Sony A7s II With 4k Recording & Mirrorless Camera
The recent announcement by Sony, of the release of full-frame interchangeable-lens mirrorless cameras, was very welcomed. The a7S Mark II still has the familiar 12.2-megapixel, high-sensitivity sensor, but brings with it many of the design features introduced in the A7R II, as well as some extras.
Users will be impressed with improved levels of sensitivity and stability, as well as truly stunning image results that can be produced in any light conditions. The a7S II is set to become as much of a friend to the videographer as the photographer, with its unique ability to shoot 4K video internally with full pixel usage, and no binning. Due to take its bow in October 2015, the a7S II is set to retail in the UK for £1900, with pricing in other countries still to be released.
What Can You Expect?
Let’s take a look at some of the specs for this latest Sony camera release.
• Super high sensitivity of up to 409600i coupled with low level of noise.
• Smooth gradation of tone across all light conditions.
• Improved range of shooting opportunities created by 5-axis optical image stabilisation.
• Unique internal 4K recording which enables full pixel usage with no binning.
• Range of high quality video features including S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3 and new Gamma Assist Display together with improved Zebra Function. Also Full HD 120fps recording coupled with 4x/5x slow motion recording.
• High accuracy shooting created with high speed auto focus and advanced shooting functionality.
As you can see there is plenty to impress. Let’s take a look at some of the improvements in more detail.
New Improved Autofocus
With the introduction of the new 169 point AF system comes a much easier auto focus experience that’s faster and smoother. Not only can you be quick but accurate too, with the help of a powerful image sensor that reduces unwanted noise and enables prompt contrast detection. This is especially noticeable in video format, where the AF speed is twice that of previous models.
Impressive Sensitivity Levels
The a7S II boasts both a 35mm full-frame 12.2 megapixel image sensor and a BIONZ X image processing engine. These two pieces of technology combine to create a seriously impressive sensitivity range of ISO 50-409600. No matter what light conditions you are working with you will see impressive results. The still and moving images that you produce will benefit from super fine detail and an extremely low level of noise.
Upgraded Design
Sony has really paid attention to improving the user experience in the design of the a7S II. It has a magnesium-alloy body which means it’s highly resilient while being light to handle. The positioning and design of both the grip and shutter buttons has been well thought out, to allow for a natural feel when handling. Great news if battery life has been an issue for users. They can now charge the camera using a USB connection, while it’s in use.
Inspiring Video Functionality
Users now have the ability to use the a7S II 4K internal recording feature. This results in a final product with an extremely high level of detail. The camera now makes use of all pixels, with no pixel binning. This means that it makes optimum use of the full-frame image sensor, and the user gets movies of a higher quality. This full pixel usage has never before been present in the a7 range.
In addition the Zebra function has been subject to improvement and new profiles S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3 and S-Gamut3/S-Log3 have been utilised. These profiles greatly enhance the dynamic range of the device.
Greater Level of Stability
Often the onus of stability has been left to lens manufacturers. With the use of its 5-axis system Sony is moving away from this, giving users the same level of stability no matter which lens they use. As the name suggests this piece of technology works to reduce camera shake along five separate axes when the user is shooting. This helps to alleviate angular shake, shift shake and rotational shake. All of this means a much improved level of stability for the user.
Overall the a7S II is set to be a welcome new addition to the range; although it has to be said that not every current accessory will work with this new camera, due to its enhanced design. This could mean that users end up paying out for new accessories as well as a new camera.