Rangefinder is a member of the Technical Image Press Association which has contracted with Image Engineering to perform detailed lab tests of digital cameras—including the Sony Alpha 7C that was launched on October 23— 2020, outlined below. See here for a full methodological rundown of how Image Engineering puts cameras through their paces.

In a little under a decade, Sony has racked up an impressive number of imaging records—the first compact digital camera with a full-frame sensor, the first full-frame mirrorless camera, and now the Alpha 7C, the “world’s smallest and lightest” full-frame mirrorless camera. Do good things come in small packages? Let’s find out.

Sony Alpha 7C: Best Features

Packed with a 24.2-megapixel, back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor and BIONZ X image processor, the 7C measures in at a petite 4.9 inches x 2.8 inches x 2.2 inches and weighs in at 18 ounces. Despite its space-saving dimensions, the camera still offers in-body image stabilization good for up to five stops of shake reduction and a battery rated for up to 740 shots.

You’ll enjoy an ISO range from 100-51,200 (expandable to ISO 50-204,800), AI-powered Real-time Tracking autofocusing technology for both stills and movies, and Real-time Eye AF that’s supported for both humans and animals. There are 693-point focal-plane phase-detection AF points that cover approximately 93 percent of the image area, with an additional 425 contrast-detection points to help you focus in a range of environments. The Alpha 7C is capable of locking focus in lighting down to -4 EV.

As for video, the camera supports full-pixel readout during 4K (3840 x 2160) recording, S-Log/S-Gamut color profiles and high-speed full HD record at 120fps. You can access eye-tracking AF in video mode as well.

The Alpha 7C retails for $1,800 (body).

[Discover more of TIPA’s lab test results on new camera releases here]

Resolution Capabilities of the Sony Alpha 7C

At ISO 100, the 7C is capable of resolving 95 of its sensor’s theoretical maximum resolution. That’s a better result than what Panasonic achieved with the comparably-priced Lumix S5 (92 percent), but trails the performance of the Nikon Z 6II (100 percent) and Canon EOS R6 (105 percent).

The Sony Alpha 7C maintains consistent resolving power through ISO 1600, where it’s capable of resolving 94 percent of its sensor’s theoretical maximum. Resolution holds up well even when Image Engineering pushed the camera to ISO 6400 (89 percent) and ISO 12,800 (87 percent). While this isn’t class-leading resolving performance–the EOS R6 fares better–it’s consistent with the performance of Panasonic’s S5 and the Nikon Z 6II.

Visual Noise

Images made by the Sony Alpha 7C at ISOs up through ISO 3200 would not show noise when enlarged to 100 percent and noise becomes only “slightly noticeable” at ISO 6400, according to Image Engineering. The 7C outperforms Canon’s EOS R6, which starts to show noise at 100 percent at just ISO 800, and Panasonic’s S5, where noise rears its splotchy head at ISO 1600. Image Engineering notes that only at ISO 12,800 would noise be obvious at 100 percent enlargement for the 7C.

When viewing the Alpha 7C’s output on a postcard-sized print or a large print, Image Engineering found no visible noise at any ISO level tested. This puts the camera on par with rivals like Nikon’s Z 6II and Panasonic’s S5, which also kept noise at bay in these testing conditions.

Sony Alpha 7C: Strong on Dynamic Range & Color Reproduction

At ISO 100, Image Engineering reports that the Alpha 7C delivered 11.8 stops of dynamic range–an excellent result that’s just a shade below what Canon’s EOS R6 delivers. The 7C outperforms Nikon’s Z 6II and both the Lumix S5 and S1 in dynamic range at base ISO.

You’ll enjoy around 9.9 stops or more of dynamic range through ISO 6400, according to Image Engineering.

As for color reproduction, the 7C delivered strong results, with just two colors (both bright blues) deviating strongly from their reference target. The camera’s color reproduction surpasses all of its rivals. Image Engineering also noted that the camera’s automatic white balance was “excellent.”

Video      

Image Engineering found that the Alpha 7C can resolve 109 percent of its sensor’s theoretical maximum when shooting video at low ISO. This was an excellent result for cameras in this class, topped only by the EOS R6. The 7C’s resolving power is similarly strong at high ISOs, resolving 108 percent of its sensor’s theoretical maximum. Image Engineering did observe fairly strong sharpening applied on videos shot at lower ISO settings. Noise is also well controlled in videos at most ISOs.

Video dynamic range was measured at 10 stops for low ISOs and 9.3 for high. That’s the same result that Image Engineering found in the EOS R6 and slightly better than the Lumix S5. Nikon’s Z 6II, however, recorded a higher 10.7 stops of dynamic range at low ISOs in Image Engineering’s test.

The testing firm added that while both the camera’s AF tracking and image stabilization performed well in video, there was some “mild” rolling shutter visible in their test clips.

Performance                                             

Image Engineering timed the 7C’s startup at  0.8 seconds and continuous shooting using the mechanical shutter at 9.7 frames per second (fps) in JPEG. Continuous shooting slows a bit for RAW images, down to 7.6 fps. Switch to an electronic shutter and you can coax one extra fps when shooting JPEGs but Image Engineering found you actually slow to 6.3 fps when recording RAW images. Compared to its key rivals, the 7C is slower than Nikon’s Z 6II and Canon’s R6 but zippier than Panasonic’s S5.

Things slow slightly when autofocusing in bright light (300 lx), where the 7C took eight-tenths of a second to lock focus and shoot a picture. In low light (30 lx), the 7C was actually a bit speedier, clocking in at seven-tenths of a second.

Price: $1,800 (body)

sony.com