Sony Announces the A7S – 4K Full Frame Mirrorless Camera with Super Sensitivity

With the opening of the NAB video show in Las Vegas Sony introduced a unique new camera called A7S. This is the 3’rd mirrorlessĀ full frame model in their lineup (after the A7 and the A7R) but despite its external similarities it has some very distinct feature set.

The new A7S – super sensitivity camera

A7S-large

Here are some of the main features for the Sony A7S:

  • Sensor: 12MP Full Frame (the large pixels should improve not only the sensitivity – see below, but also the dynamic range, gradation and color fidelity).
  • Processor:Ā BIONZ X.
  • Sensitivity:Ā ISO 100 – 102,400 (this is the base sensitivity!), extendable to an ISO 50 – 409,600 range.
  • Auto focus: newĀ hybrid phase/contrast detection AF system – capable of going down toĀ -4EV (supposedly the best currently on the market – although we heard that one quite a few times lately).
  • Video capabilities:Ā 1080/60p internally withĀ uncompressed 4K over the camera’s HDMI connection (to record 4K internally it would need a stronger processor – that would heat more – so you will need an external recorder to record 4K with it but you will get 4:2:2 color sampling with external recorder). Sony also added S-Log2 capability borrowed from its pro video cameras which significantly improve the dynamic range of the camera.Ā Sony will also introduce a newĀ Optional XLR audio input unit for the camera (XLR-K1M).
  • Video formats: XAVC S recording format in addition to AVCHD and MP4 codecs. XAVC S format allows for full HD recording at a data rate of 50 mbps with lower compression for improved video quality.
  • Price:Ā Pricing and availability of the Ī±7S full-frame interchangeable lens camera will be announced at a future date (unofficial info states summer availability with a price of $1700 – body only).

More info on the new A7S can be found on the Sony dedicated A7S page.

A video recorded with the Sony A7S (you can watch it in 4K)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEA_8A9TBGM#t=48[/youtube]

A slide from the NAB show with some of the features of the new A7S

A7S-info1-NAB

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Iddo Genuth
Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.

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