Sony A7Cii Long Term Review: 6 months later…

Sony A7Cii Long Term Review: 6 months later…
After six months with the Sony A7Cii, I’m sharing my long-term review. This compact, 33MP camera excels in photo and video performance, offering superb low-light capabilities and advanced autofocus. I'll discuss its strengths, like the 10-bit 4:2:2 video codec and versatile APS-C mode, as well as areas for improvement, such as the 4K60p crop and minor rolling shutter issues. Perfect for hybrid shooters, the A7Cii balances portability and quality. If you have questions, drop a comment below. Enjoy the review!

📷 Related videos:

Chapters:
0:00 intro
0:28 Impressive hybrid camera
0:46 APSC mode
1:31 video performace
1:58 stabilization
2:40 low light & dual base ISO
4:06 auto focus
4:54 size & weight
5:46 slow motion
6:20 rolling shutter
6:52 final thoughts...

[darrenchen]

I sold my a7rv for this camera for the same reason as yours and I couldn't be happier. It really makes a huge difference on a daily basis. It's just a perfect everyday/travel size camera while still has plenty enough photo/video performance. I didn't like the 1.5x crop at first either, but I feel like it's not that big of a deal once you get used to it, plus I actually found it very useful as I constantly use it to get a closer focal length lol, and the best thing is you still get the full 4k resolution. For vlogging I just use a very wild lens and it works out perfectly. You're really getting a lot for the price.

[facundovaldiviac]

Love to see the compact lenses video! I’m personally looking to get the a7cii with a zoom lens. Leaning to the sigma 28-70 would love to hear your feedback and experience with that lens!

[theendurance]

Please make more tips and tricks videos on how to get good footage/photos, your guides are the best

[luiscalderon]

Thank you! A7cii is my first Sony camera and your videos have helped me out so much.

[pckbls]

I'm still so happy with my a7c ii. It's an amazing compact device that fits perfectly for me both for photography during vacation as well as videography at the race track.

[encuadrezz]

Nice Video, Just what i was looking for! Thanks and keep going. Cheers from Argentina

[ledaiphu]

I will buy one soon. Good video! Subscribed!

[sergiosala]

Great! I've been thinkin about getting A7Cii or A7CR, and even if getting 16-35mm. I'm currently on A7C with Tamron 17-28mm but need to upgrade! I travel a lot and I do mostly video but I like taking good photos as the same time.

[markofadljevic]

A7cII with ZV-E1 is the best combo. And AF on both is mindblowing. Subject is being tracked again even when steps out an back in the frame.

[paullafleur]

Helpful review. Looking forward to your compact lens recommendations. Two questions. One. Some people report that they find the shutter sound annoying. Did you find that too? Two. I believe the camera does not have a full mechanical shutter but an ‘electronic first curtain shutter’. Did you notice any limitations? Thank you! I enjoy watching your videos

[khoitivity]

Hey Constantine, thank you for taking the time to make this stellar review. It was really helpful. OFF TOPIC question... Can you PLEASE tell me what kind of dog/terrier the one at 0:46 or 4:38 is? He/she is one of the cutest dogs I've seen. I have to know 😂

[markofadljevic]

I've managed to get an overheating warning on a7cIi when recorded over 2 hours in 4k 25fps 10bit. It didn't shut down but I've stopped recording and changed the battery. On the other hand, a ZV-E1 overheated on me even in 1080p after 25 min of continuous recording, a screen wasn't opened but an external battery was used, and it overheated.

[janes]

Thanks very helpful, I’m a Sony a7iv user, i like a7cii but i am afraid to choose wrong direction but thanks i buy a7cii today

[Mandelrot]

Finally, after seing so many wonderful videos and photos with this camera (especially yours), I've just got my new A7CII + Sigma 28-70. I should stop watching YouTube 😑

[Mandelrot]

I think the frequent comparisons with this camera are unfair, because they are based on the camera's characteristics and not the user's needs: it's like comparing a hammer with a screwdriver, or a 10$ hammer with a 200$ hammer. A reasonable real world comparison would be with a similar camera for a similar use (ZV-E1 is a different type of product for a different type or use and market) and a similar price (A7CR doesn't even make sense). First you think what you need/want to do, and then what's the best tool to get to that.

If someone is looking for a all-purpose camera (which implies things like zero overheating and enough resolution to not even think about it), great for photo and video, and similar price, I think an example of logical concurrence for this camera would be the Lumix S5II or S5IIX. I've just checked the website of a shop in my city and the A7CII is at 1.855 €, while the S5IIX is at 1.834 €. Probably the S5II (without the X) would be more correct for a similar solution, but the price of these two is almost nailed and that's why I mention it.

Following this example, maybe the two factors to consider here are whether the user comes from the same ecosystem and already owns compatible lenses or not; and in case there's no previous bias, if you value more the size (Sony wins) or you value more the video options+resolutions+codecs (Lumix wins). Something that might be also important is whether you want to use the camera as a webcam, in this case the Sony is your clear way to go.

But besides this, I think this review is extremely useful for some users (like me) who have the A7CII in the wishlist. There were some aspects I hadn't consider and I guess those are the kind of things you think of when you have the experience, thank you very much for pointing everything out and also giving us marvellous images as always.

[oleha]

Love the 50mm 2.5g with my a7cii, but also Tamron 17-28 2.8 and Sony 80mm 1.8

[lb_projekt]

Nice video, definitely very useful. in fact I'm also considering the Sony a7c ii...months ago I sold the Sony a7iv to get the Sony Zve1. for me it was too bulky and that 4k 50p with the crop was unbearable. but it made me discover the use of APSC lenses on a full frame. now that I've had the Zve1 for a few months I tried to do the same thing because with such a small camera you need small lenses in theory...so I even started with the 16-50 kit lens...then with the classic sigma 16 f1.4. ...I tried the 16-55 f2.8 and many others...including full frame lenses. And unfortunately the more it goes on the more I realize all the limitations that Sony continues to put... and which I honestly can't stand anymore. On the a7iv the crop at 50p....on the ZV-E1 the overheating...the lack of mechanical shutter which allows you not to have 14 bits but 12...on the a7r III (also had this one) the 4k at 30p was unwatchable...then the crop in the stabilization...the crop in 120p for the a6700...well why? Sometimes I look at my old photos and videos taken with the a6000 with my kit lens and still today I wonder how they are so beautiful? why didn't the videos have rolling shutter? why didn't the camera overheat?? I think that Sony has two market lines, one made for those who work, very specific, very expensive and which works as it should work... and then there is the line dedicated to those who don't work as a video maker or filmmaker or whatever, which is that segment of people, which I also fall into, who does weeks of research to find the best features in the next camera to buy, somehow gets there and then after a few months gets bored and starts looking for something else. And obviously it's always a matter of making do... because Sony on this market segment pretends not to be able to integrate things that it does on other cameras... so I've reached the point that I think it would be better if Sony started giving its buyers something more appropriate than cameras full of limitations. Such as a beautiful 16mpx APSC camera. thus all these noise problems in low light would finally be avoided. or a 20/24mpx full frame with 4k 50p no crop. Does it take a long time to do it??? definitely not but Sony doesn't want to do it. because he understood that those who work there spend $7000 on a camera and probably keep it for years, while those who don't work there are the ones who make the economy go round and that every 6 months or at most a year they change cameras and constantly change lenses

[howardhdavidson]

The video is over green looking for me on mine .It appears more green than the A74 snd not so sharp.

[stkuj]

Personally, I had no need for the ZV-E1 and sold it after getting the A7Cii.

[highwind]

Do you find A7iv's eye AF less accurate than A7cii?