4k internal recording rumored for the a7S
- Thread starter PTRush
- Start date
Miklos Nemeth
Member
Sony did a treat when they added XAVC-S 50M 1080/60p and 720/120p to RX10 and RX100m3 in a free firmware update.
Remember the FS100 2nd edition firmware up-date.
photochris
Well-known member
Given how many low end Sony cameras are getting 4k, I think the next version of all the A7 cameras will see it - starting with the rumored "pro" A9.
I don't think anyone has seen these setting yet since the firmware is not out yet. Samsung is doing an excellent job at listening to users and quickly getting update to the camera out via Firmware. Other manufatures make you wait for the next model .
Here is what Samsung is adding:
Two Gamma modes now provided for more control of aesthetic look of footage. Both gamma modes are designed for a more cinematic look.
- C Gamma mode is a preset logarithmic color setting designed to deliver higher overall contrast.
- D Gamma is a preset logarithmic color setting designed to capture a wider tonal range for increased dynamic range. (IIRC, this is the flatter one that allows for capturing more DR)
And likely with thicker bodies closer to A7 MK II to accommodate the heat dispersal.
And arguably higher priced as well. A7 wasn't a huge hit and was worth replacing quickly. A7s is a monster in terms of sales and I would not exclude the possibility of Sony keeping both models - with and without the internal 4K - on its roster for a while longer.
FWIW, I think they overshot their weight/size/price target. A larger body A7s with internal 4K would have been even a bigger hit for them at $3,200 or so. Now, they're basically subsidizing Atomos with it.
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caseywilsondp
Well-known member
I'm not sure why everyone is thinking a7s2 only a year after the release of the first one. I guess it's possible based on the a7 and a7II, but I bet we won't see a 7s2 announced until fall of this year and released 2016. If they keep releasing model updates every year they'll start alienating high end consumers.
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Luis De La Cerda
Member
I think Sony knows this is the time to pull out all the stops. Samsung is knocking at the door and they've been down that road before with other product lines. Besides, I think something like a paid firmware upgrade could be even more profitable than releasing a new body. Think about it. I would definitely pay for internal 4K.
Samuel H
Major Contributor
Me too, depending on the price (say, up to $400). Even if it is only for small bursts of, say, up to one minute.
I believe there will be an a7SII out soon because that's what happened with the a7II and because the a7II improvement (IBIS and body) should easily transfer to the a7r and a7S. Everything else is not so easy, and that's why I think it's 2016.
I believe there will be an a7SII out soon because that's what happened with the a7II and because the a7II improvement (IBIS and body) should easily transfer to the a7r and a7S. Everything else is not so easy, and that's why I think it's 2016.
They're looking ahead at the market leaders Canon and Nikon rather than the "upstarts" like Samsung.
Sony needs mo' bettah lenses, of course, to come anywhere near Canon and Nikon in that department but they are beginning to dominate in the pure hardware sector.
FWIW, Fuji is coming ut with a 16-55 (24-82.5 FF equivalent) F/2.8 for $1,200. Now, if Sony could match that ....
Luis De La Cerda
Member
If you think about it, it's not really the market leaders they should be worried about. The established players have a very stiff structure because they have multiple product lines they have to worry about protecting and certain expectations from the market, making them a more vulnerable target. It's the upstarts that can, and usually do disrupt the industry. The moment you start worrying about competing with yourself, you set yourself up for failure against anyone who worries about setting the bar higher than yourself. Samsung's entry into this market already has more advanced technology than their competitors and it's only their first attempt. They have the money and technology under their belt to eat away at the market little by little. Sony has taken some bold steps in the right direction, but this is not the time to hold onto what they have already achieved and just be content. That's what I think.
Luis De La Cerda
Member
In my opinion, deliberately crippling lower profit margin products in the electronics industry is the equivalent of a ranch raising all their cattle by the same standards but adding chemicals to some of their production to make their cheaper product taste worse. In a vacuum it might yields more profits, but in the real world you risk losing out to your competitors.
Not a rancher myself, but the electronics manufacturers are indeed risking it and are usually willing to live with these risks. And those in upper management who make correct decisions on the marketing structure of their products end up with sizable bonuses and promotions.
FWIW, the most crippled camera in the current Sony lineup is A77 MK II, which could easily handle 4K as a big body APS-C model. That would have given Sony a 4K camera in the $1,500 range, close to GH4 and NX-1, but they don't want to risk losing sales of the $2,500 A7s, which is among their most popular models. And so it goes.