Discover how Sony’s newest full‑frame mirrorless camera excels in low‑light conditions.
By Miriam Leuchter | Published Oct 14, 2015 5:05 PM EDT
1/320 sec at f/5.6, ISO 102,400 Sony Zeiss FE 24–70mm f/4 Philip Ryan
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1/50 sec at f/5, ISO 25,600 Sony Zeiss FE 24–70mm f/4 Philip Ryan
1/320 sec at f/5.6, ISO 102,400 Sony Zeiss FE 24–70mm f/4 Philip Ryan
1/320 sec at f/11, ISO 25,600 Sony Zeiss FE 24–70mm f/4 Philip Ryan
1/100 sec at f/10, ISO 102,400 Sony FE 90mm f/2.9 Macro G OSS Philip Ryan
1/50 sec at f/11, ISO 102,400 Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Philip Ryan
1/50 sec at f/8, ISO 204,800 Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Philip Ryan
1/40 sec at f/8, ISO 204,800 Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Philip Ryan
1/80 sec at f/4, ISO 102,400 Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Philip Ryan
1/125 sec at f/5, ISO 102,400 Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Philip Ryan
1/125 at f/8, ISO 25,600 Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Philip Ryan
1/125 sec at f/8, ISO 25,600 Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Miriam Leuchter
1/40 sec at f/8, ISO 25,600 Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Miriam Leuchter
1/80 sec at f/8, ISO 25,600 Sony FE 28mm f/2 Miriam Leuchter
1/125 sec at f/8, ISO 25,600 Sony FE 28mm f/2 Miriam Leuchter
1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 409,600 Sony FE 28mm f/2 Miriam Leuchter
1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 12,800 Sony FE 28mm f/2 Miriam Leuchter
Sony unveiled the updated Alpha 7 series with the A7S II last month. The “S” stands for sensitivity, and the camera’s 12.2 MP, 35 mm‑format CMOS sensor can reach an astonishing ISO of 409 600.
The body ships with 14‑bit uncompressed RAW, and a compressed RAW option is available on the higher‑resolution A7R II. It records 4K video internally, eliminating the need for an external recorder. Priced at $2,998 for the body alone, the A7S II offers a host of advanced features, but our initial focus has been on its standout low‑light performance.
During a Sony press event at Carroll Place Bar & Restaurant in Greenwich Village and during on‑street shoots, we tested the camera with a variety of lenses, cranking ISO to its limits and engaging Sony’s five‑axis image stabilization. All images in this gallery are JPEGs taken straight out of the camera, handheld, with no post‑processing.
We will soon run the A7S II through our full test suite in the Popular Photography Test Lab and in the field once we have a unit to keep for several weeks. (Check back here in November!)