Ayup! I’m about a year into my Sony Alpha journey now. Wohoo! Here’s my a7C II review and how I’m feeling about the camera 12 months on. Spoiler alert, I love it.
So that you know this is my real opinion, I don’t do affiliate links. These are genuine thoughts written by a real hooman bean. What? You mean this isn’t generated by AI? Correct! And you couldn’t care less if I buy it or not? Also correct!
The a7C II helps me earn a few extra squids, but I’m far from being a professional photographer. I mainly shoot for fun, and occasionally dabble in the paid work from Unsplash+. So that’s me and my use case. Let’s do this!
This review doesn’t include any images, but you can see examples on my homepage or Unsplash portfolio. Also, I don’t shoot video, so won’t be discussing that here.
My Sony a7C II Review
So far, the cameras I’ve used have been Fuji, iPhone, OM System, Google Pixel and Sony. Absolutely love all five brands for completely different reasons, but it’s fair to say I found my feet with full-frame photography. And more specifically, Sony Alpha.
The a7C II is a full-frame powerhouse packed into a tiny body. I’m actually not a fan of really small cameras. This one’s just about big enough, though. That said, I’ve got the (also tiny) 50mm F2.5 attached. A perfect combo, balance-wise. As soon as you put anything bigger on it, however, I feel it might become a little top-heavy.
Compact and lightweight, the α7C II is the full-frame camera that serious creators have been waiting for. Packed with cutting-edge capture technology for both stills and movies, it’s the essential tool for capturing the world the way you want to.
Image quality & tones
Firstly, let’s talk image quality. This isn’t a technical review, but the detail and sharpness you can achieve with this camera are the best I’ve ever captured. Flawless.
You’ve got 33 megapixels to play with and the exact same sensor that’s in the a7 IV. Nice! With images of this size (7008px by 4772px), there’s plenty of room for cropping right in when you need to.
As a JPG shooter, I like to take advantage of the tones I can dial in. More on how I do this in the Creative Looks section, but the results are about as close to perfection as it gets. Massive tick!
Lens pairing
As mentioned further up, I purchased the FE 50mm F2.5 G with the camera. What an absolute beast of a lens. Sony advertise edge-to-edge sharpness and fully deliver on their promise.
These smaller lenses are an ideal match for the a7C II. The pairing gives you a compact setup ideal for travel and street photography.
When you can only buy one lens, it’s a really difficult decision. While the 50mm has been challenging at times, I’m really pleased I trusted my gut instinct.
When it comes to compact lenses manufacturers often like to cheap out on build quality and features, but Sony decided to take a different approach with their small G lenses, as we can find all the controls we are used from the GM primes: de-clickable aperture ring, AF/MF switch and lens button. If you are used to other (higher end) Sony lenses this is very nice as you will feel right at home.
Viewfinder and screen
I don’t actually use viewfinders on cameras. Most of the time, I take the shot from arm’s length or an awkward position that’s nowhere near my eye. Online, there are mixed reviews. While it seems fine in the day, one YouTuber reported it being a total letdown at night.
The touchscreen is perfectly sharp and easy to navigate. I use buttons or settings whenever I can, but the camera doesn’t come with a joystick. Therefore, if you need to set the focus point, you have to press the screen. No biggie, now that I’m used to doing it that way.
Creative Looks
Sony’s creative looks are their version of Fuji’s film simulations. The colour options are nowhere near as good. Nothing can compete with the likes of Classic Chrome. When it comes to black and white, however, it’s a lot easier to customise the exact look you want.
For me, it goes a little bit like this: BW (black and white), contrast +8 and shadows -8. That’s it. Most images come straight out of the camera looking absolutely perfect. Yes, I make a few minor edits, but rarely need to touch the light, contrast, tones or shadows sliders.
Creative Look offers 10 unique preset looks. You can enjoy greater freedom of expression simply by choosing a mode such as FL or VV to create a look that suits the scene or how you envision your images. You can also customize the preset modes of this advanced image processing to create your own original looks.
Ease of use
I like a camera that’s easy(ish) to use straight away. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy with a learning curve. But it’s always nice when you can just crack on. This was my experience with the a7C II.
I had everything set up in no time. When I’m out and about, all I do is check/set the aperture on the lens, point and shoot. I’m nearly always using aperture priority mode with auto ISO. It may sound a bit basic and amateur, but I really can’t be arsed faffing around with the settings all the time. Of course, there’s the option to do this if that’s your thing.
Later this year, I’m starting a series based on motion, movement and longer exposures. This will obviously take a little more technical involvement. So far, though, initial tests and experiments have been relatively straightforward.
Appearance
Yes, I’m one of those photographers that cares what their camera looks like. Don’t hate me! I’ve got the silver version of the a7C II. It’s an absolute beauty, let me tell you.
Paired with the 50mm lens and a little Peak Design wrist strap, we’re looking tippity top. Kinda shallow, I know, but I’m more inclined to use something when I like the look of it.
While Sony says the A7CR is aimed at ‘pro artists’ shooting subjects such as portraits and landscapes, the A7C II is an all-rounder for enthusiasts who’d like full-frame image quality from a relatively small camera.
What’s changed?
Since I started shooting with the a7C II, I’ve become a world-famous photographer and also a millionaire. Definitely true. Back down to reality, Mike. Ok, so things have actually developed, albeit subtly.
For the first time in my six years as a contributor, I made the finals in the Unsplash awards. Wohooo! Seeing one of my images in the top ten of the Architecture & Interiors category was a dream come true.
I also created a project called Kaleidoscopic. This went on to become some of my most viewed and downloaded works. Pretty happy with how some of these turned out. Others, I should have given more time and consideration before publishing.
Lastly, I feel like my overall photography skills have stepped up a notch. This is largely due to the teachings of the 50mm. Considered compositions and mindful framing become an essential skill to learn.
Sony a7C II review conclusion
To wrap up this Sony a7C II review, I’d simply like to declare that I’m a big fan. If you read the first paragraph, you already know that.
It’s been a cracking year shooting with this little setup. I often struggle with decisions over things like this. Thankfully, everything about the camera has nestled into my workflow perfectly.
Do I recommend it? Hell yeah, depending on your individual needs and requirements, of course. Lots of folks say that this isn’t a professional camera. Other than it possibly being a bit too small, I disagree. The image quality of the a7C II is the star of the show here. What else matters, really?
This camera will easily see me through the next few years. As an introduction to Sony Alpha, I couldn’t be happier. Will I eventually upgrade it? Maybe. Possibly. Hopefully. But for now, at the level I’m at, we’re a solid match.