Dream-camera!

Since I bought my first digital camera in 2001, I never let go of all aspects of photography. Over the years the equipment always high (and heavier) was. My last was a Nikon D7000 SLR camera with several lenses.

As well as high-quality compact cameras then came parallel to D-SLRs on the market, I always had to be one of those noble-compact cameras in inventory to go unencumbered. Once I eventually realized that I took advantage of the large equipment hardly more, I had sold my complete SLR equipment and was perfectly happy for a while with a Canon G1X. This was then replaced by a Sony RX100 - my first camera from Sony.

At some point I began then but a creative game with sharpness / blur to miss and found in the Sony RX10 a great compromise. Virtually limitless possibilities in a still fairly compact and not too heavy format. In this context, I became interested 7 for the Sony Alpha. A similar masterstroke as it did the RX100! A full-frame sensor in a relatively small, lightweight size! And all at a quite tolerable price! So I ordered the kit from A7 in conjunction with the zoom lens 28-70 mm. With correspondingly high expectations I was feverish counter-receipt of the camera.

First impression, feel and quality of workmanship:
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The first impression was great, smaller and lighter than expected, good workmanship and feel, at least as regards the body. Some may find the design of the A7 bit old-fashioned. This is a matter of taste, I like it very well! The Alpha 7 acts toolig, while also elegant and Lifestyle her is excellent! At first glance one has the impression of a complete metal casing, but so, unfortunately, is not true. Only the upper part of the camera is made of magnesium. This is the right way and massively a haptic delight! Sony acquired the remaining parts of the camera design technically so cleverly designed that the camera acts as a unified whole. Thus, the difference to A7R which has a full metal housing does not fall, in fact. Water and dust resistant, they are both. With attached kit lens corresponding dimensions and weight in about the RX10 and therefore is the A7, despite full format under a conventional SLR with significantly smaller sensor.

The grip of the camera is absolutely fine and the location of numerous controls is well thought out. As I am familiar with Sony cameras, announced the operation and menu navigation on no mystery. The pivoting mechanism of the monitor works like butter and the screen can be in contrast to the RX10 adjust directly in the position for recordings from the frog perspective.

The standard delivery is a bit poor. In this price range Sony might well have to settle an external charger. However, you can buy a bundle to a third party, which consists of an external charger and two spare batteries for relatively little money.

Unfortunately, I know with Sony now the bad habit to provide no reasonable manual for the cameras. For the Alpha 7 However, there is at least a "real" PDF manual, not a cobbled together emergency PDF, as with the smaller models. However, you will not find it if you look at the support page for an Alpha 7, you have to ILCE-7 enter.

Technology and features:
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The Sony Alpha features a full-frame sensor size 35.8 x 23.9 mm with 24 megapixels. Thus, the sensor surface is 7-times greater than with the built-in RX100 / RX10 variants and more than twice as large as the APS-C format in about. By relatively low pixel density and simultaneously large photosensitive area ideal conditions for low noise and detailed shots are given with an excellent dynamic range. Also, the free parking potential against the background is significantly better than with smaller sensors. At the same time also decreases the achievable depth of field, which should meet any prospective definitely.

The kit lens covers the most popular focal range of 28 - 70 mm. 5.6 at a fairly low level - Here, the light intensity with F3.5. Here, the optical performance for a kit lens is not so bad, but more on that later.

Function side brings the Alpha 7 just about everything with what you can imagine now. Although a GPS module is not available, but everything else imaginable, including a WiFi module. Recording parameters, Keys, display and viewfinder displays, everything is largely flexible customization. Although the video functionality hardly interests me, but if you want to use it, you will be pleased with the opportunity to work with 50p in PAL 60p or be able to film in NTSC in full HD resolution.

The menu of the Alpha 7 is largely identical to the user interface of the RX10 and I feel this in comparison to some other brand than boon. So quickly and safely navigates with no other menu through the various functions. Also very pleasant I find the detailed battery indicator in percentage increments. On the part of current usage the Alpha 7 to anything but squeamish with the battery. Carrying 1 - 2 charged spare batteries is actually unavoidable.

The autofocus is not as sluggish as some claim. Perhaps this is due to very different conditions, perhaps he has also been improved with the latest firmware update (v.1.02). For my purposes, it is fast enough. The A7 has, incidentally, unlike the A7R a hybrid autofocus (contrast & phase AF). The exposure of the Sony Alpha 7 is very balanced and the need for corrections is significantly lower, as I knew that from my Nikon cameras that would be almost always corrected by -0.7.

That Sony A7 has donated no built-in flash, I find very annoying. While I photograph rare with flash, but if I want to do portraits in backlit situations, I need him completely. A compact flash I do not bring with you when I'm traveling. So I will, willy-nilly at least have the small Sony HVL-F20M purchase additionally. Unfortunately, this is not available anywhere, not even in the Sony Store. Partly it is even offered with juicy premium to the EIA ...

Monitor and viewfinder:
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The electronic viewfinder is a class of its own! And even better greater than in the RX10. I think he's better and more practical than an optical viewfinder. It covers 100% of the image section, and is also lighter than an optical viewfinder due to the residual light amplification. In dark places, the whole will be negatively affected by some noise. The proximity sensor works very reliably and on the viewfinder while looking through a and the monitor automatically simultaneously. When wearing glasses, I would, however, wish me a bit earlier response of the sensor. All additional information that you can show on the monitor, are also the viewfinder available.

Resolution, quality, uniformity and color accuracy of your monitor are also at the highest level. However, I do not understand why Sony has waived the top model with a sensor for automatic brightness control. The RX100 / RX10 feature selfsame, and I do not want to miss actually. When shooting outdoors it is recommended to manually switch the monitor brightness to the mode "SUNNY". Thus, the recognition is also in very bright environments still good, but the camera sucks the battery then the quicker empty.

Also, I would like not to mention the ingenious 3D spirit level which can be displayed on both the monitor and viewfinder.

Image Quality:
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Those who opt for a full-frame camera that does primarily because of the ability to produce ultimate image results. With correspondingly high expectations I made the first test shots (RAW + JPEG).

The picture quality was really excellent! The dynamic range of fantastic, the focus absolutely on the spot. At least in the center. At the edge despite stopping down but not better than that of other high-quality cameras that I had before, such as a Nikon D7000 with Nikkor 16-85 mm. Basically, the quality of Sony kit lens is quite considerable.

Actually, I'm a big fan of the RAW format. But here I must admit convince the JPEG images directly from the camera. The test basis generated by me from RAW results were not always better.

When noise behavior, I must admit that I am somewhat disappointed. Although the noise performance is the best thing I have ever met in camera, but it's just not as much better as I expected it because of the comparatively gargantuan sensor. Probably I had here was an unduly harsh expectations and it is currently technically not getting any better. In any case, even shooting with ISO 6400 are relatively low noise and detailed. In high-ISO shots, however worthwhile the RAW format, because here I achieved by RAW Converter significantly better results.

By using the Auto ISO is striking that the A7 very fast high ISO settings uses. Where a sufficient RX100 ISO 1600, the A7 requires equal to ISO 6400. And as good noise performance of A7 may be, at such high ISO values, it is by no means better than the RX100 with significantly lower ISO sensitivity. Of course you have also significantly different light sensitivities of the lenses into account (RX100 F1.8 at wide angle) here. With a light stronger fixed focal length on the A7 would certainly look different. My tip: Manually select a lower ISO sensitivity! The image stabilizer works so well that even shooting with a slow shutter speed are still sharp. As a rule, are always possible 1 / 20s with a steady hand and with steady images.

Even if what is offered was very good, after a few days, a certain disillusionment ceased and doubts arose as to whether the purchase of the Sony Alpha has 7 well worth it. The differences in quality photographs to my RX10 just were not so huge and at the same time the possibilities regarding focal length range is much lower.

That all changed after I the kit lens by Carl Zeiss 24 - had replaced 70 mm (SEL2470Z). This is rated highly controversial, which may be due to the serial dispersion. But if you caught a perfect copy, the results are almost unearthly! Such sharpness and such a wealth of detail previously never come across me! The images are so natural and of a purity that I would not have thought possible!

The picture quality is so good that it is possible even within limits, the images to scale up. So I want to get an idea, how relevant is the size difference to images of a A7R with its 36 megapixels, and some RAW images scaled 4912 pixels high of 6000 x 4000 pixels to 7360 x. The results were astounding. I do not think that it would be someone noticed that it is not to native images. The upscaled results are still better than many a result of mediocre camera / lens combinations.

For physical reasons, of course you have to live with a lower edge sharpness even when SEL2470Z. Nevertheless, what is offered is very compelling. Those who want to achieve even more sharpness in the corners, will not come to the acquisition of high-quality fixed focal lengths around.

Conclusion:
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In combination with a really good lens I put the purchase of Sony Alpha 7 is no longer in question. Only now I see what the A7 is actually capable of. Never before have I seen such perfect pictures! Since I like living with restrictions on maximum focal length!

In order not to be disappointed, any interested above it should be clear that the outstanding options of the Sony Alpha 7 are only accessible with corresponding high-quality lenses and require an additional investment. Another point that should be found in prospective consideration is the depth of field. With such a large sensor must be highly dimmed in order to achieve the same depth of field, which is famous for cameras with smaller sensors. In turn, the free parking potential already mentioned is of course a very good thing, and for many photographers of the main reasons for using the full format.