14 DAY TRIAL // After the A7 and A7R, Sony has introduced a new addition to its compact full frame cameras, dubbed the A7S.
The “S” has been added to highlight that the camera will perform really well in low-lighting conditions. On top of that, there’s a new 4K video recording mode, which seems to be the hot spot in tech these days.
At the heart of the shooter lies a new full-frame 35mm Exmor CMOS sensor that instead of pushing for high megapixels favors boosting individual photoreceptor pixels size.
So, basically the A7S has a 12.2-megapixel equivalent sensor, but according to Sony, users will notice visible improvements in low-light performance in both photographs and videos.
This translates into 50-409,600 ISO range for pictures and 200-409,600 for video. Sony has also added a new 25-point Fast Intelligent AF system that’s reportedly capable of doing its job in conditions as low as EV-4.
Under the hood, lies a BIONZ X processor, capable of pushing 4K video through the HDMI port with 4:2:2 sampling. But you should know you’ll need an extra recorder if you plan to use the new camera to capture 4K resolution, because on its own the A7S only offers 1080p recording.
So if you want to record locally, one can choose from the available lower resolution options, like 1080p60, 1080p30 or 720p120 (5x slow motion). It’s worthy to note, the camera uses the entire sensor output when it’s recording video, as opposed to using just part of the sensor.
The A7S also uses XAVC S recording format at 50Mbps, a feat to be found in Sony’s professional video recorders.
In the hardware department, there’s an XGA OLED Tru-Finder viewfinder with integrated Wi-Fi b/g/n and NFC. Sony has also added support for PlayMemories apps for smartphones and tablets.
There’s also a 3-inch 921k-dot TFT display users will be able to adjust based on their preferences. As for battery, it will supposedly take you as far as 320 to 380 shots, depending on viewfinder/display usage.
As for lenses, Sony says the new camera will be able to take advantage of a whole host. The photo gear maker is currently developing the brand-new full frame E-mount power zoom 28-135mm.
On top of that, Sony is also working with third parties in order to support 4K video workflow. Last but not least, Sony notes a new XLR adaptor kit with a direct attachment mechanism is also in the pipeline.
We’re not told how much the A7S will cost, but it will become available for purchase in Europe this summer.
