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Sony a7

You are here: Home / Sony Alpha Mirrorless Cameras / Sony a7

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Last updated: January 18, 2021 by Timothy Mayo

Welcome to my Sony a7 (ILCE-7) resource page. Here you will find the latest firmware version for the a7, user guides, FAQs and product images.

Sony a7
Latest FirmwareManualAccessoriesPrice Check & Buyer Reviews
Version 3.20PDF / OnlineAccessoriesAmazon | B&H

Sony a7 Forum & Facebook Group

If you are looking for further help and advice on the a7 or would simply like to share your photos, then please head over to our friendly Sony a7 Forum. If you prefer Facebook then I also run the Sony Alpha Shooters Group where you can ask questions or post your shots taken with the Sony a7.

Sony a7 Overview

The Sony a7 was announced on October 16 2013 alongside the Sony a7R and together they were the first full-frame 35mm sensor cameras in the Alpha series.

Compared to the a7R the a7 is very similar especially the physical design, the main differences are the sensor and autofocus system.

The a7 features a 24 megapixel CMOS sensor behind a low-pass filter, while the a7R has a 36 megapixel CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter.

The a7 uses a Hybrid AF system with phase detection whereas the a7R uses contrast detection.

The a7 also features an electronic first curtain mode, which makes for a quieter shutter and reduces the potential for ‘shutter shock’, the a7R unfortunately does not include the electronic first curtain mode.

DPReview awarded this camera their Silver Award and concluded their in-depth review with the following:

The Alpha 7 has broken new ground in the full-frame market, in terms of both size and price. While it’s not perfect, the a7’s compact size, broad feature set and very good raw image quality arguably make up for issues like relatively poor battery life and slightly overprocessed JPEGs.

DPReview

If you enjoy shooting mainly landscapes and still images then the Sony a7 is still a perfectly good camera despite its age.

However, if you prefer to shoot portraits or any moving subjects then I’d recommend taking a look at the Sony a7III instead since it features a much faster autofocus system.

Sony a7 Key Specs

  • 24.3MP Full-Frame Exmor CMOS Sensor
  • Bionz X image processor
  • ISO ISO 100-25600 and extended ISO 50-25600
  • Hybrid AF system with 25 contrast-detect and 117 phase-detect points
  • Sealed alloy and composite body
  • Multi-Interface Shoe
  • 3-inch tilting LCD with 1.23 million dots (640×480, RGBW)
  • XGA (1024×768) electronic viewfinder
  • Full HD video recording at 1080/60p and 24p; uncompressed HDMI output
  • Wi-Fi with NFC capability and downloadable apps
  • 474g / 16.72oz with battery and memory card

You can find the full Sony a7 details and specifications over on Sony’s product page.

Sony a7 FAQS

When was the Sony a7 announced?

The Sony a7 was announced on October 16 2013 and released for first shipment in December 2013.

What memory cards does the Sony a7 support?

UHS-I SD cards (both SDHC and SDXC) are supported in the single memory card slot as well as Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, Memory Stick XC-HG Duo.

What battery does the Sony a7 use?

The Sony a7 uses the Sony NP-FW50 lithium ion rechargeable battery.

Is the Sony a7 a full-frame camera?

Yes. The Sony a7 is a full-frame 35-mm camera.

Is the Sony a7 waterproof?

Sony claim that the a7 is dust and moisture resistant, they don’t claim that it is fully waterproof and you should therefore use a rain cover if using the camera in wet weather or very dusty environments.

How many megapixels is the Sony a7?

The Sony a7 has a 24.3 megapixel sensor.

How many megapixels does the Sony a7 have in APS-C mode?

If you shoot the a7 in APS-C mode then the image is cropped to 10 megapixels 3936×2624 pixels with an aspect ratio of 3:2.

What is the weight of the Sony a7?

1.04 lb / 474 g (with battery and sd card).

What does the a7 include in the box?

The body only includes: AC adaptor, accessory shoe cap, body cap, eyepiece cup, micro USB cable, power cord, rechargeable battery NP-FW50, shoulder strap.

What is the a7 mechanical shutter fps?

The maximum fps (frames per second) for the mechanical shutter of the a7 is 5 fps.

Does the Sony a7 have a silent / electronic shutter?

The Sony a7 does not have a silent / electronic shutter, only mechanical. The silent shutter was introduced with the Sony a7 III.

What is the maximum shutter speed of the a7?

The maximum shutter speed is 1/8000 sec.

Is the Sony a7 a professional camera?

Yes. The a7 is a professional camera that sits in Sony’s Alpha Series of professional mirrorless cameras.

Sony a7 Product Images

  • Sony a7 SD Cards Right
  • Sony a7 Ports Left
  • Sony a7 Rear LCD
  • Sony a7 Top
  • Sony a7 Bottom
  • Sony a7 Rear LCD Tilt
  • Sony a7 FE2870 Front
  • Sony a7 Sensor Front
  • Sony a7 FE2870 Right

Check Price & Buyer Reviews for Sony a7

At: Amazon | B&H Photo

Sony Alpha Forum

About Timothy Mayo

I love shooting wildlife the most but will happily point my camera at pretty much anything. I started Alpha Shooters in 2017 to share my own photographic journey and experiences shooting with Sony Alpha. The site has since evolved into a popular community and resource. You can also find out more about my story here or follow me on Instagram if you wish. I also have a YouTube Channel but haven't published much content over the past year due to spending more time changing smelly nappies and also launching our community forums. However, I do plan to get back to creating content for YouTube in 2021!

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