Sony a7C Gets Silver Award at DPReview (86% Overall Score)

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DPReview published their Sony a7C mirrorless camera review and test results: the new Sony a7C mirrorless camera gets an impressive 86% overall score and Silver Award from the experts at DPReview.

Sony a7C Key Features:

  • 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI Sensor
  • BIONZ X Image Processor
  • UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas
  • 693-Point Hybrid AF System
  • 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
  • 3.0″ 921.6k-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen
  • 5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization
  • Shooting Up to 10 fps, ISO 50-204800
  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Connectivity

What we like:

  • Excellent image quality
  • Impressive and easy-to-use AF system
  • Class-leading battery life
  • Solid video set for most photographers
  • Collapsible kit zoom keeps the overall package small
  • USB charging adds convenience
  • Includes 5-axis stabilization, despite compact size
  • Hasn’t sacrificed the sense of build quality in its downsizing

What we don’t:

  • All three dials controlled with your thumb
  • Viewfinder is very small with no real eye-cup
  • Menus are unavailable while the camera writes to a card
  • Menus are complex and less easy to navigate than Sony’s newer cameras
  • Kit zoom reach and aperture ranges aren’t especially ambitious
  • Video AF requires settings changes to activate tracking
  • Most settings persist across stills and video, making it necessary to change multiple settings when switching
  • No full mechanical shutter, risking distortion of movement (e-shutter) or of bokeh at very high shutter speeds with bright lenses (standard mode).
  • Raw files are either huge or have destructive compression applied
  • Many of Sony’s better lenses under-cut the benefit of a small body
  • Some rivals offer more flexible 10-bit video for more demanding projects

Conclusion from DPReview:

The Sony a7C is gives up very little in the way of features in order to achieve its small size. Its image quality is very good and its AF is excellent, but its small viewfinder takes away from the experience a little. Its video and menus aren’t as polished as its rivals but its size and battery life make for a powerful combination.

Sony a7C: $1,798 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Sony a7C with 28-60mm Lens: $2,098 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Read more: Best Lenses for Sony a7C & Sony Black Friday Deals 2020.