The A7SII is still an amazing buy in 2021, I just picked one up for under market value to replace my original A7S. Everything you listed can easily be solved by using additional standard equipment or simply carrying a camera bag with you. More batteries? Put 2 in your pocket and buy cheap batteries off Amazon. I literally have 8 batteries from different brands on Amazon and all work great. Also just buy the wall outlet adapter if you're in a studio or stationary environment. AF is decent with the A7S II, yes its no speed demon but there are many adapters with AF on them that work. Chances are if you're on E Mount you most likely have other mounts or access to them. If you're shooting a wedding, why aren't you using an external screen with a recorder? The 3 inch screen on these cameras is so bad, any Atomos screen blows it out of the water and actually lets you see what you're doing. Average A7SII as of this writing is around $1150. If you can snag one for under 1k, totally worth it. The SIII still retails for 3x that and the 7III is still at least $600 more which could net you better rigs, lights etc.
How's the A7sii holding up? Have the opportunity to pick one up for $800 with a 50mm f1.8. Not sure if it would be a good upgrade from my a6400. Debating between the a7sii or a x-s10.
The a7SII has better 1080p 60 image quality over the a7III/C because those cameras pixel bin or line skip to get rid of the extra pixels whereas the a7SII (and III) downsamples from 4K
Still on A7s. The lesson I have learnt with every Sony Camera becoming obsolete in a couple of years is to invest in glass. (When I think how much I paid for FS100 and what I got and how fast it became junk makes me look like a fool). The glass, meanwhile, hasn't lost neither its value nor its sharpness! I wish I bought something cheaper like the Blackmagic pocket, which is still what it was millions of years ago.
I bought my Sony a7s ii in 2016. I still currently use it, and to be quite honest I don’t see a point in upgrading to any other cameras in the near future for me anyways. It shoots really good quality, it still is really good in low light! The quality is still super sharp and for what I’m doing it’s perfectly fine for me. For many years I used the Canon T2i DSLR and that was my go to camera. To be quite honest with you if I didn’t feel forced! into investing in a Sony camera five years ago because of a previous job opportunity I was working at, at the time I probably would still be using the Canon T2i. A camera that in my still current opinion still shoots pretty decent quality. Even though it is way beyond obsolete. However, the Sony a7s ii I did not buy for the 4K quality. As I stated above that wasn’t the initial reason why I purchased the camera, but having the camera for this many years now I’ve grown to like it a lot. I still don’t always shoot in 4K, and 1080 P the quality is still just a sharp. I only use 4K when I need to. A camera or any other technology will become obsolete in a year or two after it comes out. It doesn’t mean you have to throw away you’re expensive piece of equipment for the newer one! The lesson I’ve learned from experience Is that if you can use an older camera from say 10 years ago, with the right shot composition, the right shooting conditions, lighting, etc. You could still crack out some really good footage. The quality of the camera is still really good. But that’s just my personal opinion on the matter! Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion and they can buy what they want to buy.
@@ЄлизаветаЛижова yes it is! For $800 usd or less now, its a hella of bargain to pick up an a7S2. A full-frame that can record in cine4, 4K resolution and 24fps is worth that price tag. Wish i had this much options back in 2016 compare to right now!
I just got one for like $500 used and use it as a safety camera. Bought the Tamron 35-150 f2/2.8 to go with it. $2500 and some change to put it in a rig setup. Overall very happy with it. If we were able to get by with it in 2016, it's not like weddings changed in 2021/2022.
I was doing my research which I should buy, bought the A7SII for 2K then bought a used A7III for 1,2K. Just did an event in 4K with A7III Killed the Video. Very Cripes n Clean.
Well I bought. Still learning my craft.. low light a frequent issue in churches.. battery grip and a bag of cheapish batteries ... 128gb cards... I can’t see the problem. Ah ... except.. autofocus is unusable !
@@bhwhprods no problem if it gets the job done. I do think it’s gonna become obsolete much sooner than the A7S3 and as an investment I recommend trying to get 5 years out of a body. I’m not sure the A7s will do that. That being said it’s a great cam and you can make great stuff with it.
What to buy if you always wanted to buy a s7sii but you didn't, now all these years passed and the new siii is just too expensive? I can only spend max 1000€/$ on a body. Are there better options? What would that be? I love lowlight capabilities. Any other good options that matt didn't mention? I'd love using vintage lenses btw.
@@snasnusnaba3361 same boat here commenting for an answer lol. I’ve found an a7sii + lens for around 1650, and an a7iii + worse lens for 1750gbp. You got any ideas?
Nice, i´ve just bought a complete A7Sii setup last week. But still think it was a good price for it.. A7siii is too expensive for me for now.. Lets see what i can get out of the A7Sii
Loved the video, but you're reasons I found totally unconvincing! Here's why: Autofocus as a decent video feature has only been around very recently. Before say 2016, the vast majority of professional camera ops still relied on manual focus. It worked perfectly fine, and still does. Autofocus is a nice-to-have, but not essential. It can also really get in the way in lots of shooting situations. Your points 2 and 3 are both really about batteries, so I think it's really just one point. I find it bizarre you would call keeping the same batteries an 'upgrade path' - they are one of the cheapest and most expendable parts of a camera system, they aren't exactly tying you down! In my experience at least there's no real need to get official sony ones too, I have been shooting with 3rd party batteries in Sony camera for years with no issues and great performance. Point four on dual card slots; its a nice feature but not a crazy necessity - all of these points I still think are incomparable to the massive savings you make by going for the older model, money that can be spent on lenses, audio, lighting, etc. Just my 2 cents!
Thanks. I didn't see a response to your comment (I'm sure he appreciates you taking the time to leave a lengthy comment). I was wondering the same thing. I thought the video was going to cover detailed spec differences, and instead, it was mostly just batteries (as an upgrade path???), and the slots. Thanks for leaving your comment. It's been about 9months since you left it, and the A7SII is about $500-$700 used - so considering picking on up (instead of a Sony ZVE10).
His explanation to me, was more reasons to purchase an a7s2. Get a dummy battery, a battery adapter and some FP batteries. All for under $100. Someone gave me a A7s2 that won't power on. Based on the low light performance alone it worth getting repaired if the cost is less than $600.
I've been using an A7Sii professionally for the last year, and it has performed phenomenally. My only complaints are: -Auto focus isn't quite as fast, but on a gimbal with a focus puller there is no issue. -Does not shoot in 10-bit. I use an external recorder (Shogun Flame) to get 4:2:2 out of the camera effectively doubling the colors, but getting the A7Siii or an FX6 are my next upgrades. I was able to pick up 15 used batteries locally for $25, so I have just been lucky in that department. My gimbal also passes power to the camera, and recording externally, batteries are no longer an issue. I should also mention I have used the A7iii and the Sony FS5, both do well in ideal conditions.
@@Makewayproduction That's not true. You can shoot UHD 422 HQ externally with Shogun which is 10 bit. Look up chinfat he has a video tutorial about how to set it up with a7sii.
I use the A7sii and youre right, the battery life is sad. There are a few solid work arounds I use though. 1, you can plug in a micro USB cable that supplies 1/2 the power. Meaning, you still need a battery, you cant power it from only the USB however it does supply some of the power and drains the battery much slower. Another work around I use is a dummy battery that uses two USB ports to power the full power (you cant power it off just one USB). You can then power it for a very long time if you hook up each USB cable to a large USB power bank. I have run mine for 12 hours straight this way but granted, you have to have extra cables hanging from the camera.... not ideal
Ok so I have a Sony a6300 and a Sony a6000, my plan is getting into FF Cameras. So For me the a7sii sounds like the perfect Camera to go to FF. I wanted to keep my a6300 as a B Cam. Ironically I have found out through this Video that they use the Same Batteries. Which is good because I have 5 of them. I am almost shootuing only 1080p because 4K is just for beauty shots. So for me it makes sense getting that a7sii because i need to get some good glass aswell. Its a slow Process of upgrading because its a Hobby for me, here and there i get a good amount of Money for some small jobs. I think i will go with the A7sii especially for its good Low light performance. I will be more shooting run & Gun because im in that travelfilm game for quite a while now and i think this camera will come perfect. I think i will go for it, you video actually convinced me to buy it as soon as possible. haha thanks anyways! (: Have a great day
Super helpful video dude. I have been agonizing on upgrading from my A6500 to an A7SII for a week now and this video basically just talked me out of a waste of my money. I'm going to go buy lenses with my small budget surplus instead.
I'm going to be using my A7sii with my Atomos Ninja Flame as a second camera to my Sony FX3 :)... but otherwise I would also recommend moving on from the A7sii
I'm looking for a Nice dash cam so to speak. I Chase Police scanner calls so I drive everywhere but it's dark most the time. My head lights and store lights house lights is really all the light I get and the Police and Fire flashing lights but I just need a good low light camera. I don't need to record or take photos I will need a good lense 18mm-105mm I don't know wat will be a good recommendation on the lense that will work for the A7S2. Any info would greatly be appreciated. Thanks.
Still a very good camera imo, to solve the power issue just one of these: Ulanzi NP-F01 and Andoer NP-FW50 Dummy Battery USB then slap a np-f750 on it and you got power for a whole day of shooting!
I've been using an a7sii for about 2 years now. Amazing quiality, the 4k 24fps is amazing and its nice that it has 1080p 120 fps is cool but the footage gets cropped in 1080p slomo. The lowlight is amazing have never had a problem, but WOW is it annoying having to bring at least 20 batteries to weddings, and worry about autofocus constantly. The autofocus is not great at all in well lit areas, if your main subject is very well lit outdoors its probably not going to focus very well. Contrast detection autofocus sucks so bad. I hope to upgrade to the sony a7siii or fx3 soon.
instead of 6 small batteries, why not just buy a couple bigger batteries and mount externally? also, I started with an old NEX and moved up to the A7Sii..same batteries between them and both work with large batteries.
I feel kinda sad because A7SII was my dream camera... all these years all I wanted is to own one to shoot movies... but I haven't had the money and Covid hit or I don't know why in my country is currently more expensive than when it was first released... I think I will have to buy a newer one
Thanks dear matt for making UA-cam a better place with awesome videos. 👏👏🌹 But accidently this time I don't agree with you! We should compare cameras with close price. We should go for a new crop "zv-e10" or "a6500" with lense with budget of second-hand a7sii body only. Changing battery or manual focus are not factors that convince me neglect a7sii and go for those new crop cameras. I don't know about others but in my country "Iran" foreign currency is getting more expensive like crazy!! Some times two prices for a photography or videography product per a single day!!!! On this case I should rather appreciate some imperfections in a7sii that keeps this full-frame camer still in touch for us, howevere by far! 😔
You overlook how good the A7S II is for green screen. You wan to use f/5.6 for green screen and then that 12,800 dual native ISO comes in handy. You can just turn up the studio lights, that may be cheaper and a better route to earning money with the pro lighting.
Low light photographers don’t use autofocus. Use a micro usb cord and 10 dollar battery pack. No updates = no star eater. I’ve never had a EF fail. You can get one for 700 in 2023
about af - im filming almost 5 years with sony a7s2 and switched to manual focus around... mmm 10 times? nothing wrong with it if you understand the way it works .battery life - ever heard of power banks lol))
I have purchased the A7iv and it's a monster of a hybrid camera. If you shoot 60p or 120p frequently, or you shoot in strictly HD I would say go fx3 or A7Siii A7iv crops in on 4k60 1080 looks bad unless you digital zoom by 2x. Otherwise 4k30 is super sharp, auto focus and subject tracking are amazing, it's just a stout camera for much cheaper. It has tons more features I'm just not getting to. It has replaced my Sii
i actually really enjoy using autofocus on my a7sii, it's not fast but once it focuses it stays focused very steadily, also the focusing is slow and smooth which i like. Also, it is actually much better than m43 cameras even though it's notoriously bad in autofocus in sony lineup lel
sure a7sii isnt that great for its time knowing that there are new cameras with better specs on the market. but what you lack in your camera, you can find ways to make it up for it. yes autofocus is shit, but learning manual is also good. battery life is also shit, buy extra batteries or a power bank, then you'll save extra. we cant always buy new cameras just because its the newest or latest. i still have my a7sii and I regretted buying it but I worked my way up to actually loving it. because its all I have. i make do of what i currently have rather than buying new gadgets all the time. if you're still using a7sii go for it. its also great to upgrade your arsenal :D
If you already have an a7sii, by all means keep using it, it’s a great camera. But if you don’t own one and are considering it, I don’t think it’s the best choice as I said in the video :)
i came across this camera because Amazon the Netherlands has a deal on it.. i wanted to buy it for my wife as a starter camera with the price included a lens SEL-2870 prices of all the models you mentioned. Alpha 7S II. €1000 ;; Alpha 7S III. €2149 ;;; Alpha 7C €2019 Any other recommendation for around 1000 euro.? photography is the main use for her.
I just checked and a used 7S-ii is about a 1/3 of a 7Siii, so I watched and absorbed your review with great interest (thank you for it). I really don't care much for auto focus and try and use manual most of the time (auto isn't great). Until auto focus links to my brain, I'll always override it. But agreed, autofocus on the A7S ii is terrible. Batteries. Ah yes, I remember those silly little things. I only use them as temporary power so the camera isn't without any. Most of the time I'll attach an NPF cradle and use a Sony NPF battery which gives up to a full day from one battery, and is infinitely easier to replace. Also if I ever upgrade I just need a new dummy battery cable, not an entire set of new batteries and chargers. Your point about memory card I have to agree with too. On an old Nikon I had dual slots, so why Sony waited so long before delivering this is beyond me. But I rarely used the memory card anyway. Instead I'll use a Ninja V and SSD which hasn't yet failed me. Yet it adds bulk but I sever the umbilical cord to the amateur features of Sony's cameras in favour of infinitely superior semi-pro equipment. You hit the nail on the head with your remark about the 'single' pro of the 7S series; the sensor size. If all your film work is outside in good daytime lighting then it won't be an issue. But if it's mixed day and night, or interior / theatre / studio, then I'd say the 7S capability in low light should overshadow (sorry) all of the other valid points you raised.. There's little more time consuming than trying to rid oneself of low light noise. Thank you though for your perfectly valid points. I think it really does come down to how you use the camera. For me the 7S II with my professional retrofit, offers all I need. But out of the box, I'd agree the 3rd generation does offer a lot more than its predecessors
Great video, thanks Matt. I'm looking to get a 'wide angle, locked focus, tripod camera', the A7Sii and ZV-E10 are both pretty much the same price, I just wondered which you thought might give better IQ in low-ish light the much older but FF Sii or the much new E10 sensor? It's not like night filming or anything, just dim churches and places like that.
@@Speak_Out_and_Remove_All_Doubt Did you end up going with the ZVE10? I have the same question. It's now almost 1/2 a year since you left this comment, and I can find A7SII's for about $500-$700 used. So a bit less or the same as A7SII. I'd prefer the bigger sense, full-frame, plus I'd rather use fullframe lenses; I'm not too concerned that the A7SII doesn't have phase-focus. What did you buy and how is it working out?
@@arkphotog I went a totally different route in the end, I upgraded to an A1 for my main body to then free up an older FF body I had to use for filming.
@@harrishumble8118 do you currently have a a6400? From what I hear it’s great for videos but the a6400 can be more versitile depending on intent , ie photos and such . If you don’t already have full frame lenses think about that aswell , sometimes they can get expensive. Currently I run the 30 mm 1.4 from sigma (asp-c, and if u go the a6400 route i HIGHLEY reccomend it , love it sm and for the price it’s great ) and the 85mm 1.8 full frame lense. Although I use it the sigma is my workhorse
"Also the A7c is CHEAPER than the A7iii" *pic shows it's actually $100 more* lol You would THINK it should be cheaper, right? It's pretty much the same camera in a cheaper body, and yet it's more money. Sony really dropped the ball with the A7c; it could have been the entry level king if they had priced it $300-$400 less than it is.
Thank you Matt, *Question* : What about plugging the a7S II to a power outlet using the USB cable and having it on a tripod in a fixed position set up, would that solve the issue of having to replace the batteries? and we just keep filming for hours with no issue, would that solve the battery problem?
Nice Video! Can you do a video about the Sony A1? And if the cam is worth the money if you got a sony a7iii and you need photo and video, but also 4k slowmotion?
Thank you for this video. You have said here that a7 III is worse in lowlight than a7s II, so that a7 III ought not to be used at ISO above 16000 unlike a7s II, whose video does not fall apart at ISO 32000 and even 64000. But how about a7s III? Have you used a7s mark 3? What can you tell about its lowlight performance as compared with its predecessor - a7s II?
I have a friend who offered me his a7sii for 700 bucks with the 50mm 1.8, so I can't turn it down! I agree though, the autofocus isn't great. But it's actually really easy to manual focus too, even on a gimbal.
Hey matt, are you record 25p in 4k10bit422 during ceremony or speeches ? And what camera you prefer to buy for B or C cam for A7siii ? I might buy A74 if they come out but will need another one as C Cam so I can easy to work on.
At what price do you think an a7s ii is "worth it" compared to an a7s iii? I mean, it's literally one-third of the price, and nearly as good at low-light performance.
Do they not sell higher capacity batteries? It would be so much easier, I still have an old video camera from Sony that could take a battery lasting 10h of recording in FULL HD. Of course, the battery protrudes from the camera and is heavy but that would be better than changing batteries 6 times...
@@whoismatt that's annoying, they should come up with a way of allowing larger batteries, something like the professional dslr cameras do, adding a base that houses an extra battery. Of course that would do away with the portability of the camera
There are other manufacturers that sell higher capacity batteries. you don't "have" to buy sony there are many reputable third parties out there that provide better value with same or higher capacities and most of them have good warranties and will replace them if they go bad on you.
Raise your hand if you're still filming with the Sony a7S II 😜
I am
Yasss
Yupppp
Both a73 and a7s2
🙋🏻♂️ but waiting for the a7iv
The A7SII is still an amazing buy in 2021, I just picked one up for under market value to replace my original A7S. Everything you listed can easily be solved by using additional standard equipment or simply carrying a camera bag with you.
More batteries? Put 2 in your pocket and buy cheap batteries off Amazon. I literally have 8 batteries from different brands on Amazon and all work great. Also just buy the wall outlet adapter if you're in a studio or stationary environment.
AF is decent with the A7S II, yes its no speed demon but there are many adapters with AF on them that work. Chances are if you're on E Mount you most likely have other mounts or access to them.
If you're shooting a wedding, why aren't you using an external screen with a recorder? The 3 inch screen on these cameras is so bad, any Atomos screen blows it out of the water and actually lets you see what you're doing.
Average A7SII as of this writing is around $1150. If you can snag one for under 1k, totally worth it. The SIII still retails for 3x that and the 7III is still at least $600 more which could net you better rigs, lights etc.
How's the A7sii holding up? Have the opportunity to pick one up for $800 with a 50mm f1.8. Not sure if it would be a good upgrade from my a6400. Debating between the a7sii or a x-s10.
@@ivn9577
What did you end up choosing?
What adaptarse for AF please explain more friend
The a7SII has better 1080p 60 image quality over the a7III/C because those cameras pixel bin or line skip to get rid of the extra pixels whereas the a7SII (and III) downsamples from 4K
True
interesting!
this is true, I noticed the quality drop straightaway when “upgrading” to the A7III and wished I’d stuck with the A7sii
Still on A7s. The lesson I have learnt with every Sony Camera becoming obsolete in a couple of years is to invest in glass. (When I think how much I paid for FS100 and what I got and how fast it became junk makes me look like a fool). The glass, meanwhile, hasn't lost neither its value nor its sharpness! I wish I bought something cheaper like the Blackmagic pocket, which is still what it was millions of years ago.
Did you take great pictures with your older camera? If yes, then why is it obsolete junk?
I bought my Sony a7s ii in 2016. I still currently use it, and to be quite honest I don’t see a point in upgrading to any other cameras in the near future for me anyways. It shoots really good quality, it still is really good in low light! The quality is still super sharp and for what I’m doing it’s perfectly fine for me. For many years I used the Canon T2i DSLR and that was my go to camera. To be quite honest with you if I didn’t feel forced! into investing in a Sony camera five years ago because of a previous job opportunity I was working at, at the time I probably would still be using the Canon T2i. A camera that in my still current opinion still shoots pretty decent quality. Even though it is way beyond obsolete. However, the Sony a7s ii I did not buy for the 4K quality. As I stated above that wasn’t the initial reason why I purchased the camera, but having the camera for this many years now I’ve grown to like it a lot. I still don’t always shoot in 4K, and 1080 P the quality is still just a sharp. I only use 4K when I need to. A camera or any other technology will become obsolete in a year or two after it comes out. It doesn’t mean you have to throw away you’re expensive piece of equipment for the newer one! The lesson I’ve learned from experience Is that if you can use an older camera from say 10 years ago, with the right shot composition, the right shooting conditions, lighting, etc. You could still crack out some really good footage. The quality of the camera is still really good. But that’s just my personal opinion on the matter! Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion and they can buy what they want to buy.
Would you recommend it for videography use?? Does it have a good follow focus??
But is it still good in 2022 to buy?
@@ЄлизаветаЛижова yes it is! For $800 usd or less now, its a hella of bargain to pick up an a7S2. A full-frame that can record in cine4, 4K resolution and 24fps is worth that price tag. Wish i had this much options back in 2016 compare to right now!
I just got one for like $500 used and use it as a safety camera. Bought the Tamron 35-150 f2/2.8 to go with it. $2500 and some change to put it in a rig setup. Overall very happy with it. If we were able to get by with it in 2016, it's not like weddings changed in 2021/2022.
Exactly
whered you get one for 500? ik itd be worth 900 dollars but who wouldnt take one for cheaper lol
I was doing my research which I should buy, bought the A7SII for 2K then bought a used A7III for 1,2K. Just did an event in 4K with A7III Killed the Video. Very Cripes n Clean.
The answer is... Buy? No. Use if you got? YES!
Well I bought. Still learning my craft.. low light a frequent issue in churches.. battery grip and a bag of cheapish batteries ... 128gb cards... I can’t see the problem. Ah ... except.. autofocus is unusable !
@@bhwhprods no problem if it gets the job done. I do think it’s gonna become obsolete much sooner than the A7S3 and as an investment I recommend trying to get 5 years out of a body. I’m not sure the A7s will do that. That being said it’s a great cam and you can make great stuff with it.
Yes my university studio still uses it :D
What to buy if you always wanted to buy a s7sii but you didn't, now all these years passed and the new siii is just too expensive? I can only spend max 1000€/$ on a body. Are there better options? What would that be? I love lowlight capabilities. Any other good options that matt didn't mention? I'd love using vintage lenses btw.
@@snasnusnaba3361 same boat here commenting for an answer lol. I’ve found an a7sii + lens for around 1650, and an a7iii + worse lens for 1750gbp. You got any ideas?
Watching this takes me back to when I saved up to buy an Optimus Prime school bag only to discover that the cool kid now had a G.I Joe one.
I get 10 hours on a $30 power bank with the A7SII. I also exclusively pull focus manually. So for someone like me it’s a sub $1k bargain in 2022.
Nice, i´ve just bought a complete A7Sii setup last week. But still think it was a good price for it.. A7siii is too expensive for me for now.. Lets see what i can get out of the A7Sii
Loved the video, but you're reasons I found totally unconvincing! Here's why:
Autofocus as a decent video feature has only been around very recently. Before say 2016, the vast majority of professional camera ops still relied on manual focus. It worked perfectly fine, and still does. Autofocus is a nice-to-have, but not essential. It can also really get in the way in lots of shooting situations.
Your points 2 and 3 are both really about batteries, so I think it's really just one point. I find it bizarre you would call keeping the same batteries an 'upgrade path' - they are one of the cheapest and most expendable parts of a camera system, they aren't exactly tying you down! In my experience at least there's no real need to get official sony ones too, I have been shooting with 3rd party batteries in Sony camera for years with no issues and great performance.
Point four on dual card slots; its a nice feature but not a crazy necessity - all of these points I still think are incomparable to the massive savings you make by going for the older model, money that can be spent on lenses, audio, lighting, etc.
Just my 2 cents!
Thanks.
I didn't see a response to your comment (I'm sure he appreciates you taking the time to leave a lengthy comment).
I was wondering the same thing.
I thought the video was going to cover detailed spec differences, and instead, it was mostly just batteries (as an upgrade path???), and the slots.
Thanks for leaving your comment. It's been about 9months since you left it, and the A7SII is about $500-$700 used - so considering picking on up (instead of a Sony ZVE10).
His explanation to me, was more reasons to purchase an a7s2. Get a dummy battery, a battery adapter and some FP batteries. All for under $100. Someone gave me a A7s2 that won't power on. Based on the low light performance alone it worth getting repaired if the cost is less than $600.
I've been using an A7Sii professionally for the last year, and it has performed phenomenally.
My only complaints are:
-Auto focus isn't quite as fast, but on a gimbal with a focus puller there is no issue.
-Does not shoot in 10-bit. I use an external recorder (Shogun Flame) to get 4:2:2 out of the camera effectively doubling the colors, but getting the A7Siii or an FX6 are my next upgrades.
I was able to pick up 15 used batteries locally for $25, so I have just been lucky in that department.
My gimbal also passes power to the camera, and recording externally, batteries are no longer an issue.
I should also mention I have used the A7iii and the Sony FS5, both do well in ideal conditions.
Don't you mean 4:2:0 bit. It's not possible to get 422 using external recording.
@@Makewayproduction what you mean not possible ? even my old arse d5500 can push 422 over hdmi
@@sythanh14 yes, you can't get 4:2:2. Only 4:2:0. Big difference.
@@Makewayproduction That's not true. You can shoot UHD 422 HQ externally with Shogun which is 10 bit. Look up chinfat he has a video tutorial about how to set it up with a7sii.
I just said what the heck and pulled the trigger on the A7SIII. Best decision ever! 😁
A main reason to buy a used A7s ii for me is the high light sensitivity to film and photograph the northern lights! Good value for just 1000 bugs!
Thnx so much I was thinking of buying the a7sii but after all this I think I won't.
And most probably it will be the a7iii.
Great video BTW
I use the A7sii and youre right, the battery life is sad. There are a few solid work arounds I use though. 1, you can plug in a micro USB cable that supplies 1/2 the power. Meaning, you still need a battery, you cant power it from only the USB however it does supply some of the power and drains the battery much slower. Another work around I use is a dummy battery that uses two USB ports to power the full power (you cant power it off just one USB). You can then power it for a very long time if you hook up each USB cable to a large USB power bank. I have run mine for 12 hours straight this way but granted, you have to have extra cables hanging from the camera.... not ideal
Ok so I have a Sony a6300 and a Sony a6000, my plan is getting into FF Cameras. So For me the a7sii sounds like the perfect Camera to go to FF. I wanted to keep my a6300 as a B Cam. Ironically I have found out through this Video that they use the Same Batteries. Which is good because I have 5 of them. I am almost shootuing only 1080p because 4K is just for beauty shots. So for me it makes sense getting that a7sii because i need to get some good glass aswell. Its a slow Process of upgrading because its a Hobby for me, here and there i get a good amount of Money for some small jobs. I think i will go with the A7sii especially for its good Low light performance. I will be more shooting run & Gun because im in that travelfilm game for quite a while now and i think this camera will come perfect. I think i will go for it, you video actually convinced me to buy it as soon as possible. haha thanks anyways! (:
Have a great day
Well I can’t afford an A7siii so I’ll prob pick up an XT4 cuz I don’t feel like paying 3500 lol
Idk but in my opinion the a7iii doesn't look as cinematic as the a7sii
Super helpful video dude. I have been agonizing on upgrading from my A6500 to an A7SII for a week now and this video basically just talked me out of a waste of my money. I'm going to go buy lenses with my small budget surplus instead.
When it comes to budget it blow the hell out of Sony a7S III
I'm going to be using my A7sii with my Atomos Ninja Flame as a second camera to my Sony FX3 :)... but otherwise I would also recommend moving on from the A7sii
I'm looking for a Nice dash cam so to speak. I Chase Police scanner calls so I drive everywhere but it's dark most the time. My head lights and store lights house lights is really all the light I get and the Police and Fire flashing lights but I just need a good low light camera. I don't need to record or take photos I will need a good lense 18mm-105mm I don't know wat will be a good recommendation on the lense that will work for the A7S2. Any info would greatly be appreciated. Thanks.
Still a very good camera imo, to solve the power issue just one of these:
Ulanzi NP-F01
and
Andoer NP-FW50 Dummy Battery USB
then slap a np-f750 on it and you got power for a whole day of shooting!
You gave me good reasons but my balance in my bank account gives me more
Hey Bin Laden good video bro.
I've been using an a7sii for about 2 years now. Amazing quiality, the 4k 24fps is amazing and its nice that it has 1080p 120 fps is cool but the footage gets cropped in 1080p slomo. The lowlight is amazing have never had a problem, but WOW is it annoying having to bring at least 20 batteries to weddings, and worry about autofocus constantly. The autofocus is not great at all in well lit areas, if your main subject is very well lit outdoors its probably not going to focus very well. Contrast detection autofocus sucks so bad. I hope to upgrade to the sony a7siii or fx3 soon.
instead of 6 small batteries, why not just buy a couple bigger batteries and mount externally?
also, I started with an old NEX and moved up to the A7Sii..same batteries between them and both work with large batteries.
I feel kinda sad because A7SII was my dream camera... all these years all I wanted is to own one to shoot movies... but I haven't had the money and Covid hit or I don't know why in my country is currently more expensive than when it was first released...
I think I will have to buy a newer one
Sony A7iii is still amazing in 2021 💪🏼
Thanks dear matt for making UA-cam a better place with awesome videos. 👏👏🌹 But accidently this time I don't agree with you! We should compare cameras with close price. We should go for a new crop "zv-e10" or "a6500" with lense with budget of second-hand a7sii body only. Changing battery or manual focus are not factors that convince me neglect a7sii and go for those new crop cameras. I don't know about others but in my country "Iran" foreign currency is getting more expensive like crazy!! Some times two prices for a photography or videography product per a single day!!!! On this case I should rather appreciate some imperfections in a7sii that keeps this full-frame camer still in touch for us, howevere by far! 😔
Even original a7 and a5100 that are released around same time have reliable af. I don't get why they choose contrast af for a7s/ii.
You overlook how good the A7S II is for green screen. You wan to use f/5.6 for green screen and then that 12,800 dual native ISO comes in handy. You can just turn up the studio lights, that may be cheaper and a better route to earning money with the pro lighting.
Low light photographers don’t use autofocus.
Use a micro usb cord and 10 dollar battery pack.
No updates = no star eater.
I’ve never had a EF fail.
You can get one for 700 in 2023
about af - im filming almost 5 years with sony a7s2 and switched to manual focus around... mmm 10 times? nothing wrong with it if you understand the way it works .battery life - ever heard of power banks lol))
I got lucky on fb market pretty much Brand new a7sii 96. yes 96!! on the shutter original battery grip four batteries and three chargers for $800 Au.
Here in 2024, thinking about picking one up, now that they are around 600 bucks. That external 14-bit doesn't get old.
I'm still using a7si. Between a7siii and a7iv, which one would be a better choice ? Thanks sir.
A7iv
I have purchased the A7iv and it's a monster of a hybrid camera.
If you shoot 60p or 120p frequently, or you shoot in strictly HD I would say go fx3 or A7Siii
A7iv crops in on 4k60
1080 looks bad unless you digital zoom by 2x.
Otherwise 4k30 is super sharp, auto focus and subject tracking are amazing, it's just a stout camera for much cheaper. It has tons more features I'm just not getting to. It has replaced my Sii
i actually really enjoy using autofocus on my a7sii, it's not fast but once it focuses it stays focused very steadily, also the focusing is slow and smooth which i like. Also, it is actually much better than m43 cameras even though it's notoriously bad in autofocus in sony lineup lel
Hi, tanks from the future! (2023). All I wanted to know
Thank you much, was thinking to get it cause it cheap 😅😅😅
Hello
Does the Sony a7sii have a time limit for recording videos?
sure a7sii isnt that great for its time knowing that there are new cameras with better specs on the market. but what you lack in your camera, you can find ways to make it up for it. yes autofocus is shit, but learning manual is also good. battery life is also shit, buy extra batteries or a power bank, then you'll save extra. we cant always buy new cameras just because its the newest or latest. i still have my a7sii and I regretted buying it but I worked my way up to actually loving it. because its all I have. i make do of what i currently have rather than buying new gadgets all the time. if you're still using a7sii go for it. its also great to upgrade your arsenal :D
If you already have an a7sii, by all means keep using it, it’s a great camera. But if you don’t own one and are considering it, I don’t think it’s the best choice as I said in the video :)
I appreciate you man
Thank you! I was considering buying the a7sii as a beginner camera for client work. But bad auto focus and tons of batteries... I'll keep looking!
Does the sony a7sii have a time limit for the filming function?
One cannot doubt this man word because of the shear size of that beard. Good gracious! Nice thoughts, thank you 👌🙂
LMAO WHAT
Thanks Matt. You helped me to make a decision.
Hahahah I'm that niche user!! Thanks for clarifying, I'm only here for low light!
i came across this camera because Amazon the Netherlands has a deal on it..
i wanted to buy it for my wife as a starter camera with the price included a lens SEL-2870
prices of all the models you mentioned.
Alpha 7S II. €1000 ;; Alpha 7S III. €2149 ;;; Alpha 7C €2019
Any other recommendation for around 1000 euro.? photography is the main use for her.
Regarding battery life, DigiTech 2000mhz battery is pretty good and safe, and lasts almost double
Matt when your title says SONY A7S ii you go and talk about so many other cameras that we are lost in translation man !!!
I just checked and a used 7S-ii is about a 1/3 of a 7Siii, so I watched and absorbed your review with great interest (thank you for it). I really don't care much for auto focus and try and use manual most of the time (auto isn't great). Until auto focus links to my brain, I'll always override it. But agreed, autofocus on the A7S ii is terrible.
Batteries. Ah yes, I remember those silly little things. I only use them as temporary power so the camera isn't without any. Most of the time I'll attach an NPF cradle and use a Sony NPF battery which gives up to a full day from one battery, and is infinitely easier to replace. Also if I ever upgrade I just need a new dummy battery cable, not an entire set of new batteries and chargers.
Your point about memory card I have to agree with too. On an old Nikon I had dual slots, so why Sony waited so long before delivering this is beyond me. But I rarely used the memory card anyway. Instead I'll use a Ninja V and SSD which hasn't yet failed me. Yet it adds bulk but I sever the umbilical cord to the amateur features of Sony's cameras in favour of infinitely superior semi-pro equipment.
You hit the nail on the head with your remark about the 'single' pro of the 7S series; the sensor size. If all your film work is outside in good daytime lighting then it won't be an issue. But if it's mixed day and night, or interior / theatre / studio, then I'd say the 7S capability in low light should overshadow (sorry) all of the other valid points you raised.. There's little more time consuming than trying to rid oneself of low light noise.
Thank you though for your perfectly valid points. I think it really does come down to how you use the camera. For me the 7S II with my professional retrofit, offers all I need. But out of the box, I'd agree the 3rd generation does offer a lot more than its predecessors
I’m about to buy one for $500 with a lens included so for that price I couldn’t give 2 craps about anything haha
Never seen this man but the immediate intro made me think of Eminem looool
of I can find a a7sii for under 800 is it worth it...I shoot run and gun music videos
Sure
Great video, thanks Matt.
I'm looking to get a 'wide angle, locked focus, tripod camera', the A7Sii and ZV-E10 are both pretty much the same price, I just wondered which you thought might give better IQ in low-ish light the much older but FF Sii or the much new E10 sensor? It's not like night filming or anything, just dim churches and places like that.
A7sii all the way
@@whoismatt Do you have the E10? Would make a great shoot-out video.
My main draw to the E10 was the unlimited recording time.
@@Speak_Out_and_Remove_All_Doubt Did you end up going with the ZVE10? I have the same question. It's now almost 1/2 a year since you left this comment, and I can find A7SII's for about $500-$700 used. So a bit less or the same as A7SII. I'd prefer the bigger sense, full-frame, plus I'd rather use fullframe lenses; I'm not too concerned that the A7SII doesn't have phase-focus.
What did you buy and how is it working out?
@@arkphotog I went a totally different route in the end, I upgraded to an A1 for my main body to then free up an older FF body I had to use for filming.
sooo.. the only difference is auto focus and batteries... not quality? i manual focus anyway.not worth the extra 1500$
I currently have a a6400 , I came a crops a deal for 400 really tempting but I hear mixed reviews , would it be worth it
I have the same question should i consider taking the a7sii or the a6400 i'm confused.
@@harrishumble8118 do you currently have a a6400? From what I hear it’s great for videos but the a6400 can be more versitile depending on intent , ie photos and such . If you don’t already have full frame lenses think about that aswell , sometimes they can get expensive. Currently I run the 30 mm 1.4 from sigma (asp-c, and if u go the a6400 route i HIGHLEY reccomend it , love it sm and for the price it’s great ) and the 85mm 1.8 full frame lense. Although I use it the sigma is my workhorse
"Also the A7c is CHEAPER than the A7iii" *pic shows it's actually $100 more*
lol You would THINK it should be cheaper, right? It's pretty much the same camera in a cheaper body, and yet it's more money. Sony really dropped the ball with the A7c; it could have been the entry level king if they had priced it $300-$400 less than it is.
Its the "Grab your beard" for me lol
Just get an npf750 with a dc couple and your battery problems are a thing of the past ☺️
Tons of those batteries for cheap.
Thank you Matt, *Question* : What about plugging the a7S II to a power outlet using the USB cable and having it on a tripod in a fixed position set up, would that solve the issue of having to replace the batteries? and we just keep filming for hours with no issue, would that solve the battery problem?
You would need to use a dummy battery. Even powering the a7sii over usb it will slowly drain the battery in a few hours.
Ladestation für 2 Akkus, 2 Akkus mit je 1500 mAh, USB Kabel für 19,99€ bei Ebay neu.
Is the sii worth for 800eur with lens
Nice Video! Can you do a video about the Sony A1? And if the cam is worth the money if you got a sony a7iii and you need photo and video, but also 4k slowmotion?
Thank you for this video. You have said here that a7 III is worse in lowlight than a7s II, so that a7 III ought not to be used at ISO above 16000 unlike a7s II, whose video does not fall apart at ISO 32000 and even 64000. But how about a7s III? Have you used a7s mark 3? What can you tell about its lowlight performance as compared with its predecessor - a7s II?
Watch my a7siii review :)
I have a friend who offered me his a7sii for 700 bucks with the 50mm 1.8, so I can't turn it down!
I agree though, the autofocus isn't great. But it's actually really easy to manual focus too, even on a gimbal.
Great deal!
Hey matt, are you record 25p in 4k10bit422 during ceremony or speeches ? And what camera you prefer to buy for B or C cam for A7siii ? I might buy A74 if they come out but will need another one as C Cam so I can easy to work on.
Who ever did the subtitles doesnt understand that theres a a7 III and keeps writing a7s III :D
I bought a sony a7sii a few months ago; it was significantly cheaper than the a7c and the a7iii. The a7sii came with several batteries.
Power isnt a problem as long as its connected to my gimbal or powerbank ;-)
In other words -> *use a dummy battery*
Wow thank you so much! I need to pick a camera once and for all and its looking like we have a winner! a7s3!
i thought for sure one of the reasons were the terrible rolling shutter
Damn it, I was really hoping to hear from you it's worth it.. Well, probably buying it anyway in a near future.
"a7c is cheaper than a7iii", but in your screenshots you show its literally $100 more expensive
Please make a review for sony a6400 in the perspective of wedding film.
0:56 "So grab your beard and..." Haha
Thx bro.
This video is waaaaay off. If you're a pro and you're buying in-camera batteries, leaning into auto focus and so on...
You're not doing it right.
If you’re not shooting on an Alexa in 2021, you’ll be out of business by 2022. 😜
Your only reason is The reason people get the a7s11 for low light duh.
you got big subire from me for this video. Thank you sooooo much
At what price do you think an a7s ii is "worth it" compared to an a7s iii? I mean, it's literally one-third of the price, and nearly as good at low-light performance.
It’s a great camera but I would go with the a7iii instead if you can afford it
If anyone wants to buy my sony a7s2 contact me i dont use it
Who’s Kyle?
A cool dude
My main reason; what can my money buy ha hahahaha
What camera are you using in this video?
auto focus is not reliable in any professional work at all
Great video :D you saved me from getting a a7S :D
ซับไทยของคุณเยี่ยมมาก ชอบวิดีโอนี้
no 'a 7 2', alpha 7 2
"Don't buy the A7sii. I own two of them." Uhh ok.
*2 of them which I’ve owned since 2015 😉
Hi bro
Why couldn't you make this video 6 months ago 😩😩😩
He did
dude
i like your set up and lightning
Do they not sell higher capacity batteries? It would be so much easier, I still have an old video camera from Sony that could take a battery lasting 10h of recording in FULL HD. Of course, the battery protrudes from the camera and is heavy but that would be better than changing batteries 6 times...
Sony sells higher capacity batteries for their camcorders but not the alpha series of cameras 😭😭
@@whoismatt that's annoying, they should come up with a way of allowing larger batteries, something like the professional dslr cameras do, adding a base that houses an extra battery. Of course that would do away with the portability of the camera
They do offer a battery grip that holds 2 batteries
@@whoismatt great, that makes me consider the camera a bit better than I thought it would be. Great video and keep up the good work 👍😎
There are other manufacturers that sell higher capacity batteries. you don't "have" to buy sony there are many reputable third parties out there that provide better value with same or higher capacities and most of them have good warranties and will replace them if they go bad on you.
Great video 😊
ohhh your review is helpful, thank a alot!!
Forget about Sony A7sII