thinking of getting A7Sii for various uses..

F

firehawk

Veteran
Looking at A7Sii for following reasons and asking for thoughts/advice...

1. For 4K aquisition until I can get another 4K camera (possible UX-180 or External 4K recorder for my FS700R)

2. To become the camera to use for my lightweight kit where I have an easy-to-transport setup for cheap 1 camera/1 person jobs such as talking heads, etc). I can fit everything in one bag if I use a camera like this. Also have external audio recorder to overcome audio limitations.

3. To start doing more photography work (also have cheap A6000 when I need higher res stills)

4. To use when I need really low light, such as indoor wedding events.

5. To use with my FS700R as a B-cam for 2 camera jobs. This may require a lot of post matching?

I have almost always shot video with video cameras so I am not sure how great an idea this is with the workarounds of using a photocamera for video jobs.
For instance no built-in ND. I have a Tascam DR70D to allow me XLR audio and it can attach to a tripod under the camera.

Plus all my E-mount lenses are for Super35/APS-C and only 1 is FF so I will have to get more glass.
 
firehawk said:
I have almost always shot video with video cameras so I am not sure how great an idea this is with the workarounds of using a photocamera for video jobs.
For instance no built-in ND.
Plus all my E-mount lenses are for Super35/APS-C and only 1 is FF so I will have to get more glass.
Click to expand...

for me I never used a pro level video camera for video jobs, but Ive been using a7s for wedding a event shootings.
for outdoor my workaround for ND is set the camera to A mode(aperture priority) with auto ISO, the a7s will smooth transition between changing the exposure.
currently u cant limit the shutter between x to xx value, wish sony will add it.

another thing u will probably like it for the a7sII is IBIS, very handy for handheld works.
 
1) I believe you can only shoot 4K when using FF lenses...
3) When using aps-c lenses the A7S only takes 5.1mp images, so for stills you also need FF lenses.

Maybe the A6500 is a better option if you don't want to immediately also invest in new lenses?

I have the same issue a bit. Don't have any decent FF lenses so don't take as many stills with my A7S as I'd like to.
 
Thank you both very much.
I am also looking at the A6500 which is half the price and the savings would pay for a lens, but I expect it will also have the overheating problem of the A6300 and I don't want to have a camera I cannot rely on.
Apparantly the overheating problem of the A7Sii has been fixed.
But FE lenses are going to add a lot of extra cost...
 
@dmitrizigany and OP, there is a way around to shot 4K in super35 mode with the A7s ii. So you can still use most of your current FE lenses.

Menu, tab 2, page 3, zoom setting, select clear imagezoom, then zoom in to 1.5x (=super35 mode). Bamn...you're now shooting 4k with your APS-C lens. :-Laugh(DBG)::-Laugh(DBG)::-Laugh(DBG):
 
Last edited:
I only have the original A7S so need external recorder to shoot 4K... but use the FS700 mostly for that. Or well, 4K is too much data for me so mostly shoot 4Kto2K using the 7Q... can't afford the hard drive costs of doing 4K for most projects...

Aren't the overheating issue one of the main points of the a6500? Supposedly it doesn't overheat unless you record 4K continuously for over an hour at least.
 
In an unofficial test performed by Max Yuriev and Jordan Drake with five A6500 and A6300 cameras simultaneously, they got five different shut-off times. Which means a quality control issue.

A6500 should run longer than A6300 but will be very hot to the touch.

PS. The obvious solution is to mount an external fan.
 
Bubble said:
@dmitrizigany and OP, there is a way around to shot 4K in super35 mode with the A7s ii. So you can still use most of your current FE lenses.

Menu, tab 2, page 3, zoom setting, select clear imagezoom, then zoom in to 1.5x (=super35 mode). Bamn...you're now shooting 4k with your APS-C lens. :-Laugh(DBG)::-Laugh(DBG)::-Laugh(DBG):
Click to expand...

Wow! That could help a lot.

Would that allow using the Sony 18-105 f/4 or 18-200PZ with the a7s ii in 4k, or are those lenses just a no-go?
 
Last edited:
you should be able to use those 2 lenses. However, it will not be 18-105 range. 1.5x (crop/zoom factor)
 
Do the A7sii and A7rii output hdmi while recording internal 4K?

Though I want the super low light video of the A7Sii, I was leaning towards the A7Rii and using it in crop mode due to my lack of FF lenses, but the clear image zoom of the A7sii sounds tempting. Wonder how those cameras compare using APS-C lenses? Reviews seem to point that narrows the gap.

Not sure what to do since I want internal 4K video, some decent photos and HD monitor output. I can slowly invest in FF lenses over time but could at best only swing 1 presently.

Thank you for taking the time to help :)
 
Do the A7sii and A7rii output hdmi while recording internal 4K? NO

i got few pms asking about they can't zoom in. Your metabones adapter has to be in green mode.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top