Sony A7 Mirrorless Camera Review & Hands

[@ramonrogers8955]

Just got one as a Christmas gift and I am so used to Canon this was a great review to help me out!

[@PhotographyPX]

Glad I could help Ramon.

[@TheSpaceBrosShow]

Awesome review! I own much more powerful gear but the my A7R is the camera I use most these days. With the 35 2.8, the portability and quality is just unbeatable

[@MH-ir7ep]

I also have the A7R. Do you use a tripod or shoot handheld for stills? Have ever experienced any issues with shutter shock? I'm just curious to get another A7R users' perspective.

[@SpellBinder2]

Great review. Thank you so much. Just bought this one as my beginner camera. Going to use for astrophotography in near future. Any suggestions?

[@PhotographyPX]

Hi Akshay, good choice. As far a suggestions, consider checking out our guide on astrophotography. There you can find a lot of detailed information about some of the things to consider when taking these kinds of photos. You can find the guide at the bottom of this page: photographypx.com/best-astrophotography-camera/

[@kiewas]

I got A7 for some time. I like overall quality, but af making me little nervous sometimes. Also battery life isn't so great. But overall it's not bad camera. Thanks for review.

[@vertix6375]

Great review! Im planning on purchasing it as it would be my first full frame camera.

[@PhotographyPX]

Good choice! It's an excellent starting camera.

[@profgyland2]

Excellent review and documentation. Very well spoken and easy to understand. Thank you for your very good performance.

[@PhotographyPX]

Thank you.

[@RizandroNapone]

Best a7 review! Darn more people ought to see this.

[@EverydayEnglishTipswithAmit]

Hi, Have just got my hands on this brand new Sony A7 camera. Still to try it out. I am expecting it to take awesome still images and videos.

[@PhotographyPX]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@EverydayEnglishTipswithAmit]

@@PhotographyPX thanks very much

[@muf722]

Me too. Battery is charged and lenses in the mail.

[@M4ttNet]

Great review. I bought this when it came out and was nothing short of revolutionary to have a full frame camera this small. With the Sone Zeiss 35mm F2.8 lens it fits nicely in my hoodie or jacket pocket which even now is pretty crazy, though then was unheard of. I know it's strength (especially compared to options today) isn't video, but if I were to start dabling in some youtube content and since I already have this do you think this would serve well enough? Or even then is it worth getting something else more tailored towards video? Thanks.

[@PhotographyPX]

No. The A7 Mark I is what we started our KZbin channel with. So there's no reason to get a more video-centric camera. The focusing and video quality on it are good enough to get started, especially if you plan on only filming pieces to camera like we do.

[@alexrogov7186]

After using my old Oly E-M1 for several years, I was surprised by just how bad an original A7 series felt in terms of ergonomics, almost as if it was a prototype, not a production model. Buttons are small and have too little travel, especially the C1 next to the shutter release. It is nearly impossible to locate them by feel. Control wheels are slippery and have unpredictable resistance so I avoid using them alltogether. It is particularly daunting because older Sony full frame cameras like the a99 or a900 were quite decent in terms of ergonomics. Well, the grip feels okay, and the camera body is very small and light for a full frame. And, of course, the image quality.

[@PhotographyPX]

Yes. They've improved the ergonomics quite a bit from the A7 and the A7 II. Huge leap forward on those fronts.

[@alexrogov7186]

@@PhotographyPX Still leaves me wondering what prevented them from getting the ergo right from the start. Nikon managed it with the Z series, after all. Maybe, just maybe, the first gen A7 inherited a lot of NEX DNA and probably was even designed by the same team. Sony started changing things quickly in A7 ii -> A7 iii after receiving negative feedback, but mistakes were already made. Not that the original A7 was a bad camera (it wasn't), but still worse than it could've been, imho.

[@PhotographyPX]

Yes probably true.

[@reegorise941]

4.2020 still have it and if you use vintage lenses as i do you can take some good photos out of this camera so my opinion 70/100

[@lakshitha898]

Do you know whether it can change the af speed? Thanks

[@PhotographyPX]

What do you mean? Are you asking if adapting vintage lenses will slow AF? If so yes. You'll most likely lose AF altogether. Autofocus wasn't a typical feature on consumer lenses until around the mid 90's. So, if it's before then, it may not even have AF abilities. If it's new, then AF speed is dependent on the adapter, not the camera. Look for an adapter that offers continuous AF, not just mounting of the lens.

[@MittenRomany]

The A7 is perfect for vintage lenses.

[@nicokremers7150]

Yes 😀 I use a Sony A7(s) for my Olympus OM lenses.

[@cfox]

Great review! I was wondering if any of the dials are customisable like buttons?

[@PhotographyPX]

Yes. The camera has several customizable button (C1-C3). And you can program them to about 15 different settings.

[@bilalhocaoglu9072]

Hello there. Thank you for such a comprehensive review of this camera! I really want to delve into the world of vintage lenses but i'm kinda worried about the video quality of this camera because i will surely use it for recording as well. Are there any cameras that come to your mind which is similar to the the A7 yet with 4k video? I would have loved to purchase the a7 iii but sadly, it's too expensive for me... Will giving up on a fullframe camera ruin the vintage lens experience for me?

[@PhotographyPX]

Hi, at this price no. Your best bet is the A7 Mark I, and shoot in 1080p. If your looking for mirrorless full-frame you next best camera would be the Canon EOS R, Nikon Z6, or used a A7 3. Using full-frame shouldn't effect the vintage lens experience.

[@michaelt8682]

i usemy original a7 for video and the footage looks great. the stabilisation is much more of a problem than the resolution. if you have gimbal or are shooting from a tripod, it still looks good even at 1080p. remember, most hd tv broadcasts are still in 720p.

[@Eduardo-zh5eb]

Nice review, thank you.

[@PhotographyPX]

Thanks for watching!

[@RedSnowUI]

I’m looking for a great camera for car photography and videos that’s around the 500$ range and a good lens

[@PhotographyPX]

I'd say consider looking into the Fujifilm X-T100 or a used Sony a6300. Then look for a 24mm equivalent lens. Either of those combinations will do great for car photography and video.

[@RedSnowUI]

@@PhotographyPX thanks I’ll look into them I really appreciate it

[@Astrolavista]

Great review, up voted.

[@tommyliu1210]

I just got A7 do you have any recommendations on a lenses and Is Tamron 28-75 good for travel?

[@PhotographyPX]

Awesome. Great camera. Yes, the 28-75mm is an excellent lens for travel, be it photos or videos. It's an incredibly well rounded lens, that's sharp, with accurate colors and consistent focusing. Would definitely recommend it. You can read more about it here, and watch our review on the lens: photographypx.com/tamron-28-75mm-f28-di-iii-rxd-review/ As far as other lenses for the a7, we have a full list of recommendations on our a7 review post. Scroll down to the accessories section and you can see some general recommendations. photographypx.com/sony-a7-review/

[@bagua76]

Hello, try a prime lens like sony 50mm 1.8, and you can do very good photos 👍

[@mytusak]

Amazing video!

[@PhotographyPX]

Thanks!

[@marvinvasp9108]

How does this camera compared to canon 6d? Planning to buy one. 🙂

[@PhotographyPX]

The A7 will largely outperform the 6D. But the 6D is a good camera for the money. You can read more about each below and compare them in-depth by putting the articles side-by-side: photographypx.com/sony-a7-review/ photographypx.com/canon-6d-review/

[@AnthonyPtak]

What do you mean about the stabilization of micro HDMI? IS that a physical limitation or electronic?

[@johnguzman8673]

Hey there ! I’m struggling to figure out whether to purchase a Sony a7 or a fujifilm xt30 mainly for IG posts, scenic photography, and some self taping in that order. I know the xt30 isn’t all that great for video quality but I’d assume it’d still get the job done ? I’ve also seen that the a7 doesn’t have a built in flash and taken that into consideration. Although I wish there was a better alternative to the xt30 with its photo capabilities that also had good video quality under $1,000 USD

[@PhotographyPX]

Honestly John, the X-T30 is probably the better all-rounded camera here. Yes the a7 can get the job done for all of the mediums you're looking to shoot. And this is currently the camera we use to film and shoot with for the time being on our channel. But, the X-T30 provides the far advanced feature set. Consider also looking into Fujifilm's X-T2, if you can get a used one that would be an incredible option as well. Otherwise, the only real reason to the the Mark I, is strictly because you want the more shallow depth of field and the aesthetic it provides. Or you want the versatility the Sony E mount provides in lenses. Otherwise, there's no other real reason to pick this particular camera.

[@Abframe88]

Just buy A6400 its better than both of them

[@mariuskiefer5037]

I‘m struggling to find a camera. I do typical full body shots (fashion based on IG) will this camera still have an amazing photo quality?

[@PhotographyPX]

Yes. This camera is excellent. We used to shoot with it ourselves for fashion and beauty. It’s a good choice for the mediums for the price. Get that and the Sony or Tamron 24-70mm and your 👍

[@Louis2020vlog]

Would you recommend a7 ($700) or new fuji xt200 ($750)? I will mainly use it for portrait or family photos. Thank you

[@PhotographyPX]

When you're shooting, how often would you say you shoot in low light? Depending on how you answer that Erik, will determine which camera specifically is best. Let me know.

[@Louis2020vlog]

@@PhotographyPX thank you for your reply. I would say not very often. Due to the covid I do take more photos indoor these day but often with daylight and external flash. I also just watched your Canon M50 review and wondering if you prefer it over the X-t200 for photography?

[@PhotographyPX]

Hi, in that case, you may not really need a full-frame camera. The real benefit of getting an a7, or any other larger sensored camera is that it helps capture more incoming light when shooting at night. Which, ultimately, means you can recover more details, shoot at lower ISO's, and recover the highlights if they're slightly blown. But, if you don't plan on shooting cityscapes or want the most shallow depth of field possible, there's no real benefit of getting a full-frame camera here. As far as the M50 vs the X-T200. I would say these cameras are equivalent. The real separating factors between them are these: the X-T200 provides film simulations, better in-camera processing options, time-lapse, better HDR functionality, and it offers a headphone output (via USB-C). And technically, Fujifilm has superior APS-C lenses to Canon. But, the M50 is supremely easy to use, responsive, and the autofocusing is vastly superior. And having owned and used both, it's just the better camera for beginners. The X-T200 is rather complicated in the grand scheme of things. But, it also has some strange functional limitations compared to the similarly priced X-T30 and slightly more expensive X-S10.

[@Louis2020vlog]

@@PhotographyPX thank you for the valuable insight. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. Cheers.

[@lbandzgaming]

is this camera worth buying for videography ?

[@PhotographyPX]

Yes it would be okay, if you specifically want a full-frame camera. But, for videography only, you're better off getting the Sony A6100 for a similar price as this camera. That camera has far better recording options and video autofocusing.

[@iamiconboy]

I have sony a7 what is the best lens for shooting movie please any one can help me ?

[@PhotographyPX]

Consider getting a 35mm lens, this is the general focal length of what our eyes see. And it'd be a good starting point for videography so you can master framing, composition and lighting. Then move to more niche and specific lens as needed.