Meet the Sony a7C II—Sony’s New Jack-of-All-Trade Mirrorless Camera

Introducing the Sony a7C II

Building off the full-frame powers and the sleek, compact design of the original a7C camera, this new Sony a7C II should expand upon its first-generation version and provide even greater image resolution, autofocus (with AI-powered enhancements), in-body image stabilization and video capabilities. All while still keeping the small and compact form factor which should be great for run-and-gun project types.

While Sony’s other new camera — the Sony a7CR — might get the majority of the headlines this week for its much larger sensor, the Sony a7C II should still be quite capable with its 33MP full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor and its BIONZ X processor which will be able to push for 10-bit 4K video at up to 30fps.

The Sony a7C II will also notably see the introduction of a back-illuminated structure to its sensor to give it a new, higher resolution without sacrificing any sensitivity, extending its ISO range to 100-51200 (or even expandable to ISO 50-204800) for some of the best low-light performance with menial noise and wide dynamic range on the market for its price point.

A True Workhorse Camera

As far as providing true workhorse video (and photo) capabilities, the Sony a7C II does look to be quite capable with its 10-bit 4:2:2 advanced XAC S-I format recording capable of 4K/30p, 4K/60p with a Super35 crop and Full HD up to 120p.

Sony is also including its Slow & Quick (S&Q) recording mode which should allow for shooters to capture 4K video at specified steps between 1-60fps where you can slow down action or speed up slow-moving scenes for greater cinematic effect.

Specific for this new a7C II when comparing it to its predecessor though, the biggest highlight is probably the new AI-powered autofocus and image stabilization technology. With the a7C II’s AI processing unit the camera should have enhanced AF and stabilization controls ensuring smoother handling and clarity in any and all shooting conditions.

Plus, with this new AI processor, the a7C II will use a new auto exposure algorithm to prioritize exposure areas for a reported 20% improvement in overall exposure accuracy. Other features like auto white balance and autofocus will also see similar improvements thanks to these AI processor features as well.

How Does the Sony a7C II Stack Up?

As you can see in the full specs listed below, while the Sony a7C II might not look too different on paper from its predecessor (which also capped at 4K/30p), the biggest improvements will be in this advanced functionality and AI processor features, plus slightly better video across the board.

However, with a price difference of only $400 at launch, the Sony a7C II should give creators plenty of options to consider when looking for the best camera for their budgets and project needs.

Overall, the Sony a7C II will indeed be a true jack-of-all-trades camera with great video and photo features and some of the most advanced AI-powered controls for its price point. The bigger question will be how it compares to the Sony a7CR, which should really kick the higher-end video market into overdrive.

Here are the specs and pricing for the Sony a7C II:

• 33MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI Sensor
• BIONZ XR Image Processor
• Shooting Up to 10 fps, ISO 50-204800
• 10-Bit Full-Frame 4K30p Video
• S-Log3, S-Gamut3, S-Cinetone, User LUTs
• 7 Stops of In-Body Image Stabilization
• 759-Point Phase Detection, 94 percent Coverage
• 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
• 3" 1.03m-Dot Vari-Angle LCD Touchscreen
• Internal Mic + Inputs, USB Streaming