61MP Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor and BIONZ XR Image Processor. The Sony Alpha a7CR’s 61MP back-illuminated full-frame sensor works in tandem with the BIONZ XR processor to deliver incredibly fast performance, excellent image quality, and great low-light response. You get high-resolution 14-bit RAW 61MP stills with a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-32000, which can be expanded to ISO 50-102400. You also get internal UHD 4K video capture using the sensor’s full width. This combination of sensor and processor enables the a7CR to keep up with fast-paced shooting applications. You can shoot up to 8 fps at full resolution with full autofocus for up to 36 consecutive compressed RAW frames or over 1000 consecutive JPEG frames in mechanical shutter mode.

UHD 4K 60p Video Capture. The Alpha a7CR can capture UHD 4K 10-bit video at up to 60p from a 1.24x cropped portion of its sensor, giving you native 7860 × 4320 footage. It can also capture UHD 4K video in multiple frame rates up to 30 fps from its full sensor width or from oversampled 6.2K footage taken from the APS-C/Super 35 region of the sensor. The a7CR is capable of internal 10-bit 4:2:2 sampling at up to 4K 60p in XAVC HS and XAVC S-I, and it can output 16-bit RAW video via the HDMI A port for improved tonal reproduction and flexibility in post. The camera supports simultaneous RAW output at up to 4K 60p and internal 4K recording.

Customizable Color and Gamma Controls. The Alpha a7CR 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. The 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 693 on-sensor phase-detection autofocus points, which covers about 79% of the camera’s full-frame area and 100% of its APS-C cropped area, and provides extremely fast, accurate performance in a range of lighting conditions down to -4 EV.

Autofocus Tracking Features. The a7CR’s autofocus system features a range of AI-based tracking features, many of which are directly ported from the higher-end a7R V. Its Real-Time Recognition AF feature works with seven selectable subject types. Its Human mode tracks people by their body and head positions for maximum sharpness when shooting portraits, and the Real-Time Eye AF feature’s performance has been improved by 60% compared to previous iterations in Alpha-series cameras. Its Animal, Bird, and Animal/Bird modes are 40% more accurate for recognizing a variety of animal types—including insects—and pinpointing and tracking their heads and eyes. This system also has dedicated Car/Train and Airplane modes, which can detect and track those subjects with utmost accuracy, even at high speeds.

Autofocus for Video. As previously mentioned, the a7CR differentiates itself from previous Sony compact cameras by making its subject-recognition capabilities available in video mode. The Real-Time Eye AF feature is designed for maximum sharpness when shooting portraits, and it works on humans and animals alike. You have control over how quickly and smoothly focus shifts from subject to subject for even greater fine tuning. Focus Map gives you a colorful overlay of your shot that lets you know which subjects are in front of and behind the focus point based on the aperture you selected, while the Focus Breathing compensation feature automatically smooths transitions when changing the focus position during a shot. Finally, an AF Assist feature, carried over from the FX6, lets you easily switch to manual focus control for fine tuning.

Five-Axis Image-Stabilization System. The a7CR’s image-stabilization system offers up to seven stops of correction on any lens you mount. 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. A video-specific Active IS mode gives you even greater stability for smoother footage direct from the camera, and 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.

Pixel Shift Multi-Shooting Mode. The a7CR’s Pixel-Shift Multi-Shooting mode shoots sixteen images and moves the sensor between each shot in order to capture full color information for every pixel. This reduces noise and softens the image in a fashion similar to demosaicing, giving you a 19,008 × 12,672-pixel image with more detail and color accuracy than you’d get with a single exposure. There are a couple of downsides to this feature, though. Firstly, the a7CR can’t assemble the final images on its own, so you must use the Sony Imaging software suite to process the sixteen RAW images. Secondly, it takes the camera between one and thirty seconds between each shot, meaning there’s a high chance your subject will move between the first and fourth shot.

High-Res Electronic Viewfinder and LCD. The built-in 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 1.04m-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 490 shots per charge. This camera’s magnesium-alloy chassis and weather-sealed design offer maximum durability in a compact, convenient package.