Hire Sony a7C

Our thoughts

'The ‘C’ in a7C stands for compact. Full-frame mirrorless cameras with in-body image stabilisation don’t come smaller and it successfully squeezes the core features from the a7 III into a body that shares a common resemblance with Sony’s a6000-series of APS-C mirrorless cameras. Sony should be applauded for fitting a fully articulated screen, 2.36m-dot electronic viewfinder and IBIS into a camera so small. The way the microphone port is positioned so it doesn’t foul movement of the screen is a nice touch. It’s a camera that offers a remarkable specification for its size, but its handling, especially with large lenses, has nothing on the Sony a7 III.'  

The details

Compact Size, Full-frame Power

The α7C achieves uncompromising full-frame quality with the world's smallest and lightest camera and lens system – at the time of writing. Compact in size but meeting high expectations for image quality, AF and speed, it's truly an all-round performer, ready to enhance your creativity wherever you go.

Powerful performance and extraordinary image quality

Despite the compact size of the camera body, which is the world's smallest and lightest at the time of writing, the α7C delivers the spectacular image quality for both stills and movies that you'd expect from a full-frame camera. Fast, wide and steadfast AF, rapid-fire continuous shooting and a handy vari-angle LCD monitor help capture the action whenever it happens.

Superior light collection means high-quality, low-noise images

Bigger sensors create better images, and the α7C's full-frame sensor is much larger than the sensors in smartphones, compact digital cameras and similar-sized APS-C interchangeable-lens cameras. The resulting increased light collection allows for professional-quality images with reduced noise, and more retained detail in both shadows and highlights.

Make a difference with a larger sensor

With a full-frame sensor it’s possible to take shots and achieve impressive images that are unique to this format. The α7C’s sensor is more than twice the size of the sensors found in APS-C cameras of similar body size, and up to 30 times larger than a smartphone sensor, for stunning images with greater depth and detail.

Compact size, easy operation

The α7C was fashioned to be compact, lightweight and portable without compromising genuine full-frame camera performance. This goal was accomplished by developing new mechanical components, such as a space-saving shutter and optical stabilisation unit, along with layout and structural enhancements.

Enjoy the full-frame advantage

The α7C's full-frame sensor does more than just capture more light. Enhanced image depth, dynamic range and detail are all possible thanks to the large sensor and pixel size.

Capture all the beauty of the world

The 24.2MP11 Exmor R™ CMOS sensor works with Sony's BIONZ X™ engine to deliver superb colour reproduction along with a wide 15-stop dynamic range, and it helps capture details and smooth transitions across all lighting conditions in both stills and movies.

Stunning images, even at fast shutter speeds and in dim light

The larger pixel sizes on the sensor allow for an increased signal-to-noise ratio, for beautiful images with more detail in textures and shadow areas. Noise reduction is particularly effective at the medium- and high-ISO sensitivities required for fast-moving or poorly lit subjects. Standard ISO 100-51200 is extendable to ISO 50-204800

A vast E-mount lens line-up, from wide to telephoto, video and specialised

Whether you're an amateur or a professional, a photographer or a movie creator, a diverse range of over 50 E-mount lenses is available to elevate your creativity. Compact full-frame lenses provide exceptional low-distortion images, even at wide focal lengths, and allow for beautiful image depth and bokeh.

4K recording for beautiful movie imagery

Shallow depth of field enables bokeh effects, one of the strengths of full-frame cameras. Full-pixel readout without pixel binning allows oversampling equivalent to 6K recording, for clean images with less moiré and jaggies.

Widen your expression with S-Log, HLG16 and Picture Profile options

S-Log support captures a wide dynamic range of 14 stops, revealing fine detail in both shadows and highlights in post-production. HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) facilitates direct HDR playback and workflow, and Picture Profile provides various settings options for capturing images.

Capture the action as it happens, in beautiful detail 

State-of-the-art AF and speedy continuous shooting capability help ensure you won't miss that important split-second shot. The α7C's optical image stabilisation unit keeps it steady and blur-free whether you're shooting stills or movies.

Super-accurate AF finds the subject quickly and keeps it in steady focus

The α7C takes advantage of the same AF advancements as the acclaimed α9, with unique 4D FOCUS for fast subject acquisition and steadfast tracking over a wide area. A total of 693 phase-detection AF points cover approx. 93% of the image area.

Never miss a moment, even with fast-moving subjects

To better capture subjects in motion, the α7C shoots in continuous bursts at up to 10fps with AF/AE tracking, and up to 8fps in live-view mode. It also supports silent shooting at up to 10fps with AF/AE tracking.

Sony's smart AI-based Real-time Tracking and Real-time Eye AF

Reliable subject tracking translates into more successful portraits. As with previous models, you can aim at the subject and half-press the preconfigured shutter button to start Real-time Eye AF. The α7C also has a new feature that lets you press the AF-ON button to activate Real-time Tracking even when not in AF-C mode, allowing you to use Real-time Tracking immediately. Focus is maintained even when the face is partially obstructed or when the subject is wearing glasses.

Animal portraits in perfect focus

Real-time Eye AF for Animals tracks and focuses on animals' eyes. Taking successful still shots of pets and other animals is much easier with Sony's cutting-edge algorithm-based AF. Fast, precise automatic detection and tracking of an animal's eyes, rather than the tip of the nose or the whiskers, keeps everything in clear focus – simply leave it up to the camera. It works dependably even when an obstacle comes into view or when the camera's horizontal/vertical orientation changes.

Zoom in, grab close-ups and capture night scenes with greater clarity

The α7C's optical 5-axis image stabilisation unit compensates for five types of camera shake with no loss of image quality, even when shooting without a gimbal or when shooting in the dark. 

Full-frame image quality for movie creators

The α7C's side-opening vari-angle monitor can be easily viewed, for example, even when a mic is attached, a gimbal is used, or when shooting from various positions. In addition, headphone and mic jacks allow you to use your favourite equipment. Plus, the large-capacity battery allows for extended shoots. All in all, the α7C is perfectly suited for vloggers and other creators.

Compact, lightweight and portable even with optional grip accessories

The side-opening LCD monitor makes self-vlogging easy and digital mic support provides extra-clear sound. Popular vertical-format video is also supported, using metadata to allow vertically recorded footage to be replayed and edited in the vertical position without needing to rotate it first.

Clear 2x zoom for flexible shooting options

Sony's Clear Image Zoom maintains subject resolution with almost no deterioration of image quality. Even single-focus lenses can be used as zoom lenses, with up to 2x zoom magnification.

Digital audio interface for clear sound recording

When using Sony's ECM-B1M Shotgun Microphone or XLR-K3M Adaptor Kit via the MI (Multi Interface) shoe, audio is transmitted as a digital signal, for high-quality sound recording without deterioration or extra audio cables.

Fine-tune AF Subject Shift Sensitivity to maintain steady focus or allow focus shift

AF sensitivity is adjustable for situations with multiple subjects in motion. Levels range from "1. Persistent" to maintain stable focus on the original subject, to "5. Sensitive" to switch easily to other subjects.

Use AF Transition Speed to control how fast the focus shifts

When autofocus does shift from one subject to another, you can specify the speed of the transition. Seven levels are available, from smooth, leisurely transitions to fast shifts in focus.

Slow-motion and fast-motion shooting

In-camera recording up to 5x slower or 60x faster than real time. Varying the pace of footage is an extra creative element you can add to movies, and the α7C's S&Q mode makes it easy. It supports high-speed full HD recording at 120fps, and both slow-motion and fast-motion effects are possible in camera, with frame rates ranging from 1-120fps. The resulting footage is up to 5x slower or 60x faster than real-time action.

Easy visual effects for movies

Picture Effect, Creative Style and Picture Profile features are a simple way to widen your creative expression when shooting movies. They provide a wide variety of visual effects and settings, from entry-level to professional. Picture Effect and Creative Style let you leave things to the camera, so there's no need for post-production grading.

Side-opening LCD monitor for flexible operation

The 921-thousand-dot 3.0-type touch panel rotates 176° horizontally and 270° vertically. Use Touch Focus to shift focus instantly, or Touch Shutter to focus and capture still images with a single touch to the screen.

Easy battery charging even when shooting    

The large-capacity Z battery tucked into the α7C's compact body can take advantage of a USB power supply. A USB Type-C® cable is all you need for charging, and you can shoot while you're charging.

Sturdy dust- and moisture-resistant construction

Lightweight, high-rigidity magnesium alloy is used for the camera's top, front and rear covers, and sealing is provided throughout the body to minimise dust and moisture entry.

Remote shooting from mobile devices and PCs

The α7C's Wi-Fi® capability makes it easy to set up remote shooting. Set up your camera at a distance and take selfies or vlog footage, using a PC, smartphone or tablet to preview, adjust settings, and operate the shutter

Quick data transfer to mobile devices for social-media sharing

Photos and videos can be transferred directly to smartphones and tablets on the spot, for easy viewing, sharing and storage via 2.4 or 5GHz Wi-Fi®. One-touch transfer is possible for certain devices, with QR-code connections for others.

Features

• Powerful BIONZ X™ image processing for spectacular image quality

• Advanced AF performance and functions

• High-resolution 4K movies and a wealth of expression-expanding movie functions

• Operability and reliability for comfortable and confident shooting

Specification

Sensor type: 35mm full frame (35.6 x 23.8mm), Exmor R CMOS sensor

Number of pixels (effective): approx. 24.2 megapixels

ISO sensitivity (recommended exposure index)

Still images: ISO 100-51200 (ISO numbers up from ISO 50 to ISO 204800 can be set as expanded ISO range.), AUTO (ISO 100-12800, selectable lower limit and upper limit), Movies: ISO 100-51200 equivalent (ISO numbers up ISO 102400 can be set as expanded ISO range.), AUTO (ISO 100-12800, selectable lower limit and upper limit)

Viewfinder type: 1.0 cm (0.39 type) electronic viewfinder (XGA OLED)

Monitor type: 7.5cm (3.0-type) type TFT