The Sony a7c is the company’s first rangefinder-style camera with a full-frame sensor at heart.
I’m incredibly elated that Sony made a camera like the Sony a7c. The entire industry is lacking rangefinder-style cameras. Putting a full-frame sensor into one is the icing on the cake. Maybe it will mean other brands follow suit. Sony made a few sacrifices to create the Sony a7c. This is a real innovation that was proven long ago with the RX1 series. But this camera is different; you can swap the lenses out. The image stabilization isn’t up to par with the other Sony a7 camera bodies. And in some ways, I feel the autofocus isn’t either. You’re also missing a joystick. But otherwise, the Sony a7c has a whole lot going for it.
Editor’s Note: Our original review was published with pre-production firmware. We’ve updated this review with firmware version 2.0.
Sony a7c Pros and Cons
Pros
It’s tiny
This is Sony’s first rangefinder-style full-frame camera, and it reminds me so much of the Mamiya 6
Good image quality overall
I adore the shutter sound
Weather resistance is excellent for shooting in the rain
The colors from the images are lovely
High ISO output is outstanding, especially in print
Focus peaking seems better than previous cameras, but it’s still not Canon’s
Cons
No joystick
I really wanted the Sony a7r III sensor: that was the most perfect one
Sony’s IBIS isn’t as good as Canon’s or Fujifilm’s
The IBIS in the Sony a7c isn’t as good as that of the higher-end Sony a7 models
No touchscreen menu
I’d really like a frontal exposure dial
Sony needs to revamp its delayed shooting option to focus on a subject right before it’s going to fire
I don’t feel like this is the same autofocus as the other Sony a7 cameras. Sony’s autofocus needs to be revamped to accurately focus on people of color with dark hair and against dark backgrounds
Needs dual card slots
1/200th flash sync
Dynamic range isn’t that great in Capture One
Sony is still prone to getting dust on the sensor with this camera
Gear Used with the Sony a7c
We tested the Sony a7c with
Sony 35mm f1.8 FE
Sony 28-60mm f4-5.6
Fotodiox M to E mount adapter
7Artisans 50mm f1.1
7Artisans 28mm f1.4
Samyang 14mm f2.8 II
Samyang 85mm f1.4 II
Profoto B10
Sony 85mm f1.4 GM
Sony a7c Tech Specs
Here are the tech specs in brief
24 Megapixel Backside illuminated full-frame sensor
20% smaller and 30% lighter than other Sony a7 series cameras
5 stop of IS
Weather sealing
4k video features
10 frame per second in mechanical and electronic shutter
The same battery as the newer Sony a7 series cameras
Variable angle LCD screen
Magnesium alloy body with weather resistance
Ergonomics
Here it is in silver! Many of us have been waiting a long time for a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera boasting a full-frame sensor. And it’s here! Admittedly, I think I made it look more gorgeous in the photos than it is in real life. Personally speaking, my heart belongs to the Fujifilm X Pro 3. And the silver on both cameras is very similar.
The front of the Sony a7c has the full-frame E mount area. There are no buttons on the front except for the lens release. I wish Sony put more buttons on the front of their cameras. It would help them feel more like, well, real-cameras! I also wish the front of the grip still had the extra dial.
The top of the Sony a7c has three controls. Around the shutter release is the on/off switch. It shares the right side with the mode dial that includes the dreaded Auto mode. There is also a video record button nestled between the shutter release and the exposure compensation dial. To the left of all this is the hot shoe.
The back of the camera is incredibly comfortable. It’s missing a joystick, and some folks won’t like that. Changing the autofocus point with the wheel at the back is more annoying and slower than a dedicated joystick. The LCD screen is the variable angle type. To the right of all this are control buttons and the other exposure dials.
To the top left of it is the EVF. It’s ni...