Sony A7C R Is the image quality of A7CR in super35/aps-c mode still FF quality?

[james_uk]

Hi, I currently have a Sony A6700 and was looking at maybe getting the A7CR and selling my A6700.

I was looking at the features of the A7CR and was intrigued by it's super 35 / aps-c 1.5x crop option, which seems really useful.

I wondered though, when using this option, would the quality of the image look like it was from a 26MP sensor or does the quality drop to looking the same as a APS-C camera, similar to my A6700?

Are there any other big negatives to using this option?

Regards
James

 

[iamdlewis]

All Sony FF cameras have an APS-C mode. What this mode is doing is basically cropping the image to the center 50% before you take the picture. The image quality of newer generation Sony cameras is better than older ones but since the release of the A9 it is more likely that you can pick out which image uses a better lens than which uses a sensor with more MP. The real advantage of more MP is the ability to crop more, not quality of image.

Below you have 3 different cameras ranging from 24MP to 61MP and 3 different lenses covering all of the Sony levels (kit, G and GM). Feel free to guess which were originally 24MP and which were 61MP.

 

[rcreamer]

Hi, I currently have a Sony A6700 and was looking at maybe getting the A7CR and selling my A6700.

I was looking at the features of the A7CR and was intrigued by it's super 35 / aps-c 1.5x crop option, which seems really useful.

I wondered though, when using this option, would the quality of the image look like it was from a 26MP sensor or does the quality drop to looking the same as a APS-C camera, similar to my A6700?

Are there any other big negatives to using this option?

Regards
James

I was thinking that maybe the a7cr has larger sensor photo sites and that may give it better noise vs the a6700 but a quick search showed they're almost identical so no SNR benefit:

"The identical photosite sizes of 3.76 to 3.79 microns mean that if you take an image from both cameras and zoom in to "100% crop" (examining a single pixel), the noise performance looks virtually indistinguishable."

 

[iamdlewis]

Post processing tools have also gotten so good that noise isn't what it once was. Besides not everything needs to be so sharp.

 

[THXGEEK]

Post processing tools have also gotten so good that noise isn't what it once was. Besides not everything needs to be so sharp.

+1

Guilty as charged. I am slowly learning not to over-process my images.

 

[THXGEEK]

Hi, I currently have a Sony A6700 and was looking at maybe getting the A7CR and selling my A6700.

I have the A7CR and it's a wonderful camera. I sold my first one when I bought my A1II but missed it so much I bought another. Combined with a Tamron 25-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2, its close to my ideal 'walking around' and/or travel rig.

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

As an A6700 user, I have contemplated this upgrade myself. What stopped me is that I'm already struggling with my unedited backlog and running out of memory plus the laptop I have would struggle to edit any larger files. Besides, a more expensive camera won't improve my photography at the level I'm at, I still have not hit the limit of what the A6700 can deliver.
Just my 2 cents. Your mileage may vary...

 

[iamdlewis]

Besides, a more expensive camera won't improve my photography at the level I'm at, I still have not hit the limit of what the A6700 can deliver.

That is the way to do it. Except for the BiF there is really not much I do that I couldn't do with the A6000 I had. The BiF just makes up so much of what I like.

 

[AnOpticalView]

If you switch from Sony A6700 to the CR you will be switching from 26megapixels on an APS-c sensor to a full frame sensor with 61megapixels. The quality difference will (or could be) substantial (unlike what many wallies may tell you). However if you switch the CR to aps-c crop it will in fact be more or less the same as the A6700.
If you switch to full frame you will need to use full frame lenses (or switch the CR to aps-c - you can have the camera recognise an aps-c lens and auto switch). If you shoot in raw (and you should be) your file sizes will be larger but allow much better cropping and quality.
You should be aware that the replacement for the A6700 although not yet announced by Sony is imminent and certainly by early 2027. This will be of massive interest to wildlife and action shooters with a 33megapixel sensor, 30fps and faster sensor read out. This may not be off any benefit to you.
A Sony A7CR will feel very familiar to you. Full frame lenses tend to be larger so an outfit might not feel so balanced to you?

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

You should be aware that the replacement for the A6700 although not yet announced by Sony is imminent and certainly by early 2027. This will be of massive interest to wildlife and action shooters with a 33megapixel sensor, 30fps and faster sensor read out. This may not be off any benefit to you.

That's interesting, got a source?

 

[iamdlewis]

You should be aware that the replacement for the A6700 although not yet announced by Sony is imminent and certainly by early 2027. This will be of massive interest to wildlife and action shooters with a 33megapixel sensor, 30fps and faster sensor read out.

The 6700 was going to be a baby A9

That's interesting, got a source?

Was thinking the same.

Only money I would bet right now that the next Sony APS-C camera is going to be a baby A1/A9/A7RVI is somebody else's.

If you switch from Sony A6700 to the CR you will be switching from 26megapixels on an APS-c sensor to a full frame sensor with 61megapixels. The quality difference will (or could be) substantial (unlike what many wallies may tell you).

I posted 3 images earlier in this tread, do you know which of them started life as a 24MP APS-C image, which was from a full frame 24MP and which was from an A7Riv?