Hello everybody, I recently got a Sony A7R owners. All in all, Sony has succeeded with this camera a great success, the picture quality is great, the autofocus is fast and reliable (tested with Sonnar 35mm), the equipment leaves nothing to be desired, the materials and workmanship is very good. The design I would describe as a purposeful and modern and the camera is in spite of the compact dimensions also sure in my big hands. This is due primarily to the strongly developed gripping bead front of the chassis. In other mirrorless (Olympus OM-D E-M5, Fuji XE-1) was my first accessory purchase a handle that you can save at the Sony! Other highlights for me is one of the EVF (Electronic Viewfinder). I take pictures for two decades with SLRs and was a bit disappointed by the electronic viewfinders of the above Olympus and Fuji XE-1. The viewfinder of the Sony already comes a good full-frame SLR viewfinder quite close, with the advantage that if you messed with the exposure is, or has set the wrong white balance, you can see this already before recording. Also, the manual focus with most lenses, thanks to high Viewfinder Resolution, easily possible. I've tested various manual lenses from Nikon and Canon and am very happy with the results. Nevertheless: If you want to use this camera in the first place, to breathe its old manual baby new life, this should definitely try before commercially EVFs are not for everyone. So all is well? Unfortunately, not quite. The shutter sound much described is quite amazing, according to a mirrorless camera. I have not measured, but "side by side" sounds the Sony although different, but just as loud as my Canon 5Dmk2. I can live with, but that's certainly quieter (Firware update ?!). Really annoying I find the supplied with the camera - therefore only four instead of five stars. There are a thousand quick-start guide (very unwieldy and nothing for the camera bag) that contains no in-depth information, no software CD (everything only online) and not a battery charger for the battery (battery must be charged in the camera)! Very disappointing for a camera in this price range.
My conclusion in brief:
+ Great image quality in Jpeg and even better (exposure range!) In Raw + Great features many functions and many configurable knobs + Almost any ever produced interchangeable lens can be used (via adapter) + Good workmanship and ergonomics + Good manual focus, thanks to high Viewfinder Resolution, selectable focus peaking, and electronic viewfinder
- Loud shutter sound compared to other mirrorless - Lack of documentation, the manual is a joke - No charger + long loading times replacement battery is for Vielfotografierer duty
I hope the review will help you in the purchase decision. All-time good light! L. Henry
