My take on the new Sony A7C vs the K-1 ii

**Rondec** · 11-25-2020, 04:01 AM - **1 Like**

I think I'll stick with OVFs as long as they are available. I'm not particularly interested in most of the bells and whistles that show up in an EVF and I don't do much video (none with an ILC).

bdery · 11-25-2020, 11:33 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Benz3ne

I'd heard that AF was more refined on the A7C but I can't see how much real-world difference it might make, or that it's not possible for Sony to release a firmware update to improve the A7iii's AF more inline with that of the A7C.

One highlight is touch AF with 4K video.

Originally posted by Benz3ne

The battery life was what surprised me most. Excellent, not just for a mirrorless camera, but in general.

Indeed, it never seems to get depleted, and the percentage display is very interesting!

Originally posted by The Squirrel Mafia

Nice writeup.

Thanks!

Originally posted by The Squirrel Mafia

I do like that mirrorless cameras have more AF points spread out to make composition & tracking easier. I'm doing major camera & lens purchases next year. Will be a Pentax K-3III or a FF Sony E-mount body or a FF Nikon Z-mount body? I guess I'll know by November of next year.

True about the AF points. Note that the K-1 with live view comes pretty close for all intended purposes. The Sony does offer the capability to create really small AF points.

I have good hopes that the announced AF K-to-E converter will let me live the best of both worlds.

bdery · 11-25-2020, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by Rondec

I think I'll stick with OVFs as long as they are available. I'm not particularly interested in most of the bells and whistles that show up in an EVF and I don't do much video

I like the possibility to have live view + an OVF, but for traveling light, I do enjoy the small size of the A7C.

surfar · 11-25-2020, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by bdery

I have good hopes that the announced AF K-to-E converter will let me live the best of both worlds.

It will be interesting and lets hope its up to standard.

Originally posted by bdery

I do enjoy the small size of the A7C.

Yes very appealing, there should be some FF pancakes too(could be some now?)

pinholecam · 11-26-2020, 12:02 AM

So you did not miss the larger EVF for ease of manual focusing?

I'll probably upgrade my 7-8yr old A7 to the A7III if the Monster Adapter works well enough.

bdery · 11-26-2020, 06:58 AM

Originally posted by surfar

Yes very appealing, there should be some FF pancakes too(could be some now?)

Tamron has a trio of small primes, 20-24-35 F2.8 (with 2:1 macro, not too shabby).

Samyang has the "tiny" lineup, some very small lenses with again F2.8 apertures. They also have some small primes outside the tiny line (most notably a 75mm F1.8 which is seen as a marvellously quirky and unique focal length by people not used to looking at other brands).

Sony has some decent-size lenses, but nothing close to a FF pancake. In APS-C they do to some extent.

Originally posted by pinholecam

So you did not miss the larger EVF for ease of manual focusing?

I have never used a larger EVF so no opinion, what I have works well enough even with glasses.

**TomB_tx** · 11-26-2020, 11:49 AM

This was a good feature comparison, which is appropriate as most people want the most features - even if they never use them. I've been a film SLR user since 1965 (starting with the Pentax H1a), and never even moved to autofocus, let along dSLR. (Well, I've tried dSLRs including a K5, but could never get past the tiny tunnel-view viewfinders that are so poor for manual focus, even compared to my old H1a.) I finally tried the original Sony A7 body for my extensive film-era manual lenses, and found the EVF much superior to dSLR for manual focus, as it works well for judging sharpness (leaving the focus aids turned off). I haven't touched a dSLR since.
I like spot-metering, and the EVF of the A7 shows how the scene brightness changes as you meter different "spots" of the scene in manual exposure modes. A big plus for EVF implementation.
I know the Sony menus are criticized a lot, but I hardly use them once I had the camera set for the way I work.
The A7C might be a good replacement once my A7 stops working, but otherwise I see no reason to change.

bdery · 11-27-2020, 07:13 AM

Originally posted by TomB_tx

could never get past the tiny tunnel-view viewfinders that are so poor for manual focus

The only solution for this on Pentax would be the K-1. Large, bright viewfinder, and the LCD screen (with a wonderful tilting mechanism) and magnification for MF. You're already set up, but if you ever wish to revisit Pentax that would be the way to go, or maybe the forthcoming K-3 mk 3.

The A7C doesn't have a lare viewfinder, although I find it very good in use.

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11-25-2020, 04:01 AM - 1 Like	#16
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	I think I'll stick with OVFs as long as they are available. I'm not particularly interested in most of the bells and whistles that show up in an EVF and I don't do much video (none with an ILC).

11-25-2020, 11:33 AM - 1 Like	#17
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357 Original Poster	Originally posted by Benz3ne I'd heard that AF was more refined on the A7C but I can't see how much real-world difference it might make, or that it's not possible for Sony to release a firmware update to improve the A7iii's AF more inline with that of the A7C. One highlight is touch AF with 4K video. Originally posted by Benz3ne The battery life was what surprised me most. Excellent, not just for a mirrorless camera, but in general. Indeed, it never seems to get depleted, and the percentage display is very interesting! Originally posted by The Squirrel Mafia Nice writeup. Thanks! Originally posted by The Squirrel Mafia I do like that mirrorless cameras have more AF points spread out to make composition & tracking easier. I'm doing major camera & lens purchases next year. Will be a Pentax K-3III or a FF Sony E-mount body or a FF Nikon Z-mount body? I guess I'll know by November of next year. True about the AF points. Note that the K-1 with live view comes pretty close for all intended purposes. The Sony does offer the capability to create really small AF points. I have good hopes that the announced AF K-to-E converter will let me live the best of both worlds.

11-25-2020, 11:39 AM	#18
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357 Original Poster	Originally posted by Rondec I think I'll stick with OVFs as long as they are available. I'm not particularly interested in most of the bells and whistles that show up in an EVF and I don't do much video I like the possibility to have live view + an OVF, but for traveling light, I do enjoy the small size of the A7C.

11-25-2020, 04:22 PM	#19
surfar Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mid nth coast,nsw Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,141	Originally posted by bdery I have good hopes that the announced AF K-to-E converter will let me live the best of both worlds. It will be interesting and lets hope its up to standard. Originally posted by bdery I do enjoy the small size of the A7C. Yes very appealing, there should be some FF pancakes too(could be some now?)

11-26-2020, 12:02 AM	#20
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	So you did not miss the larger EVF for ease of manual focusing? I'll probably upgrade my 7-8yr old A7 to the A7III if the Monster Adapter works well enough.

11-26-2020, 06:58 AM	#21
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357 Original Poster	Originally posted by surfar Yes very appealing, there should be some FF pancakes too(could be some now?) Tamron has a trio of small primes, 20-24-35 F2.8 (with 2:1 macro, not too shabby). Samyang has the "tiny" lineup, some very small lenses with again F2.8 apertures. They also have some small primes outside the tiny line (most notably a 75mm F1.8 which is seen as a marvellously quirky and unique focal length by people not used to looking at other brands). Sony has some decent-size lenses, but nothing close to a FF pancake. In APS-C they do to some extent. Originally posted by pinholecam So you did not miss the larger EVF for ease of manual focusing? I have never used a larger EVF so no opinion, what I have works well enough even with glasses.

11-26-2020, 11:49 AM	#22
TomB_tx Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,446	This was a good feature comparison, which is appropriate as most people want the most features - even if they never use them. I've been a film SLR user since 1965 (starting with the Pentax H1a), and never even moved to autofocus, let along dSLR. (Well, I've tried dSLRs including a K5, but could never get past the tiny tunnel-view viewfinders that are so poor for manual focus, even compared to my old H1a.) I finally tried the original Sony A7 body for my extensive film-era manual lenses, and found the EVF much superior to dSLR for manual focus, as it works well for judging sharpness (leaving the focus aids turned off). I haven't touched a dSLR since. I like spot-metering, and the EVF of the A7 shows how the scene brightness changes as you meter different "spots" of the scene in manual exposure modes. A big plus for EVF implementation. I know the Sony menus are criticized a lot, but I hardly use them once I had the camera set for the way I work. The A7C might be a good replacement once my A7 stops working, but otherwise I see no reason to change.

11-27-2020, 07:13 AM	#23
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357 Original Poster	Originally posted by TomB_tx could never get past the tiny tunnel-view viewfinders that are so poor for manual focus The only solution for this on Pentax would be the K-1. Large, bright viewfinder, and the LCD screen (with a wonderful tilting mechanism) and magnification for MF. You're already set up, but if you ever wish to revisit Pentax that would be the way to go, or maybe the forthcoming K-3 mk 3. The A7C doesn't have a lare viewfinder, although I find it very good in use.