A7S: Clear Image Zoom = Dynamic Crop Mode

[ectobuilder]

I just noticed a feature on the A7S called "Clear Image Zoom".

Has anyone had any experience with this or know technically what it is actually doing?

After playing around with it, it seems like this is a dynamic crop of the sensor.

For instance in FF mode, when [Clear Image Zoom] = 1.5x, this matches the APS-C Crop mode field of view. And it can go all the way to 2x which presumably is Micro 4/3.

This can also be done in Crop Mode to get an even more cropped shot.

What I find cool is that this can be done WHILE RECORDING VIDEO!!!!! I took some sample shots and each zoom level appears clean as a whistle.

I haven't thoroughly tested this feature yet but the question I have right now is what advantages/disadvantages are there between FF + 1.5x Zoom vs Crop Mode. My guess is that in the actual Crop Mode the sensor is reading out faster and the camera can make lens corrections for native APS-C E-Mount lenses.

I'm excited for the idea that I can use a single prime and have 10 different FOV equivalent focal lengths!!!!!!

 

[Frank VM]

Well, one advantage that I'm aware of is that with crop sensor you get less rolling shutter. Also I noticed that when you go over 1.3 on clear image zoom picture quality starts to drop. For the record I tested this with canon 24-70mm version I and canon 16-35mm version II combined with commlite adapter. Both of these lenses are not native to A7S and do not have IS so maybe that has something to do with it with picture quality.