Sony Announces A7II Mirrorless Camera and 70-300mm G SSM II A-Mount Lens

Posted on: 11-21-2014 Posted in: Photography

This the season for the top camera manufacturers to get their latest releases added to the Christmas lists of photography enthusiasts around the world. Sony is the latest in the race with their latest version of last year’s Alpha a7. They have announced the Alpha a7ii mirrorless digital camera.

If hopeful photographers woke up Christmas morning to coal in their stockings, maybe this year Santa will be more forgiving of any minor transgretions and put a smile on their faces with faster autofocus, better protection from the elements, and the major addition of the XAVC S video codec along with the S-Log2 gamma curve.

Those lucky photographers will be on Virginia’s side knowing there is a Santa Clause knowing their new Alpha a7ii also boasts 5-axis in-body image stabilization which is a first for a full-frame image sensor. Maybe you’ll be one of the lucky photographers on Santa’s “nice” list this year!

Sony Alpha a7II Mirrorless Digital Camera

Perhaps the most exciting upgrade to the a7-series is the addition of 5-axis in-body image stabilization in this newest model. Shooters can now enjoy up to 4.5 stops of image stabilization when using any of their lenses, including adapted and fully manual lenses. This allows photographers to push the boundaries of their nighttime shooting by using slower shutter speeds or longer focal lengths in less than ideal lighting conditions. Also, videographers can now rejoice in having stabilization at all times without needing dedicated lenses or electronic adapters.

The a7II utilizes the same 24.3MP Exmor CMOS sensor and BIONZ X processor as its predecessor, along with a Fast Hybrid AF system that utilizes 117 phase-detection points and 25 contrast-detection points. However, an updated autofocus algorithm has also been implemented to improve subject tracking performance and focusing speeds by approximately 30%. Additionally, this new model carries over the same top native sensitivity of ISO 25600 as well as a continuous-hi shooting rate of 5 fps. The a7II also starts up 40% faster than the original a7.

In terms of video performance, the a7II now includes the XAVC S codec with its 50 Mbps bit rate. Also, users can now select from multiple picture profiles, including S-Log2, as well as S-Gamut for a dramatically improved dynamic range during video shooting. Timecode, user bit, and REC control functions are available when using an external recorder to ensure this camera will function in a professional workflow. These settings match those available of the a7S released earlier this year, albeit without the capability of 4K recording.

The a7II’s body has seen some improvements, most notably in the grip. Optimized for comfort and operability, the grip has been redesigned for more natural hand placement with the shutter release button having moved to a tilted front area. There are also 10 customizable buttons with 56 different functions available for programming. The body now features a magnesium alloy top and front like the higher end a7R and a7S and major buttons and dials have much improved sealing to prevent water and dust from entering your camera. Also, the lens mount is now more robust for handling larger telephoto lenses.

The a7II features updated 3.0” tilting LCD monitor, with 1,228k-dot resolution, as well as the same XGA OLED Tru-Finder with 2.36m-dot resolution found on the original. Other features that have carried over to the new model include the Multi-Interface Shoe, mic and headphones jacks, built-in Wi-Fi with NFC, and the use of the NP-FW50 battery pack.

With a new body come new accessories, and in this case a new VG-C2EM Vertical Battery Grip with a weather-resistant design to match the a7II. A special LCS-ELCB Soft Carrying Case that includes a leather body case and lens jacket was also announced, as well as the FDA-EP15 Eye Cup for users desiring more comfortable viewing.

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Specs:

Lens Mount: Sony E (Full Frame)
Image Sensor: Exmor CMOS; 35.8 x 23.9 mm
Effective Pixels: 24.3MP
Total Pixels: 24.7MP
Still Image File Format: JPEG, RAW
Storage Media: SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo/XC-HG Duo
Card Slot: 1x memory card slot
Viewfinder Type: XGA OLED Tru-Finder electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Resolution: 2,359,296 dot
Frame Coverage: 100%
Magnification Approx.: 0.71x
Shutter Type: Electronic first curtain shutter available
Shutter Speed: 30 to 1/8000 sec.
Flash Sync Speed: 1/250 sec
Image Stabilization: 5-axis in-body image stabilization equivalent to 4.5 stops
Drive Modes: Single shot, Continuous High, Continuous Low
Top Continuous Shooting Rate: Up to 5 fps in continuous high; 2.5 fps in continuous low
Exposure Metering System: Advanced 1200-zone evaluative metering
Metering Method: Multi-metering, center-weighted, spot
Metering Range: -1 – +20 EV
Exposure Modes: Aperture-Priority (A), Manual (M), Programmed auto (P), Shutter-Priority Auto (S)
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 100-25600 (expandable to ISO 50-51200 with multi-shot NR)
Autofocus System: Fast Hybrid AF
Number of Focus Points: Phase detection: 117 / contrast-detection: 25
Autofocus Sensitivity: -1 – +20 EV
Built-In Flash: No; Multi-Interface Shoe to accept optional external flash
Movie Recording: 1920 x 1080; 60p, 60i, 24p
File Format: XAVC S, AVCHD Ver. 2.0, MP4 (YCbCr 4:2:2 8-bit, RGB 8-bit)
Video Data Rate: XAVC S: 50 Mbps AVCHD: 28 Mbps (60p, PS), 24 Mbps (60i & 24p, FX), 17 Mbps (60i & 24p, FH) MP4: 12 Mbps (1440 x 1080, 30 fps), 3 Mbps (640 x 480, 30 fps)
Audio Recording: Built-in stereo microphone, optional external stereo microphone
Audio File Format: XAVC S: Linear PCM, 2 channel
AVCHD: Dolby Digital AC3 2 channel MP4: MPEG-4 AAC-LC 2 channel
Maximum Recording: Time 29 min.
Monitor: 3.0″ 1.228.8k-dot TFT LCD monitor
Tilting Design: 107° upward; 41° downward
Interface: HDMI micro (type D), multi/micro USB, Multi-interface Shoe, 3.5mm stereo microphone jack, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack
Wi-Fi: Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity (IEEE 802.11b/g/n, 2.4GHz band); NFC Forum Type 3 Tag
Power Source: NP-FW50 rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Battery Life: With Viewfinder: 270 shots. With LCD Screen: 330 shots
Operating Environment: 32-104 °F / 0-40 °C
Dimensions: 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4″ / 126.9 x 95.7 x 59.7mm
Weight: 1.3lb / 599g (with battery and memory card)

Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G SSM II Lens

Alongside the a7II, Sony Japan has also announced the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G SSM II A-mount lens for their Alpha DSLT lineup. This updated telephoto zoom lens employs a new nano AR coating to better reduce flare and ghosting for improved clarity and contrast. The AF motor has also received a notable upgrade to quicken its overall performance, which pairs well with the weather-resistant design to benefit its use in difficult shooting conditions.

This lens construction incorporates extra-low dispersion glass to reduce chromatic aberrations and distortions throughout the zoom range. It also retains the 3.9’ minimum focus distance of its predecessor and features a rounded 9-blade diaphragm for smooth out-of-focus areas.

The a7II and 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G SSM II lens were announced by Sony Japan and are not yet available in the USA. Some specifications may change or be updated before their official release.