I do have and still use a Sony A7ii. It has some limitations (AF, only FHD video) but it is still a competent and useful FF camera that can deliver fine results when used wisely.
That being said: I am pondering whether or not I should upgrade.
Because of all the E-mount lenses I already have, my first option would be to updgrade within the Sony E-Mount system.
I am not exactly a stellar photographer, so anything high-end would not be justified for my mediocre skills-level.
Moreover, I love small and tiny cameras.
That's why the Sony A7c has catched my interest. It's small, it's budget-friendly and it takes all the lenses I already have.
Now my question to all Sony Alpha aficionados: Is the upgrade worth it? I would like to hear genuine opinions from people who did use the A7ii and then upgraded to the A7iii or the A7c: Are the updates in AF, sensor, and video codecs actually worth it? Is there a discernable difference im IQ and overall performance one can tell in everyday use or ist mostly a theoretical difference on paper?
Every comment and opinion are much appreciated!
This is EXACTLY the upgrade I did few months ago. I had A7II and decided to spend all my savings on A7C
Was it worth it? Yes.
I went for a7C cause I wanted smaller and lighter camera. I knew I won't be using big lens, like 20mm 1.8 G, or anything longer than 70mm or heavier than 400g lens. I was really surprised by the IQ of a7c - I was getting a lot of noise on high ISO using a7II, where with a7c, its so smooth and clean even at 10K ISO. Shocking, really!
Size - it feels smaller and lighter. Its smaller just by that viewfinder on A7II, but also overall, few mm here and there makes a difference. Especially in handling. Now, when using my Voigtlander 40mm 1.2 SE lens, which is 340g, I feel that lens is draging down the camera in my hand. Sometimes I think if I should get some extra grip like L bracket for it, as my pinkie stays below the camera and feel lonely
As it was pretty expensive purchase for me, I was too scared to use it without any secure, so bought Peak Design wrist thingy. Now I can wlak around and not to be affraid to drop it. A7C and lens combo now is £2000 - for me having m4/3 equipment for last 15 years not going over £600 in total, is really expensive (I'm just a hobbist, not a pro photographer who can spend thousands on equipment). It feels like 10% less secured in your hand, as grip is smaller etc BUT not too flimsy, it stays in your grip ok, just a wee bit less than big borthers from a7 series. Wrist strap highly recommended.
EVF - jeeez, I read sooo many comments on a7c evf that its too small, useless etc - DO NOT believe in this - evf is perfect, nothing wrong with it, its big enough, 100% usefull. I manual focus with Voigtlander lens, so I know its really good, nothing to worry about.
Battery - ooft, this is huge improvement over my old a7II - that one was going dead in half a day of my family trips, even when I turned camera off after EVERY single shot. Now, I have a7C chanrged for few days and stopped looking at battery level. Like with mobile phones from 90s, going and going and going..
AF - yes, this is another thing compared to a7II. A7II was my first full frame and loved it, but sometimes it was slow - I did not even know how slow, till I tried A7C. Ding dong! Every time half press release button - boom, focused. Even my slow as hell Tamron 24mm 2.8. I cannot tell how well AF-C is, etc as I'm not using it plus I dont have situations I would need to fully use a7C's abilities, but I know its best I can get right now. I still need to figure out how everyone have those green squares jump around keeping things in focus, like on youtube reviews - don't know hwo to turn it on, need to learn more about this camera.
Video - I did just a few videos on A7II, but one of the points of buying A7C was to get 4K video. Did few, but nothing important - I still want to try out that new gyro stabilisation.
One thing I miss VERY much from A7II - and you probably will too - is that share photos on TV view thingy - I was shocked it wasn't implemented on A7C. After I searched I found out that Sony dropped it after Mark II bodies entirely. It was so convinient and easy just to throw it on TV, like you do with your mobile (share screen option). Now I need to pull out card and use reader or hdmi cable to do same thing. Annoying. NOT cool, Sony, not cool.
Another a little bit annoying thing is the screen - its now fully articulating one, not just flipping. I used flip screen on a7II a lot and now every time I want to do shot from below, I need to pull it out and then flip it and EVERY SINGLE F**** time I push it in wrong way where it doesn't rotate
Seriously every single time I hit the wall and need to rotate other way
For soem strange reason I cannot memorise which way it goes!
Oh, just remembered - on emore annoying thing - just a wee bit, not too much, but still there every single time I use it - MENU button being "back" button. It sits in the middle of camera on top of the screen, so when you want to go back in menu, your finger needs to travel up there. Annoying, asits such a small camera and you would prefer to have back button near other button on right side. I wonder if this can be programmed? hmmm..
So yeah, if you have money to splash on that a7c, it is worth it. My A7II was £600, A7C £1200. If you worry about your equipment like me - I'm planning to buy insurance when I'm going to go on trip with it. I would suggest the same. I won't be able to buy another a7C, so if I lose this one, I'll be back on a7II
