Sony is a leader in mirrorless cameras with its full-frame Alpha series, but
Sony is a leader in mirrorless cameras with its full-frame Alpha series, but as the series has expanded to four models, choosing the right one can be confusing. In the current range...
05/09/2021
Sony is a leader in
mirrorless cameras
with its full-frame Alpha series, but as the series has expanded to four models, choosing the right one can be confusing. In the current lineup, the A9 II, A7 III, A7R IV and A7S II are all high-performance models, but each has unique advantages that can make it better or worse in any situation.
The most obvious difference between these cameras is the resolution of the sensor, which varies considerably from the 61 megapixels of the A7R IV to the 12 megapixels of the A7R IV.
offers better performance and a much higher price. With hands-on experience with nearly every full-frame Sony mirrorless model since the series launched in 2013, we've identified the differences to help you decide which one is right for you.
Sony A9 II p>
Adam Balkin/Digital Trends
If you need speed and precision, the Sony A9 II is for you. the
original A9
wowed at launch with its 20fps burst speed. The second-gen camera adds more incremental steps than monumental changes, but it's still Sony's top performing model. Sony's flagship camera uses a back-illuminated (BSI) full-frame Exmor RS CMOS sensor that's stacked to prove that exceptional speed. It's paired with the latest BionzX image processor for better performance across the board.
Its stacked sensor measures “only” 24 megapixels, but what it lacks in resolution it makes up for in performance. It's not only fast, but can hold that 20fps speed for over 200 exposures in compressed RAW. Compared to the 14 fps of Canon's flagship 1D-X Mark II and the 12 fps of Nikon's D5, it's simply mesmerizing.
The sensor also has an extended ISO range of 50-204,800 and can trigger its shutter electronics as fast as 1/32,000 of a second, a speed fast enough that rolling shutter distortion is much less of a concern than with other cameras. other electronic shutters.
The A9 II's autofocus system consists of 693
Phase detection points
AF points and 25 contrast detection points. In total, the autofocus points cover over 93% of the frame and focus calculations are performed 60 times per second, which is more than enough for the most demanding environments and subjects.
Complementing that speed and focusing accuracy is the 3,686,000-dot OLED electronic viewfinder that offers a trouble-free display when shooting bursts. With the electronic shutter, the A9 II makes viewfinder obscuration a thing of the past, meaning any time you hold down the shutter and shoot, you always see a live view of what that the sensor sees exactly, even at 20 fps.
The A9 II is also waterproof, has two SD card slots and offers wired (Ethernet) and wireless (Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth) connectivity.
And while it's not Sony's best camcorder, it still records 4K video at 30fps.
At this price, it's not exactly a consumer-focused camera. Fortunately, many technologies of the
A9
carried over to Sony's other full-frame models. Or, if you really need that speed and can't stomach the price, the
First generation Sony A9< /p>
is still there too.
Sony A7III
Daven Mathies/Digital Trends
Sony might call the A7 III the base model in its range, but that's far from basic in our book. Its 24MP back-illuminated sensor brings improved low-light performance and increased dynamic range over the already high-performance A7 II. It also strikes a good balance between file size and resolution. It won't match the detail of the A7R VI, but in most situations it has more than enough resolution.
The A7 III features the same 693-point autofocus system as the flagship A9 II and AF performance is just as fast and reliable. Battery life is doubled over the previous generation, to 710 shots per charge, putting it well ahead of the mirrorless competition.
As with Sony's other third-generation A-series cameras, the A7 III now boasts a 10fps burst rate. In full continuous mode, it can record 177 JPEGs. It's not the professional sports camera that the A9 II is, but it's impressive for a 'basic' model.
The A7 III also stands out with its video capabilities. It shoots in oversampled 4K across the full width of the sensor, so there's no cropping or pixel bunching. You also get various high-end features, such as S-Log flat color profiles that preserve dynamic range and provide more flexibility for color grading.
As the specifications show, the
A7 III
is anything but basic. From a value perspective, this is probably the best camera on this list and the one most people should buy, even if your budget is higher. The money saved here can be used for a good purpose.
Read our
Sony A7 III review
.
Sony A7R IV
sony
The A9 II may be Sony's top performer, but the A7R IV is the hi-res champ. It uses a 61MP CMOS sensor,
backlit
(BSI). This resolution makes the A7R IV the highest resolution full-frame camera around - it turns out images over 9,500 pixels wide. It also has one of the highest resolution electronic viewfinders with 5.7 million dots.
If that resolution isn't enough for you, the camera's Pixel Shift mode can produce a 240MP image. For now, the final image has to be processed on a computer using Sony's software, so it's not the most practical option, but it's still an impressive feat.
Despite that crazy high resolution, the A7R IV still manages a 10fps burst mode, although RAW files drop from 14-bit to 12-bit when shooting at full speed. To help deal with the increased image output, Sony has taken a page from the A9 and added two memory card slots, both of which are compatible with fast UHS-II SD cards.
When it comes to autofocus, the A7R IV uses 567 phase-detection points and 425 contrast-detection points. Sony has also improved the autofocus algorithms to enable better tracking of moving subjects and real-time eye autofocus.
When it comes to video, the A7R IV impresses again. It can shoot 4K either in full-frame mode or from a Super35mm sized cropped area of the sensor. In Super 35 mode, which uses a 1.7X crop, it oversamples additional pixels for a super-sharp 4K image. Like the A7 III, it also uses S-Log, a flat gamma profile that captures maximum dynamic range and is suitable for color grading.< /p>
Processing all those pixels takes energy, but the A7R IV still manages 670 shots with a single battery, or 530 with the electronic viewfinder.
the
A7R IV
will not suit everyone. It's for photographers who are willing to put in the time to get it right. But if that's you, the A7R IV promises the best possible image quality, far from
high-end medium format systems
. Like Sony's other full-frame mirrorless cameras, the previous generation
Sony A7R III
is still available, offering a lower price without as many megapixels.
Read
our
Sony A7R IV hands-on review
.
Sony A7S II
The A7S II is the only model that has not yet been updated in the third generation. It's the most focused camera of the three A7 models, and the hardest to recommend. At just 12 megapixels, it's a far cry from the resolution of most current mirrorless cameras, even low-end consumer models.
This low resolution, however, means that each individual pixel is much larger and therefore more sensitive to illuminate. The A7S II's ISO range can be extended up to 409,600, allowing you to take pictures in the moonlight. It's not the highest ISO rating (the
Nikon D5
pushed into the millions) but it's more usable than most.
But being as old as it gets, the A7S II doesn't have the best autofocus of Sony's newer cameras. The 169-point AF system relies entirely on older, slower contrast-detection technology. It also can't track moving subjects in continuous shooting mode, as the AF remains locked after the first frame. So even though the sensor is designed for low-light photography, you can get better results with something like the A7 III.
the
A7S II
another primary focus is on video. It can shoot beautiful 4K footage across the full sensor width, although it doesn't have enough resolution to shoot 4K from a Super 35 crop. However, it will shoot 1080p in crop mode up to 120 frames per second for slow motion. Naturally, it also uses Sony's latest S-log profiles, providing the greatest flexibility in post-production.
Read our
Sony A7S II review
.
Previous generation models
Although this story focuses on the latest cameras, we should note that older A-series cameras are still available for sale. What they lack in new features, they make up for in lower prices. The A7R II has the same high-resolution sensor as the Mark III model, while the A7S is a low-light champion just like its second-generation younger sibling, and the first-generation A9 offers the same speed as the last. option.< /p>
The most attractive model is probably the
A7II
. It won't quite match the ISO performance or dynamic range of the A7 III, but it still uses a 24MP sensor capable of producing brilliant images. For photographers on a budget who want to upgrade to full frame, its low price makes it very attractive.
While we all love the latest and greatest technology, you can save a lot of money buying a previous generation model, money that could go to lenses, flashes or other accessories that could make a bigger difference in the quality of your images. If you don't need the latest speed and features, the A7 II, A7R II, a7R III or A7S might be the camera for you.
Sony A7 II review
|
Sony A7s review
|
Sony A7R III review
|
Sony A9 review
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