Sony a7CR Review - Stuck in Customs

Sony a7CR Review

Sony a7CR

Sony a7CR Latest Prices

Check the latest price for the Sony a7CR on Amazon or B&H Photo.

If you’re looking for lenses you can check pricing on my favorite, the Sony 24-105 G Lens or see my complete list of recommended lenses below that are cheaper and more than serviceable! For my complete camera gear visit my page over here.

Let’s go! The Sony a7CR Review!

First of all, after using Nikon for years and then Sony for a bunch more for a while I was a Hasselblad Ambassador using the H5D and then X1D, but I switched back to Sony because of the amazing Sony a7R III. Yes! It was a tough choice, as both Sony and Hasselblad cameras are absolutely incredible. The Sony just ticks more boxes for my shooting style!

None of this has anything to do with camera companies giving free cameras; I super promise. I receive free cameras from (almost) all companies, so that levels the playing field in terms of hardware-influence. I wouldn’t be influenced anyway. Life is too short to do that sort of thing. I do a lot of travel photography and get to some pretty unique places. I’m not going to use something that I don’t want to just because of a signed contract. My primary goal is to try to create meaningful work. This is often made easier by using some of the best tech+software+optics I can get in the field.

I’m not going to bloviate on about Sony vs. Hasselblad because it gets a bit pedantic, and most of you don’t care. I’ll add a little P.S. on the bottom that talks about using the two brands at the end of this review.


Here’s a quick photo taken with the new beast! Note most of the photos in here are just from using it a few times here around my home in Queenstown, New Zealand. I’ll add more variety/locations later… think of this like a living review where I add more photos every few weeks! Also note that I post-process all my photos.

This is an example of the kind of post-processing I do (mostly nowadays) using photo software called Luminar for which I have presets. This is an extremely selfish plug because I previously partnered up with SKYLUM to make some rather amazing software, Aurora HDR! Now that tech has been merged into Luminar Neo!

Best Shooting Combo for the Sony a7CR

To me, the best combo with this new camera is the Sony 24-105mm G lens. This lens is an absolute masterpiece. I was not prepared to like it as much as I did. I go into everything with low expectations, which is also a pretty good approach for real life!

I’ve used Sony cameras for years. I have all the Sony a7R models, along with a whole slew of lenses. I’ll list a lot of them below in the “Recommended Lenses” area. I’m not a camera or lens snob, I just know what I like! For example, I have three Leica lenses with a Sony adapter (the 21mm F/1.4, 35mm F/1.4, and the 90mm F/2). To me, this new 24-105mm is not only less expensive, but it’s practically equal in quality to the Leica lenses. Plus, they are zoom lenses, whereas Leica lenses are all prime (do not zoom). When I’m out shooting in the field or cities, sometimes I like to go wide, and others I like a little zoomy-zoom, so this lens takes care of 75% of my shots! This is great, because I’m a lazy son-of-a-gun, and I hate changing lenses.


Another example from the a7CR and 24-105!


A second amazing lens from Sony (also expensive, again, see cheaper alternatives below…just giving you the BEST right now), is the G Master Series 16-35mm. This scratches that wide-angle itch I often have for some landscape, city, and architecture shots. It goes all the way down to F/2.8, so it would also be great for astrophotography.

Above we had some landscape action so here is a bit of natural light portraiture. Once again it’s using that awesome 24-105 lens, this time at 24mm F/6.3… these Kias don’t mind you getting in close!

Top Features of the Sony a7CR

Look, I’m a very practical man, and I don’t get completely into all the specs with a really geeky review. I consider myself an artist first that knows just enough about the tech to make use of it. Also, one can easily make the case that ALL cameras today are amazing, and by comparing specs, you’re just spitting digital hairs.

To me, the best features are simply Quality, Speed, and Ease of Use

Even if you are a beginner, just throw this thing in Auto and let it do all the techno-thinking. Remember, there is no shame in shooting in auto. A lot of asshole photographers will make you feel like if you don’t shoot in Manual then you really should not have a camera so expensive. Don’t listen to them. Remember, you’re buying a multi-thousand dollar computer that just happens to have a lens and sensor! Most of the time, it will pick the same settings as a pro. Your job as a photographer is to find interesting subject matter, compose, then click. Over time, you can start playing with other modes, like Aperture mode for example, where you can start playing with depth-of-field (having pretty blurry areas of your photo), etc, etc.

COMPACTNESS!
Back in the olden days I was a Nikon user, eventually ending up on the D800 series. Those things were HUGE and HEAVY. It was a real commitment to travel with. So when Sony released the NEX range I took a look at them due to their compact size. The NEX-7 was awesome for its time (and still does not too bad today for the right price) but the reduction in weight and size was such a benefit. Over time with the a7 series which took the NEX-7 mirrorless concept and brought it to full frame the Sony bodies have gotten larger. Now with the a7CR we’ve removed a good chunk of that bulk (and weight) with minimal specification reduction. It’s a real best of both worlds situation. The only thing that I think may bother some is that the CR only has one card slot, not 2. Everything else is great though… plenty speed, great resolution, etc.

Z Series Battery System!
Wow, well done Sony! The battery system for the older Sony models was silly but with the Mark III they changed it and have retained the same model for the Mark IV and now a7CR. You might need 3-4 batteries with you for a full day of shooting on the older cameras, but not anymore. These batteries can last several days! I only have 3 batteries now, which is probably 1 more than I need even on longer excurisons.

Before, I was thinking about building a Sony Battery Dispenser in the style of a big Pez Dispenser. You know, you click on the back of the T-Rex head and another Sony battery slides out. Well now that seems like a dumb idea and I’m not going to build it.

Pixel-Shifting
I think this started back with the a7R III if I remember correctly and it’s retained on theb CR. The body has a tech that allows you to take four photos and the sensor shifts each time to capture more data and create a sharper image, higher resolution image. I know, it sounds confusing, right? I rarely use it but it’s one of those features that is a nice to have. Say you work in a museum and you’re trying to capture details on The Ark of the Covenant or something, and you have time to take all these photos and combine them, then go for it.

Touch Screen
The back screen has always been reasonable on Sony. Now it’s reaching the incredible sort of level. I’m sure the a7R series is a bit higher now “dot” wise but the CR seems to be nice and clear. I love that you can pull it out and bend it around, but you can also do touch-focus which is more convenient than using a joystick-touchpad thing. Sometimes I found that when I look through the viewfinder that my nose accidentally re-focuses, but you can tweak the areas which allow touch input so that solves the issue.

Image Stabilization
This has improved with each generation of Sony cameras (as has auto-focus which now has cool eye detection for animals, humans and the like). I can’t remember the last time I had a shot which suffered from shake based issues. Near perfection now I’d say and that includes with older or manual lenses.

Lovely sharp detail from the 61MP sensor, eh?


Anti-Flicker
This is something which I haven’t been able to test, yet. Essentially some forms of lighting cause issues with content capture. I don’t think it’s a Sony specific thing but I do know that I’ve had problems with stuff I’ve captured before which shows flickering/banding in certain scenarios. IF it is fixed now, or reduced then that’s a real win.

USB-C Connection
I love USB-C! It’s fast, and it’s reversible, like my raincoat.
So, when you get back from a shoot, just USB-C attach this to your computer and it will allow you download the photos. But, there is a gripe (listed below in the gripe section).

Improved Menu System
I like that in recent Sony Menu revisions there is now a “Favorites” menu where I can put my favorite bits. Even though I’ve used Sony for years, I often have trouble going in there to find “Silent-Shooting” or things like this. The newer models also received a proper menu overhaul which was much needed and works fairly well in comparison to the original a7’s.

Gripes

These gripes are not big gripes, just little gripes.

Even though the menu system is improved, they are still so archaicand masochistic. Thank God I know what I’m doing in that menu. I can see it scaring the bejeezus out of an Instagram photographer who suddenly decides to get a professional camera! If you want an example of a good menu system, check out the Hasselblad X1D.

I wish there was a good App ecosystem. This Sony app store has historically been an absolute joke to navigate and use. It’s even worse than the menu system. I should be able to do it just like with my Android phone, where I surf on the phone or on my laptop, find what I want to add (e.g. an app for long exposures/timelapse), and then it is automatically installed.

Why can’t I take longer exposures. Like almost infinite length? It’s just software, right?

In reference to the USB-C goodness above, why can’t it connect to download photos AND charge the battery at the same time? It’s like Sony doesn’t even really understand the power of USB-C. You can only do one or another.

Recommended Lenses for the Sony a7CR

Note that all of these lenses are more than great. These are the lenses that I have personally used quite a bit.

High-End

Mid-Range

  • Sony 12-24mm G (Ultra-wide) – note I still use this lens to get between 12 and 16mm, the only wider range my above combo does not reach.
  • Sony 24-240mm Zoom Lens – note I still use this for photos beyond 105mm, the upper range of my setup above.

Note you can use almost ANY lens on this camera. You simply need an adapter. I only have experience with Leica lenses (generally considered the best), so I will list those below. Note they’re KINDA PRICEY, to say the least!

Leica Options

Other Great Choices
These are lenses that I do not use, but other professionals quite like them. For example, wedding shooters LOVE the 24-70mm. Bird shooters will like the 70-200mm.

Back to the Hasselblad vs. Sony internal debate in my mind

Man, it’s a tough decision, I tell you. As I said, they are both great cameras and there are check marks in both columns. Here’s the delta for me, comparing with the X1D series:

  • I like to take a LOT of photos. Often times of moving subjects. The Sony a7CR simply shoots faster at up to 8 FPS with a wide coverage of autofocus points. The Hasselblad X1D supposedly does 2 FPS, but I have found it to be even slower than that. I assume the mark 2 is a bit better but the official specs say 2.7FPS, so…
  • There is not a huge difference between Sony’s 61 megapixels and Hasselblad’s 50. The Sony edges it MP wise but I do find the medium-format sensor in the Hasselblad to have a more interesting “look,” but only very slightly. I know there is a different crop-factor too, but I’m not into that since I crop every photo completely differently based on what the subject matter in the photo is.
  • The Sony is smaller and quicker to use.
  • The Sony is MUCH more inexpensive (like half the price). So are many of the lenses.
  • There is a huge lens selection for the Sony. As of writing this, the Hasselblad only has a small/medium number of lenses.
  • Sony now has some awesome real-time tracking eye-autofocus tech in their cameras. Not only does it handle people, you can even set it to animal mode and get super-sharp pet or wildlife portraits with ease.

More Sample Photos from the Sony a7CR

I’ll continue to add more as I use the camera more… check back often and enjoy. If you want to see the EXIF on any photo, just click through to my SmugMug and click on the little “i” in the lower right to see the info.

NOTE: The top 3 being from the CR, the images after that are from the a7R IV if you’re interested in comparing the quality from the “full-sided” body of the a7R cameras vs the more compact CR.

Fun story. While I was out grabbing this pic, my friend and I found a Canon R5 and lens, still attached to a tripod, half burried in the sand and shallow water (it’s tidal here). Someone must have left it doing a long exposure or something and when the tide came rushing in, lost the camera and couldn’t rescue it! It had been there for a while and was very much falling apart. A sad end… maybe if they’d have bought Sony this could all have been avoided 😉

Little bit longer exposure here for a twilight shot of Queenstown from above.

A little more a7CR and 24-105 action. This time at 94mm, f/4.

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Here is my friend Rene. He’d like to point out that one of the minor considerations between a7Cr and a7R series is that the CR only has one memory card slot. That’s the price of being more compact.

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Some high megapixel goodness of Sofia and a rather lovely blurred background courtesy of the 24-105 at F/4.

Lake Wakatipu in its 61MP glory… I’d love to say this was all the Sony but really New Zealand had a lot to do with the awesomeness of the image.

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