second, catering to videographers and vloggers. It also includes features like S-Log profiles for increased color grading flexibility in post-production. While not the most advanced video camera in the Sony lineup, it offers good capabilities for everyday video needs.
Compact and Lightweight Design
One of the most compelling features of the Alpha 7C is its compact and lightweight design. It’s significantly smaller and lighter than most full-frame cameras, making it ideal for travel, everyday carry, or situations where you don’t want to be weighed down by heavy gear.
Tilting Touchscreen LCD and Electronic Viewfinder
The Alpha 7C features a tilting 3-inch touchscreen LCD monitor that allows for comfortable framing from various angles and intuitive touch controls. An electronic viewfinder is also included for composing shots or shooting in bright conditions. However, some users might find the viewfinder to be on the small side compared to bulkier cameras.
Is the Sony Alpha 7C Right for You?
The Sony Alpha 7C is an excellent choice for photographers and videographers who prioritize a compact and lightweight full-frame camera. It offers excellent image quality, good video capabilities, and a capable autofocus system in a travel-friendly body. However, those seeking the best ergonomics, a large viewfinder, or the most advanced video features might consider other Sony Alpha 7 series cameras.
In Conclusion
The Sony Alpha 7C has been well-received since its release, and its price has become more competitive. There are newer Sony models available, but the Alpha 7C remains a compelling option for those who prioritize portability and full-frame image quality.
Specifications
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Sensor Type | 35.6 x 23.8 mm (Full-Frame) CMOS |
| Sensor Resolution | Actual: 25.3 Megapixel Effective: 24.2 Megapixel (6000 x 4000) |
| Crop Factor | NaN |
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 |
| Image File Format | JPEG, Raw |
| Bit Depth | 14-Bit |
| Image Stabilization | Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis |
| ISO Sensitivity | Auto, 100 to 51200 (Extended: 50 to 204800) |
| Shutter Speed | Mechanical Shutter 1/4000 to 30 Second Bulb Mode Electronic Shutter 1/8000 to 30 Second Bulb Mode |
| Metering Method | Average, Center-Weighted Average, Highlight Weighted, Multi-Zone, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority |
| Exposure Compensation | -5 to +5 EV (1/3, 1/2 EV Steps) |
| Metering Range | -3 to 20 EV |
| White Balance | Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Custom, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Shade, Underwater |
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 10 fps at 24.2 MP for up to 223 Frames (JPEG) / 115 Frames (Raw) Up to 8 fps at 24.2 MP Up to 6 fps at 24.2 MP Up to 3 fps at 24.2 MP |
| Interval Recording | Yes |
| Self-Timer | 2/5/10-Second Delay |
| Recording Modes | H.264/XAVC S 4:2:0 8-Bit UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p [60 to 100 Mb/s] Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p [16 to 100 Mb/s] |
| External Recording Modes | 4:2:2 8-Bit UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 23.976p/50i/50p/59.94i/59.94p |
| Recording Limit | Unlimited |
| Video Encoding | NTSC/PAL |
| Audio Recording | Built-In Microphone (Stereo) External Microphone Input |
| Audio File Format | Linear PCM |
| Focus Type | Auto and Manual Focus |
| Focus Mode | Automatic (A), Continuous-Servo AF (C), Direct Manual Focus (DMF), Manual Focus (M), Single-Servo AF (S) |
| Autofocus Points | Phase Detection: 693 Contrast Detection: 425 |
| Autofocus Sensitivity | -4 to +20 EV |
| ISO Sensitivity | Auto, 100 to 51200 (Extended: 50 to 204800) |
| Shutter Speed | Mechanical Shutter 1/4000 to 30 Second Bulb Mode Electronic Shutter 1/8000 to 30 Second Bulb Mode |
| Metering Method | Average, Center-Weighted Average, Highlight Weighted, Multi-Zone, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority |
| Exposure Compensation | -5 to +5 EV (1/3, 1/2 EV Steps) |
| Metering Range | -3 to 20 EV |
| White Balance | Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Custom, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Shade, Underwater |
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 10 fps at 24.2 MP for up to 223 Frames (JPEG) / 115 Frames (Raw) Up to 8 fps at 24.2 MP Up to 6 fps at 24.2 MP Up to 3 fps at 24.2 MP |
| Interval Recording | Yes |
| Self-Timer | 2/5/10-Second Delay |
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic (OLED) |
| Viewfinder Size | 0.39″ |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2,359,296 Dot |
| Viewfinder Eye Point | 20 mm |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 1 |
| Viewfinder Magnification | Approx. 0.59x |
| Diopter Adjustment | -4 to +3 |
| Size | 3.0″ |
| Resolution | 921,600 Dot |
| Display Type | Articulating Touchscreen LCD |
| Built-In Flash | No |
| Flash Modes | Auto, Fill Flash, Hi-Speed Sync, Off, Rear Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Wireless |
| Maximum Sync Speed | 1/160 Second |
| Flash Compensation | -3 to +3 EV (1/3, 1/2 EV Steps) |
| Dedicated Flash System | TTL |
| External Flash Connection | Hot Shoe |
| Media/Memory Card Slot | Single Slot: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB Type-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1), HDMI D (Micro), 3.5mm Headphone, 3.5mm Microphone |
| Wireless | Bluetooth Wi-Fi |
| GPS | No |
| Operating Temperature | 32 to 104 F / 0 to 40 C |
| Battery | 1 x NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, 7.2 VDC, 2280 mAh (Approx. 740 Shots) |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 4.9 x 2.8 x 2.4″ / 124 x 71.1 x 59.7 mm |
| Weight | 1.1 lb / 509 g (Body with Battery and Memory) |
| Package Weight | 1.8 lb |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 8.2 x 6.7 x 5″ |