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All posts tagged Mirrorless Camera

SonyMirrorlessThe Sony Alpha a7II Mirrorless Digital Camera is a full frame mirrorless camera meaning the size is much smaller with the new technology yet still full frame. As technology advances the DSLR is now facing competition from the likes of the Mark II featuring the first and only 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization for a full frame.

Olympus was a leader in the mirrorless technology and Sony invested in Olympus in 2012 and used the knowledge obtained in the partnership to create the remarkable Alpha a7II. The 5-axis stabilization compensates for pitch, yaw, roll as well as vertical and horizontal movement.  This system is designed for optimal use with the Optical Steady Shot built into Sony A and E-mount lenses but alone the stabilization provides plenty of support to avoid blurry shooting.

The physical stature of the camera is impressive weighing in at 1.22 pounds with a 3” tilting LCD screen. The body is 5 inches by 3.8 by 2.4 which is quite small for any full frame camera. The physical body is made of a two-part magnesium alloy that is moisture and dust resistant with weather seals on the control dials and buttons. It also has a textured finish compared to the smooth finish of the other A-7 models, increasing the grip. As for the memory card, the Alpha a7II can take SDXC, SDHC, SD, memory Stick PRO Duo (High Speed), Memory Stick PRO HG-Duo and Memory Stick XC-HG Duo giving the user plenty of options for storage.

The a7II shoes in both JPEG, RAW and has video capabilities of AVCHD ver.2.0, MPEG-4, SAVC S and Dolby Digital sound. It shoots at a whopping 24 megapixel at 6000 x 4000 with a 5 frames per second speed. As for the memory card, the Alpha a7II can take SDXC, SDHC, SD, memory Stick PRO Duo (High Speed), Memory Stick PRO HG-Duo and Memory Stick XC-HG Duo giving the user plenty of options for storage.

There are numerous features on the Sony Alpha A7II to customize allowing the user to customize it for a user’s shooting style especially with the additional C2 custom function button located on the top deck allowing for up to 56 function assignments or custom settings.

When it comes to the quality of the photos, the Alpha a7II is impressive and has had massive success in the professional realm.   The images are crisp with spot on colors with the camera leaning toward warmer tones especially indoors.   High ISO shots with the in-camera noise reduction system are really good especially in RAW.

The autofocus works quickly and accurately especially on higher contrast items. The focusing speed slides a little on less well lit subjects. It performs well in high speed sports action situations but is better suited for other genres of photography but still has an excellent buffering capacity for rapid shooting.

Overall the Sony Alpha a7II Mirrorless Digital Camera is an improvement over the predecessor with a more ergonomic and sturdy body, more customizable functions and the amazing 5-axis stabilization system. The quality of the photos are superb with excellent AF and rapid firing in many different situations.

Save big and name your price on the Sony a7II Alpha Mirrorless Camera.


sony_ilce7s_b_alpha_a7s_mirrorless_digital_1044728The Sony Alpha a7S Mirrorless Digital Camera is a full frame sensor mirrorless camera making it the smallest and lightest full frame camera with interchangeable lenses in the world. The Alpha A7S is a 24.3 megapixel camera with embedded phase-detect AF that takes the weight out of the mirrored DSLRs without losing the exacting quality.

The A7S resembles the old school 35mm film cameras. Simple in design but solidly built the body measures 5 inches long by 3 ¾ inches high with an amazing 2 15/16th inch thick. It weighs in with battery and card at 1pound 1 ounce.   Sony stepped up to the plate with the A7 line making it Wi-Fi compatible with almost any operating system. It shoots at 5 frames per second with shutter speeds of 1/8000th of a second to 30 seconds with an ISO range of 100-409,600. It comes with both auto and manual focus. The LCD is a nice 3’ tiltable design that is easy to see even in the harshest of light. One beauty of the A7S is the ability to accept almost any lens with a third-party adaptor. It will easily take the old but true manual focus lenses as well as all the new lenses available.

The highly customizable internal menu system is logical and easy to navigate if not slightly overwhelming in the sheer number of functions, 46 in total and settings. The external dials and settings are extremely convenient therefore using the internal menu is not often needed.

It is repeated over and over that the A7S is not suitable for fast action shooting and performs best for stills or moderate action shots like an animal running versus a soccer ball zipping across a field. Another common complaint is the noise of the shutter more than likely not suitable in quiet environments. The A7 is an E-mount with a full frame sensor and the E-mount lenses don’t work well unless in crop mode and can cause vignetting thus using the lens adapter and other lenses makes for a better option.

The image quality of the Sony Alpha a7S Mirrorless Digital Camera is excellent. The details are sharp, nice colors and accurate exposure. The kit lens is more of a problem than the camera and it is suggested to use your own lenses and disregard the kit one. There are reports of losing skin tone and detail on portraits but it is not enough to not shoot portraits with the A7S. The A7S performs well in low light up to the 1600 ISO range. Beyond that noise creeps in. The onboard noise reduction also is lacking and better to be handled in post processing.

Overall the Sony Alpha a7S Mirrorless Digital Camera has an extremely excellent image quality, a dazzling array of functions and settings, a top-notch view finder, Wi-Fi capabilities and is adaptable for a wide variety of lenses.   On the down side, the kit lens is not on par with the camera itself, the battery life is quite short lived requiring a second battery, it is not great with high speed action shots and the shutter is noisy. It is a great field camera for the weight, size and technology.

Make an offer on a new Sony Alpha a7S now.