What’s Changed? Compared to its predecessor, the Sony Alpha a7C II offers improved resolution, video features, autofocus, and in-body image stabilization, all while maintaining a svelte, lightweight form factor comparable to that of the Mark I.

33.0MP Exmor R CMOS Sensor and BIONZ XR Image Processor. The a7C II’s 33.0MP back-illuminated full-frame sensor works in tandem with the BIONZ XR processor to deliver fast performance, excellent image quality, and great low-light performance. You get 14-bit RAW stills with a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-51200, which can be expanded to ISO 50-204800. You also get internal UHD 4K 30p video capture using the sensor’s full width. This combination of sensor and processor enables the a7C II to keep up with fast-paced shooting applications. You can shoot up to 10 fps at full resolution with full autofocus for up to 44 consecutive RAW frames or up to 1000 JPEG frames.

Full-Frame UHD 4K 30p Video Capture. The Alpha a7C II records video in 10-bit 4:2:2 using the XAVC S-I format at bitrates up to 600 Mb/s to give you consistent quality and performance. It can capture full-frame UHD 4K video from 7K capture in multiple frame rates up to 30 fps. It can also capture UHD 4K at frame rates up to 60p from an APS-C crop, but you can expect noticeable rolling shutter if you go this route. Full HD 1080p capture at up to 120 fps allows for 4x and 5x slow-motion movie recording at a 30p or 24p frame rate, while Slow & Quick mode lets you capture 4K video at 1-60 fps or Full HD at 1-120 fps, depending on the format. In addition to these high-resolution internal-recording options, the a7C II offers uncompressed 4:2:2 video output via a Micro-HDMI connection.

Customizable Color and Gamma Controls. The Alpha a7C II includes the S-Cinetone color matrix that was previously seen in Sony’s Cinema Line cameras like the VENICE and FX6. You can use the S-Cinetone color profile to produce healthy-looking, accurate skin tones; beautiful, well-controlled highlights; and soft, distinct colors. You also get S-Log3 and S-Gamut3.Cine gamma profiles, which will give you 15+ stops of dynamic range with greater control over grading in the shadow to mid-tone areas of your image. You can bake preset Creative Looks into your recorded footage to evoke certain moods while reducing the need for editing. Finally, you can apply user-created LUTs and presets to the camera’s monitor, the EVF, or the HDMI output in order to accurately monitor your footage or preview a specific look.

AI-Based Hybrid Autofocus System. This updated Fast Hybrid autofocus system, which you can use for stills and video, features its own dedicated processor and a host of advanced features. It incorporates a dense grid of 759 on-sensor phase-detection autofocus points in stills mode and 495 on-sensor phase-detection points in video mode, which covers 94% of the camera’s image area, and provides extremely fast, accurate performance in a range of lighting conditions down to -4 EV.

Autofocus Tracking Features. The a7C II’s autofocus system features a range of AI-based tracking features, including a new Human Pose Estimation mode that improves on previous human-recognition modes by tracking the same person even if their movements indicate that a different person in the frame is a more obvious subject. An Auto Framing mode seamlessly auto-crops for optimal framing when you’re shooting movies, giving the impression that a camera operator is following the subject and greatly simplifying camerawork that would otherwise be a lot for a single person to take on. You can use the touchscreen to adjust for speed, sensitivity, and subject positioning, and Auto Framing even works when you’re using the Creators’ App with your smartphone to remotely operate the camera. In addition to tracking humans, the AI autofocus system can also track animals, birds, insects, cars, trains, and airplanes with greater accuracy than the first-gen a7C. It recognizes some small and grazing animals’ eyes, and it can recognize the eyes and heads of dogs, cats, and other animals with similar features. I’m sad to report that Sony still isn’t revealing why birds and insects aren’t categorized as animals, though.

Vlog-Friendly Design. This camera includes many vlog-friendly aspects borrowed from higher-end Sony cameras. Large on-screen buttons make navigation simple, and an AI-enhanced Auto-Framing mode recognizes and tracks subjects when recording video, and then seamlessly auto-crops to keep the subject prominent in the frame, greatly simplifying camerawork that would otherwise be a lot for a single person to take on. You can use the touchscreen to adjust for speed, sensitivity, and subject positioning, and Auto Framing even works when you’re using the Creators’ App with your smartphone to remotely operate the camera.

Five-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization. The SteadyShot INSIDE image-stabilization system offers up to seven stops of correction on any lens you mount, compared to the original a7C’s five stops. This system compensates for five types of camera shake, including angular shake (pitch and yaw), shift shake (X and Y axes), and rotational shake (roll). All five stabilization axes are constantly engaged, even when you’re using third-party lenses, adapters, or lenses with their own built-in image stabilization. An AI Processing Unit improves communication between the camera body and the lens to stabilize framing before you even start shooting, letting you use even adapted lenses without fear of motion blur compromising your images.

Advanced Still Rendering. For stills, you get a broad range of color renderings and compressions to suit your image-quality and storage needs, including the High Efficiency Image File (HEIF) format. You can select Compressed and Lossless Compressed options for RAW shooting, and the updated AI Processing Unit gives you better exposure results in Auto mode by making algorithmic adaptations for skin tone, backlighting, and white balance. The same preset Creative Looks that you can use when shooting video are also available for still shooting, and a Hybrid Log-Gamma mode designed for stills gives you an accurate dynamic range in the 10-bit HEIF format.

High-Res Electronic Viewfinder and LCD. The built-in XGA OLED EVF boasts a 2.36m-dot resolution, 100% coverage, and 0.70x magnification to give you a bright, clear view of what the sensor sees. The tilting 3.0-inch 1.03m-dot rear tilting touchscreen LCD can also be used for image composition and review when shooting at arm’s length. Its vari-angle design lets you work from high, low, and front-facing angles with ease.

Other Notable Features. An added front command dial gives you control at the tip of your forefinger, and you can use the USB output with UVC/UAC control with a computer to stream applications and broadcasts with full-frame 4K 30 fps video. There’s a hot-shoe external-flash connection, 3.5mm mic and headphone ports, and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities for wireless image sharing and camera control. It records its 14-bit RAW images, JPEGs, and video files to SD memory cards via a single slot, and uses the rechargeable NP-FZ100 battery that’s rated for approximately 530 shots per charge. This camera’s magnesium-alloy chassis and weather-sealed design offer maximum durability in a compact, convenient package.

Q & A