Hello, there.
This review has been a long time coming. Initially, I didn't want to review this camera; mostly because the camera had been released for quite some time now and because I feel that there really isn't much to say about cameras in general these days. Cameras are either too expensive or too inadequate to meet the expectations of new and old shooters. I don't think that it's a new thing; people wanting good results fast. But it is an everlasting situation that has turned me off to reviews. I actually already wrote about this conundrum in my last entry here.
However, after my time with the Sony a7C, I couldn't help but feel like I needed to say something. Even so, I won't be focusing too much on the technical aspects of the camera but provide more of a personal perspective of my time using it. Long story short, there is absolutely nothing bad to say about the Sony a7C.
Sony seems to never do wrong
First of all, I only had two weeks to spend with the camera so it's not as if I was able to fully appreciate all its bells and whistles. What I did get to do with the camera is bring it along on my trip to Langkawi Island, a beautiful island in the north of Malaysia with gorgeous beaches and lush greenery. The clean air, open roads, and surprising lack of tourists made for a wonderful getaway after years of being cooped up inside. Not to mention, it also made for a convincing excuse to try out the a7C.
Shot on Sony a7C + Sony FE 50mm F2.5G
To be frank, I had initially requested the Sony RX1R II full-frame compact point-and-shoot to bring along on this trip. The Sony RX1R II has a 35mm f/2.0 fixed lens with a 42MP full-frame sensor, dials for manual settings, and a pop-out viewfinder. To me, it was the most perfect camera for holiday. But due to its unavailability, I sought the a7C as its replacement; a newer camera with better focusing and speed, albeit a little less resolution at 24MP and a little more chunky. Nevertheless, I was still able to carry it around without too much hassle. Plus, I was able to shoot at a much preferred 50mm focal length instead of 35mm due to the a7C's lens interchangeability. This allowed for a more intimate frame rather than a wider one at all times.
"Forget the long lens, bru. Stuff only looks good up close," - Bang Bang Club (2010)
Shot on Sony a7C + Sony FE 50mm F2.5G
Alongside the FE 50mm F2.5G, I also requested the FE 28-60mm F4-5.6 in case I needed wider shots
I am always partial to the rangefinder-esque body types. My dream camera is the Leica MP film camera or the Leica M10-P, which is its digital version. My experience in shooting street photography and portraiture using cameras with these body types have always felt better, more comfortable, so to speak. My photos have a different look to them, a sort of looseness I don't get from the usual DSLR-type bodies. I still remember my experiences shooting the likes of the Olympus Pen-F, Leica M262, Leica X, and the Sony a6500. All these cameras provided a placebo sense of relief, release of tension, and a carefree state of mind for me to trust my instincts. I feel less compelled to fulfil expectations or reach a certain level of satisfaction. With the Sony a7C, all these feelings washed over me once I fully immersed myself in shooting again while on my trip. The goal was not to find the perfect frame but to frame the perfect moments.
Shot on Sony a7C + Sony FE 50mm F2.5G
Specs-wise, the a7C has more than adequate features to satiate even the most picky of shooters. A 24MP full-frame sensor, 10 fps continuous drive, fast autofocus, WiFi connection, and 4k video capability are some essential features that the a7C possesses but I was mostly impressed with its fast response. Though keep in mind, this fast response absolutely requires a UHS-II memory card because the writing speed to the card is monumentally important. Before we could use my UHS-II memory card, I had my brother's UHS-I card inside and it significantly slowed down the processing and responsiveness of the camera, so you should bear this in mind when considering the a7C. In fact, buying any new camera these days would definitely call for an upgrade of memory card, as well.
The shooting experience with the Sony a7C is no different to those already familiar with Sony cameras. The settings menu has been updated to a more accessible user interface while the physical button and dial layout is convenient and intuitive. However, it did take some getting used to in the "expanded flexible spot" AF mode when selecting focus as it takes an extra push of a button to toggle the AF select mode. If you didn't click into the toggle select mode, you would be stuck using the pre-programmed D-pad shortcuts. This wasn't an inconvenience per se, but it did stump me a few times when I had long pauses in between shooting.
My thumbs hadn't seen this much action since the big texting craze in '09
In terms of other technical aspects, the dynamic range of the RAW files of the Sony a7C is a great joy to work with as attested by my brother and co-photographer at QZ Photography, who edited all the photos from the Sony a7C. The files responded well to post processing in Adobe Lightroom, what with all the exposure, white balance, color grading, and film presets thrusted upon them. My brother was able to recreate the mood of the moment in every photo, including the lighting, framing, tone, and color. I've always loved the post processing or editing aspect of photography and to see the photos shine through really made the trip that more memorable.
Shot on Sony a7C + Sony FE 50mm F2.5G
Now, this wouldn't be a review if there wasn't any feedback for improvement, now would it? Although it is true that I don't have anything bad to say about the Sony a7C, that doesn't mean there aren't things I would like to see in the Sony a7C II. First, I would like to see an expanded range of shutter speeds to allow for longer exposure times. I feel that night time and astrophotographers would definitely benefit from the small form factor of the a7C but in its current state, it doesn't meet the basic requirements. On top of that, a dedicated recording button would do wonders for this camera. I believe that people who want to invest in good equipment but can't fork out the money for an a7S would benefit a lot from improvement in the video aspect of the a7C, which, now that I mention it, includes the low light capability as well. A beefier sensor that better handles low light and bright light would definitely get me on board with a Mark II version of this camera. Remaining improvements include the usual aspects such as resolution, autofocus speed, autofocus area, and touch screen.
No matter the space, there's always room for improvement
With that being said, I am happy that my return to photography was accompanied by such a brilliant camera; the cherry on top of a very enjoyable cake. If in the past I was solely judging a camera by the numbers, nowadays I'm leaning more towards the added value of the camera instead of its projected capabilities. I know that this review might not be what a lot of people are looking for in terms of pros and cons or tangible benefits and outcomes, but those kinds or reviews are a dime a dozen. If you were to ask me whether the Sony a7C has any major advantages over my 10 year-old Nikon D7100, I would say absolutely no. Reinvesting a whole system aside, the Sony a7C is priced out of, not only mine, but most people's budget. But that is its set price by Sony, not its set value. So if you can justify paying that price, I am here to tell you the value it could bring to you and your photography.
Immense appreciation goes to Sony Malaysia for providing me with the Sony a7c along with the FE 50mm F2.5G and FE 28-60mm F4-5.6 for this review. All photos were shot in RAW, where the photos shot on the Sony a7C were edited by my brother Fariq (@qirafyosman) while the photos of the Sony a7C were edited by me.
Until next time.
p/s: I hope it's not too late to wish you a Happy New Year. May your year be blessed with good luck and good photos.
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