PRESS RELEASE: THE ALL NEW Sony A7SII is Announced! Ships October!

57 Comments

1. Did they fix rolling shutter problem ?

   • Do you shoot video with an A7S? ..If so, have you ever had an actual “rolling shutter problem”? ..Or are you referring to something you’ve read somewhere as being a “rolling shutter problem”?

     Myths about this so-called problem and that so-called problem for such-and-such a camera are all over the internet. But many of these so-called “problems” just never show in normal use.

     I – as an A7S stills and video user – have never had any “rolling shutter problem” with A7S video ..and so, as far as I’m concerned, there has been no “problem” to fix.

     • Really — you never shot with anything longer than say 85mm and accidentally moved side to side? Even with a nice rig it is still possible to get the jelly effect. Rolling shutter is quite pronounced on A7S and while certainly not a deal breaker one must shoot around this drawback. I think this is a valid question.

2. Does this overheat like the other A7 series?

   • A couple Sony’s will overheat with video longer than 30 minutes without a pause. No idea if this one will or not. The NEX-7 does it, as does the RII. But I have never had it happen but I do not record video for 30 min segments at a time without pausing 😉

     • All reports are yes the A7RII will overheat – bit early to say for the A7SII. Of course that depends on where you’re shooting (ambient temp etc). Its why these small bodied e-mount cameras are more aimed at indie film makers than say live event shooters where you might easily have a need to record for longer than 30 minutes.

       Live event shooters are probably better served by video cameras with proper audio IO, zoom rockers and virtually unlimited recording and there are a ton of options out there.

3. Some wonderful qualities in a camera, yes, yet, disappointed.

   Call me fussy, but, while not everyone’s priority, one aspect of photography is the ability of the camera to have a fast enough response time, shot to shot, to allow the capturing of moving subjects, given minute and fleeting changes in expression or scene, limited only by the photographer’s reflexes, technique and anticipation, and not limited by camera speed.

   Most modern DSLRs, lets take the lowly Nikon D5500 for instance, can continously focus-track an object using back button AF, whilst allowing one to squeeze off a sequence of shots, one after the other in single shot mode, as quickly as ones eyes, brain and finger demand it, at up to 5 fps if necessary.

   And sooooo, now, as with the A7Rii, the A7Sii, which I did have high hopes for, is also slow shot to shot,in single shot mode, at only about 2.5fps. I just don’t get why they cannot get this faster… Why is this so?

   • Different cameras for different purposes.

     The A7S and A7SII are primarily made to compete not against continuous focus multi-frame-per-second “reportage” or sports cameras, but against Panasonic’s line of video-capable GH-series cameras. That’s to say small SLRs which not only take still photos, but also shoot video – a capability started, really, with the full-frame Canon 5DMkII.

     Sony has other cameras which shoot quickly, or have fast continuous tracking: that’s not the purpose of the A7S or A7SII.

     Their purpose is to provide extremely high quality VIDEO in a small package, to compete against the Panasonics (..and full-frame Canons..) and by making the A7S series ‘4K’ (“cinema quality”) cameras, their optimum pixel count is just 12 mpxl, which means that with “full-frame” (1.5 inch x 1 inch, 36mm x 24mm) sensors, each element in the sensor is so much larger than those of other manufacturers’ sensors, that the A7S series can shoot in astonishingly little light.

     So for 4K video in very low light (night-time video in cities and countryside) the camera to use is the A7S ..now with added stabilisation in the A7SII.

     For rapid-fire, constant fast focus, eye-tracking highest resolution stills, look elsewhere. Choose a different camera. No camera does everything. No camera is ‘perfect’. Choose the one which fulfils your particular requirements – that’s obviously not the A7SII.

     • Yes, David, of course, you are correct in that we must choose cameras according to our needs. If indeed this is a video centric camera, then it was a hope rather than a demand that it could fire a little quicker. Using limited megapixels seemed like a fine way to achieve fast frame acquisition, fast cycle time… Anyway, no worries, it’ll happen I am sure within the next couple of iterations…

       Cheers, Cass.

       • From Sony’s product spec page for the A7SII: http://tinyurl.com/q6oerpn

         “SPEED (APPROX. MAX.)
         Speed Priority Continuous shooting: Max. 5fps,
         Continuous shooting: Max. 2.5fps

         NO. OF RECORDABLE FRAMES
         Speed Priority Continuous shooting: 64 frames (JPEG Extra Fine L), 200 frames (JPEG Fine L), 200 frames (JPEG Standard L), 31 frames (RAW), 26 frames (RAW & JPEG); Continuous shooting: 100 frames (JPEG Extra Fine L), 200 frames (JPEG Fine L), 200 frames (JPEG Standard L), 59 frames (RAW), 34 frames (RAW & JPEG)”

         • Hi David, if correct, the press release states that 5fps is only available:

           Quote: [xii]Speed Priority Continuous mode. Focus and exposure settings fixed at first shot. Unquote.

           So, as you say, a video camera rather than responsive stills camera…

4. I’m a fan of the “7” since the Minolta 7000… 😉
   But in digital, for the moment, I still use APS-C camera (A77).
   My daughter is professional dancer. I have the opportunity to simetimes shoot rehearsals or even live performances (generaly in difficult lighting conditions). The step from A77 to A7* is (financialy) huge. I don’t want to make mistakes…
   I will never print big photos.
   That’s the context.
   For such situations, what is better ? A A7sII or a A7rII ? What abourt lenses ? The best A-mount lens that I own is the (noisy) Minolta 80-200/2.8 G. Due to improvements in high ISO, is the slower FE 70-200/4 OK is such situations ? I’m ready to invest.

5. I was expecting Sony to put their backside illumination technology on the A7sII sensor to enhance the low light performance further more.

   • the backside illumination tech has less impact on ff sensors, the smaller the sensor, the more the benefit. Talk is the upcoming APS-C sensors soon to be released will have much improved IQ. So much so, that Sony is holding back releasing them so they won’t compete with their newly released FF cameras.

6. For a camera that’s meant for Video, the 5 Axis stabilization is critical. The internal 4k with S-log 3 make this camera much better for videographers. And the ability to shoot at lower shutter speeds make it much better for low light still shooting.

7. OK Sony has small FF cameras, good too, but what about the size of the lenses. They are still large so the balance is to a certain extent akward! I don’t think it makes sense to photograph in complete darkness! In other words, an overkill for most people at least.

   • The full-frame AUTOFOCUS lenses are still large, for the most part, but the Sony A7 cameras also take a huge variety of other-brand full-frame MANUAL lenses, many of which are tiny ..e.g; Leica and Leica-fit lenses (..such as the little Voigtländer lenses, small Zeiss lenses..) and it even takes (using an adaptor) the tiny Contax G2 autofocus lenses which are no bigger than Leica manual lenses!

     Sony’s autofocus lenses are large, because of the autofocus mechanism, the auto-aperture mechanism and – in some cases – the stabilisation mechanism. But manual-aperture, manual focus teeny Leica lenses can now be shot at previously un-hand-holdable speeds with the built-in stabilisation of the A7SII, and no stabilisation mechanism is now needed within any of the lenses.

     The A7 series are tiny cameras – tiny, that is, for full-frame – and can be used with (manually focused, manual aperture) tiny lenses. And used absolutely SILENTLY when using the silent electronic shutter.

   • Ivar,
     if you have never tried it, you should not make silly comments like you did. I shoot in total darkness hundreds of Kilometers from civilisation. The a7sii will be such an improvement for me its just that good. And I am about to buy this beast only for its low light ability in photography. I have no need for video but I will still spend the money on this masterpiece.

8. Got the A7RII. Used it a few days and returned it…
   No Touch screen
   Battery life horrible (cmpared to GH4)
   Not worth the $$$ in my opinion.

   Now the A7Sii is very intriguing with the low light capabilities on a A7II body….

   • If you read reviews you would have known it had no touch screen and that two batteries are needed if you are a machine gun shooter. I had one battery all day today, shot off a ton of shots for 7 hours. Still have 1/2 my battery left. I had 4 more with me in my bag (they are small) and never needed them. It is the best 35mm full frame made today IMO, and I will stand by that as it is one hell of a performer. My camera of the year so far 100%. I have here at home: A7s, A7RII, Olympus E-M1, E-M5Ii, E-M10II, Leica M and others. My #1 is the RII every day. It is that good.

     • Quite agree, I bought two extra batteries after being ‘frightened’ by the reports. I’ve never needed more than one a day……although I always carry a spare, just in case!

       • I think the battery draw on the A7S is pretty healthy. It’s not horrible but it’s not super stellar either. I am talking about shooting video. While I was able to film many things including a 25 minute performance in one charge I found myself conversing juice to make sure I could cover everything I needed to cover. I felt a little naked with only one battery. Two batteries was much better but I would say at least three if out all day and/or not having close access to a charger. In comparison, I felt I could leave an A58 or a FS100 on practically all day and not be worried.

     • I agree that the A7r mk2 returns awesome image quality. The only issue I have with it is that at times I turn it off as its ergonomy is so different from the A7r which I am used to…

   • I doubt you can even afford one let alone bought one since you’re whining about touchscreen. lol

     • Yeap. You got it. That’s it. So you don’t think a touch screen is better than a non-touch screen?

9. Is the texture on all three new camera bodies the same or do they each have their own slight variation?

10. I wonder how much of an advantage the A7sII will have over the A7rII in low light…
    I mean, if you shoot at ISO 12800 with both, and resize the A7rII’s 42.3MP photo down to match the 12MP one from the A7sII – which will be better? Interesting question…

    • A7sII will be better, always. But probably not by much. Resizing is silly if you are shooting an RII. No need to do that. Noise performance is already fantastic.

11. Well done Sony!
    while other companys release a new firmware, Sony releases a new cameras!

    • That is hysterical. Well done.

12. Hi Steve, save yourself some time by not doing your “My Gear” page, might as well wait for the A7SII to arrive! (lol) Sony is taking on the big boys, look out!

    • Do not think I will get the A7SII. I still have the A7s here and $3k to upgrade doesn’t seem worth it to me when I have the RII here as well. Love the original A7s, so will hang on to that one. Will review the SII of course…

13. I saw a cartoon once, the clerk in the camera shop showing the customer a camera: “And when this little light goes on, it’s obsolete.” Sony brings out these new models so quickly! It might make for a bargain purchase of a used A7s a lot sooner than I could otherwise afford one. I just bought a new Ricoh GR (not the latest) for $500. Last year it was $800.

    • The GR is a fantastic camera. I’d put it right behind the Leica M Monochrom for black and white image quality.

    • “..It might make for a bargain purchase of a used A7s a lot sooner than I could otherwise afford one..” ..you can put your name down for mine with pleasure, highacutance, as it’ll be available as soon as the A7SII is in the shops.

      Excellent condition, “stealth” livery (..the word ‘Sony’ is painted out..) and all yours for a sensible bid!

      • I’d take it

    • Congratulations from a GR addict. I also see a used A7S coming in reach. The only camera I’m lusted after, since I use a GR for almost everything.

14. I love the PADF on the A7rII, eye tracking and tracking moving subjects is just so much better than a contrast only system. The upgrades are nice for existing A7s users, but at only $200 more, the A7rII offers a much more compelling hybrid package.

15. hmmm.. Sony tramples it’s own new camera again. I would think the A7S2 would be the better choice for the vast majority of photographers out there. Will be fun to see if the A73 will be released by Christmas or Easter.

    • Not really, they are two very different cameras for different markets. The BSI sensor of the a7R II gives you fast PDAF on both native and third party lenses from Canon (and even old Contax G Zeiss optics) but the a7S II is contrast detection only, so if you are using the Metabones or even the Sony LA-EA3 adapters, you are back to the previously slow AF. The a7R II also has much more advanced tracking features (hello Eye-AF).

      The added pixels of the S II will make the camera more sure footed when acquiring AF in low light but not necessarily faster than the original a7S in still mode. The a7S II is 2x faster to AF in video mode.

      The a7S II is a video shooter’s dream where the a7R II is more of a wedding, landscape, general shooting flagship camera. So for the “vast majority of photographers” the a7R II is still the way to go. If you are a video or hybrid shooter and want/need the incredible, stabilized, low light capability of the a7S II then the choice is clear.

      • i would think most don’t need the extra mp’s… diffraction starts at f7 on the A7R2… if you have older lenses there is minimal gain from the extra mp’s and it puts much greater emphasis on technique. to get the most out of the camera and the mp’s you would still need to put it on a tripod… which the vast majority won’t do. If you really need to print BIG, then the A72R will be better, but for anyone else, or for video, the a7s2 seems the better choice.

        • What happened to the A7II? Has it already gone out of fashion?

          • Yes. Although it’s still an amazing camera. But the A7ii is like the A7Sii without the low-light capabilities and internal (or any) 4k. But you can get one for half the price of the Sii so depending on your needs/budget, it might be a good choice.

          • What I meant was it’s not just a choice between 12MP and megapixels. There’s still a sensible 24MP choice, which seemed to be allright a year ago.

16. This is exciting. I’ll admit, I’m not a Sony guy and haven’t really desired any of their products other than the A7s. And like the A7s, I also lusted for the Nikon Df…both for their low light capabilities, low MP count, and their film like rendering of images. And with the A7s being the general consensus as the best of the bunch for M mounts, I like that I don’t need to invest in new lenses. Very intrigued…kudos to you Sony!

17. I’m still patiently waiting for Sony to use the Trinitron name for possibly a wearable imaging device…
    And to solve their long standing moire issue.
    Regardless it’s a hoot to watch them nearly continuously shake up Canikon.
    Long live the king.

    • No moiré with the A7S and A7SII as there’s no line-skipping (no throwing away of pixels) and no ‘pixel binning’ (merging pixels together to reduce pixel count down to 4k).

18. Another question regarding focusing. Official specs say:

    – A7Sii autofocus: Contrast Detection:169
    – A7Rii autofocus:Phase Detection: 399 and Contrast Detection: 25

    In general terms what does this difference really mean? When the A7S does not have phase detection: issue or non-issue? And practical implications?

    • It means the A7s will still AF faster due to the lower MP count of the sensor. The A7s still AF’s slightly faster than the A7RII, and in lowlight it kills it for AF. The new A7s is supposed to be even faster, so it will beat the A7RII for AF speed.

      • Will it have crop / Super35 mode up scaled again like the original S?

        Why would Sony leave out PDAF? There complaints about the A7S being unable to keep up with a person walking slowly toward the camera, let alone everyday action in a home or around kids.

        Perhaps they have a bit better tracking algorithm, or perhaps they abandoned tracking altogether as an objective for their video centric alpha camera?

      • Steve, i thought the phase detect focus should be faster than contrast detect. Isn’t the reason why DSLR still rule the sport photography? Or am I missing some information? Please explain. Thanks

        • All I know is my A7s will focus in the dark. A Nikon D4 or Df will not. I tried them side by side. As for C-AF? DSLR will win, but I never shoot C-AF..instead I need critical one shot AF, and the DSLR’s always fail for me in lower light. They say they lock on, and half the time are not. The A7s will AF in the dark, without an assist light, and be spot on. So the A7sII will have to be better that that, which means faster AF in lower light. Do not think the A7sII is made for sports or fast action, though I could shoot that with my A7s as is. The A7S, A7II and A7RII have fantastic AF and for me, never miss. But then again, I shoot one shot at a time.

      • The A7s has better AF than the A7Rii? Sounds good to me! Now the big question is, should I pull the trigger for a used A7S or the new A7Sii? Decisions, decisions…

19. Wow, this is very exciting. So, Steve, how would you choose between A7Rii and A7Sii? I know you would have both, but for a regular person like myself, what would now be the key decision points to decide between the two now that A7Sii has been announced?

    I’ve always been intrigued by the A7S, but was a little hesitant due to the dearth of pixels. That was probably very silly on my part. I mainly shoot for web, multimedia presentations. Unlikely to print larger than 11 x 14 inches.

    I mainly need: (1) totally silent shutter, (2) very fast autofocus, (3) good lowlight abilities with at lest fast autofocus. It seemed the Rii met many of these “needs”. Thus my question of why/how to choose between Rii and Sii.

    • The S will basically be an RII with a different sensor. Still 12 MP, but the S will have faster AF across the board, good or low light, will have the better ISO performance at night or in low light, and will be best for low light video. It’s specialty will be video and low light performance. The A7RII is about resolution. If you want the ability to crop to your hearts content, print large, or see details the S would never give, the RII is the one to get. With the RII over the SII I expect you will lose out on slight AF speed and higher ISO capabilities. That’s about it. So you should decide based on your needs and wants. Either will be fantastic. If shooting for web or small prints, the S would be my choice. If I wanted ultimate res, cropping power and 40X60 prints, the RII would be it.

      • This is not entirely correct. The A7RII has a BSI sensor with onboard phase detect AF. The A7SII is limited to contrast detect AF. The difference in AF performance between the two will be considerable, when shooting action/sports. Contrast detect AF does not focus track particularly well.

        • In a well lit area the a7RII will definitely be better. However in a low light situation the a7SII (-4 EV) will easily outperform the a7RII (-2 EV). I wish the a7RII had better low light sensitivity.

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