Sony a7 Mirrorless Camera Body, Black {24.3MP}

Sony a7: the full-frame mirrorless that started it all.

The Sony a7 put a 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor into a weather-sealed body measuring 127 x 94 x 48mm, smaller than any full-frame DSLR available when it launched in 2013. That size advantage still holds. The hybrid AF system combines phase detection and contrast detection across 117 points, giving the a7 a meaningful edge over its sibling the a7R in focus speed and tracking, with burst shooting at 5 fps. The Bionz X processor handles area-specific noise reduction that distinguishes between smooth tones, textured detail, and edges, applying different treatment to each, a genuinely useful approach through the ISO 100-25600 range.

The 2,359,000-dot OLED electronic viewfinder at 0.71x magnification remains one of the more usable EVFs from this era, with 100% coverage and a three-element optical system that keeps chromatic aberration in check across the frame. The 3-inch tilting LCD at 1,230,000 dots adds shooting flexibility without adding bulk. For video, the a7 records 1080/60p via AVCHD or MPEG-4, outputs uncompressed video over micro-HDMI, and includes both a 3.5mm microphone jack and 3.5mm headphone jack, with XLR audio support available through an adapter. Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC round out a body that was well-specified at launch and remains a capable platform for anyone already working in the Sony FE lens ecosystem.

Who It's For

Travel and documentary photographers who prioritize a small, weather-sealed full-frame body over raw burst speed will find the a7's 474g weight and 5 fps continuous shooting a workable trade-off for the sensor size they get. Leica and legacy glass shooters benefit from the E-mount's short flange distance, which accommodates a wide range of third-party adapters for manual-focus work. Videographers on a budget get 1080/60p recording, uncompressed HDMI output, and both headphone and microphone ports in a single body. Portrait and street photographers working with native FE primes get the full benefit of the 24MP sensor without any crop factor.

Key Features

• 24.0MP full-frame CMOS sensor with Bionz X processor
• 117-point hybrid AF system with phase and contrast detection
• 5 fps continuous shooting with autofocus tracking
• ISO 100-25600 (expandable to 50)
• 2.36M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 0.71x magnification
• 3-inch tilting LCD with 1.23M-dot resolution
• 1080p video at 60/24p with manual audio control and HDMI out
• Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, weather-sealed body

FAQ

Does the a7 work with older Sony E-mount lenses?

Yes, but with caveats. APS-C E-mount lenses will physically fit but won't cover the full frame - you'll either get heavy vignetting or can enable APS-C crop mode, which drops resolution to 10MP. For full-frame coverage, you need Sony's FE-series lenses or A-mount lenses with an adapter (LA-EA3 or LA-EA4 for full-frame compatibility).

How fast is the autofocus compared to the a7R?

The a7's hybrid AF system combining 117 phase-detection and contrast-detection points is significantly faster than the a7R's contrast-detect-only setup. You get 5 fps continuous shooting with AF tracking on the a7 versus slower speeds on the a7R, making it the better choice if AF speed matters.

Can I record video with manual audio control?

Yes. The a7 has both 3.5mm microphone and headphone jacks built in, plus an audio meter and manual exposure control during 1080/60p recording. You can also output uncompressed video over micro-HDMI and add XLR audio support through an adapter.

What's the viewfinder like?

The 2.36-megapixel OLED EVF offers 100% coverage at 0.71x magnification with a three-element optical system that keeps chromatic aberration minimal across the frame. It's one of the sharper EVFs from this era, though you'll need an external charger - the camera only charges batteries over USB, which is slow.

How does the tilting LCD work with the electronic viewfinder?

The 3-inch tilting LCD (1.23MP) lets you frame from unusual angles without flipping to live view. Proximity sensors automatically switch between the EVF and LCD when you bring the camera to your eye, so you don't have to toggle manually.

Is the body weather-sealed?

Yes, the magnesium-alloy and plastic construction is environmentally sealed. The camera weighs 474g and measures 127 x 94 x 48mm - substantially smaller than any full-frame DSLR available in 2013.

Does the in-body noise reduction actually work?

The Bionz X processor applies area-specific noise reduction that distinguishes between smooth tones, textured detail, and edges, applying different treatment to each. It's genuinely useful through the ISO 100-25600 range, though aggressive settings can blur fine detail if you're not careful with your noise reduction settings.