A7s: ILCE-7S/B or ILCE-7S/BQ?

R

Rick LaLonde

Active member
Just got one those $1800 A7s' off ebay. It has no 4:3 mode - serves me right. I need 4:3 for 2X anamorphic shooting.

OK, I've learned my lesson. But now I'm confused. Seems the camera is made all over the place and are not equal. Limited research indicates I need ILCE7S/BQ and not without that Q at the end. Yet others are selling supposedly USA made versions without the Q - hence my confusion.

Can someone point me to right model? Thanks in advance.
 
Rick is yours a 50i or 60i? The Sony rep I talked to seemed to think this was the best way to discern the two models produced (us vs. International). Interestingly I have a 60i with "us warranty" but comes with international features like pal recording. He said this was rare... But I'm pretty sure not even Sony knows the differences and I might have just been better off buying an a7s for $300 less on eBay.

Also I think 4:3 mode only applies to photos? I'll check my camera when I get home to see the video modes.
 
Thanks much for the replies. There is in fact a 4:3 in both stills and video modes but the Thailand version doesn't have it. It may not have been present on early versions anywhere, not sure. 4:3 mode shows on the B&H specs sheet and elsewhere: stills 3:2 and 4:3; video 4:3 and 16:9.

I think mine was 50i but I have returned it already.
 
So ichecked and there is a 4:3 mode in mp4 mode (not xavc-s) but its useless at 12mbits and i dont know if it comes out at the hdmi
 
dcloud said:
So ichecked and there is a 4:3 mode in mp4 mode (not xavc-s) but its useless at 12mbits and i dont know if it comes out at the hdmi
Click to expand...

Well the sensor is 16:9(ish) anyway. So a 4:3 mode would just be cropping the sides. You may as well shoot full sensor and crop the sides yourself, i don't think you'd be loosing anything in the process...

cheers
Paul
 
FYI, The sensor on the A7s is 5:3 not 4:3 and there is no way that I am aware of to shoot using the full sensor height. There is a 4:3 mode but with it only being low bit rate mp4 and limited to 30P I never really looked into it at all, so it may be full sensor height...
 
There's no question about the 4:3 being there in certain versions. This is a fact. For me it absolutely critical because we're shooting 2X anamorphic. The 4:3 is not full sensor, that's correct. I'm pretty sure it's the same 4:3 height/width of ARRI 4:3, at least in video mode. Since the sensor is plenty big enough I can't see anything else making sense.
 
Never heard of 4:3 mode in video other than the crop marks, mine (US cam) doesn't do it as well. Good luck with your search, report back if you find one.
 
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