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About Our Company
Brand new Sony a7CR and a7C II Cameras: Very Compact and Incredibly Capable!
Published September 7, 2023
Well, as if it’s a surprise to anyone at this point, Sony has released two brand-new and very exciting cameras as well as a powerful new lens. Sony has been making some of the highest-performance and most popular mirrorless cameras and lenses in the industry for years and they have done it yet again with the release of the a7RC, the a7C II, and the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II Lens.
These two incredibly exciting new cameras are powerful, capable, and surprisingly compact (even for Sony) making them ideal for traveling, hiking, or for anyone looking to save some weight or space in their pack. Sony has taken some of the best features and specs from flagship-level full-frame cameras and incorporated them in cameras that would be small and lightweight even for a crop sensor body! And this new lens is a great improvement on the first generation as well.
In today’s article, we’re going to take a look at all three of these new releases from Sony, break them apart, and provide insights into just how impressive they all are.
Without further ado, let’s get into it and take a look at the newest tech from Sony!
These two incredibly exciting new cameras are powerful, capable, and surprisingly compact (even for Sony) making them ideal for traveling, hiking, or for anyone looking to save some weight or space in their pack. Sony has taken some of the best features and specs from flagship-level full-frame cameras and incorporated them in cameras that would be small and lightweight even for a crop sensor body! And this new lens is a great improvement on the first generation as well.
In today’s article, we’re going to take a look at all three of these new releases from Sony, break them apart, and provide insights into just how impressive they all are.
Without further ado, let’s get into it and take a look at the newest tech from Sony!
Sony a7CR Mirrorless Camera
Specs:
Specs:
- Price: $3,000 USD
- 61MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI Sensor
- BIONZ XR Image Processor
- Shooting up to 8 fps, ISO 50-102,400
- 240.8MP Pixel Shift Multi-Shooting
- 10-Bit Full-Frame 4K60p Video
- 7 Stops In-Body Image Stabilization
- 693-Point Phase Detection, 79% Coverage AF
- 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
- 3” 1.03m-Dot Vari-Angle LCD Touchscreen
Overview:
I’ll start out with the a7CR. This thing is absolutely mental. Both of these new cameras are upgraded predecessors to the already popular a7C but the a7CR takes these upgrades a step further. I didn’t think it was possible to cram all of these incredible specs and features into a full-frame camera body this compact. This brand-new camera from Sony features flagship features in an affordable, small, and lightweight package.
The a7CR is smaller than most high-performance crop-sensor cameras but this little beast houses a 61MP full-frame Exmor R BSI Sensor. That’s right. This tiny camera has 61 megapixels all on an incredibly advanced sensor. In fact, this is the exact same sensor as the flagship level a7R5. The a7CR is designed to deliver high-resolution, high-quality, stunning images regardless of the situation.
Beyond the incredibly high-resolution sensor, there are several other exciting features in this camera. When it comes to video the a7CR can shoot at 4K 60p completely uncropped so capturing stunning video will be a breeze. And if 61 megapixels isn’t enough, you can shoot in the pixel shift multi-shot mode which stitches 16 separate images into one massive 240.8-megapixel composition. On top of that the a7CR features 7 stops of IBIS which will help a ton in low light situations or when shooting at slower shutter speeds. This camera features incredibly advanced AI-assisted autofocus which will identify and track subjects regardless of lighting and conditions. And to top it all off this camera comes with an extension grip that attaches to the bottom to give your hands a bit more to grab onto while still being able to access the battery.
The a7CR is small but mighty. If you want incredible image quality, high-resolution video recording, and flagship-level features in a small and easily transportable camera then definitely check out the a7CR!
I’ll start out with the a7CR. This thing is absolutely mental. Both of these new cameras are upgraded predecessors to the already popular a7C but the a7CR takes these upgrades a step further. I didn’t think it was possible to cram all of these incredible specs and features into a full-frame camera body this compact. This brand-new camera from Sony features flagship features in an affordable, small, and lightweight package.
The a7CR is smaller than most high-performance crop-sensor cameras but this little beast houses a 61MP full-frame Exmor R BSI Sensor. That’s right. This tiny camera has 61 megapixels all on an incredibly advanced sensor. In fact, this is the exact same sensor as the flagship level a7R5. The a7CR is designed to deliver high-resolution, high-quality, stunning images regardless of the situation.
Beyond the incredibly high-resolution sensor, there are several other exciting features in this camera. When it comes to video the a7CR can shoot at 4K 60p completely uncropped so capturing stunning video will be a breeze. And if 61 megapixels isn’t enough, you can shoot in the pixel shift multi-shot mode which stitches 16 separate images into one massive 240.8-megapixel composition. On top of that the a7CR features 7 stops of IBIS which will help a ton in low light situations or when shooting at slower shutter speeds. This camera features incredibly advanced AI-assisted autofocus which will identify and track subjects regardless of lighting and conditions. And to top it all off this camera comes with an extension grip that attaches to the bottom to give your hands a bit more to grab onto while still being able to access the battery.
The a7CR is small but mighty. If you want incredible image quality, high-resolution video recording, and flagship-level features in a small and easily transportable camera then definitely check out the a7CR!
Sony a7C II Mirrorless Camera
Specs:
Specs:
- Price: $2,200 USD
- 33MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI Sensor
- BIONZ XR Image Processor
- Shooting up to 10 fps, ISO 50-204,800
- 10-Bit Full-Frame 4K30p Video
- 7 Stope In-Body Image Stabilization
- 759-Point Phase Detection, 94% Coverage AF
- 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
- 3” 1.03m-Dot Vari-Angle LCD Touchscreen
- Internal Mic + Inputs, USB Streaming
Overview:
The a7C II is also a very impressive camera and can be thought of as the little brother or sister of the a7CR. Really there are only a few key differences with the primary one being the sensors in each camera. The body has the same form factor as the a7CR and the button layout and user interface are nearly identical. Let’s talk about some of the key differences between these two exciting new cameras from Sony.
As I just mentioned the main difference between the a7CR and the a7C II is the sensors housed within the cameras. The a7C II features the exact same 33-megapixel Full-Frame Exmor R BSI Sensor as the much larger and very popular a7IV. This sensor means that image resolution and video recording will be slightly lower than the a7CR as well, but this camera can still record 4K 60p but in a super 35 crop. This is still an amazing sensor for such a small camera and even though it’s not 60 megapixels it will be more than sufficient for most photographers.
Some other key differences are that the a7C II can actually shoot at faster burst rates with maximum rates of 10 frames per second with the mechanical shutter. The a7CR can only do 8 frames per second. On top of that the a7C II actually has more AF detection points covering a larger portion of the sensor with 759 points and 94% coverage compared to the A&CR’s 673 points and 79% coverage. These are really the main differences and beyond that the cameras are very much identical.
Perhaps the a7C II falls just short of the a7CR when it comes to a few specs but at the end of the day, these cameras share the exact same image processors, utilize the same AI-assisted AF systems, have the exact same EVFs and LCD screens, have the exact same IBIS, and share many other key features. Ultimately, you’ll have to decide which specs will work the best for your photography.
The a7C II is also a very impressive camera and can be thought of as the little brother or sister of the a7CR. Really there are only a few key differences with the primary one being the sensors in each camera. The body has the same form factor as the a7CR and the button layout and user interface are nearly identical. Let’s talk about some of the key differences between these two exciting new cameras from Sony.
As I just mentioned the main difference between the a7CR and the a7C II is the sensors housed within the cameras. The a7C II features the exact same 33-megapixel Full-Frame Exmor R BSI Sensor as the much larger and very popular a7IV. This sensor means that image resolution and video recording will be slightly lower than the a7CR as well, but this camera can still record 4K 60p but in a super 35 crop. This is still an amazing sensor for such a small camera and even though it’s not 60 megapixels it will be more than sufficient for most photographers.
Some other key differences are that the a7C II can actually shoot at faster burst rates with maximum rates of 10 frames per second with the mechanical shutter. The a7CR can only do 8 frames per second. On top of that the a7C II actually has more AF detection points covering a larger portion of the sensor with 759 points and 94% coverage compared to the A&CR’s 673 points and 79% coverage. These are really the main differences and beyond that the cameras are very much identical.
Perhaps the a7C II falls just short of the a7CR when it comes to a few specs but at the end of the day, these cameras share the exact same image processors, utilize the same AI-assisted AF systems, have the exact same EVFs and LCD screens, have the exact same IBIS, and share many other key features. Ultimately, you’ll have to decide which specs will work the best for your photography.
Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II Lens
Specs:
Overview:
And it’s not just two awesome new cameras that Sony recently released, they’ve also developed an exciting new lens: the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II. This is the successor to Sony’s original 16-35mm f/2.8 and has several key improvements. Let’s take a look.
To start, this lens is significantly smaller and lighter than its predecessor coming in 20% lighter at only 547 grams and 10% smaller with a height of 111.5mm. This is the smallest and lightest 26-35mm f/2.8 lens in the world according to Sony. Not only is it more portable and easier to handle the optics have also been improved with reduced flaring and chromatic aberrations resulting in better images. This new lens also has a much closer minimal focusing distance of 8 inches allowing you to focus on subjects very close regardless of your focal length.
The FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II features a bright and fast constant minimum aperture of f/2.8 allowing you to isolate subjects and capture stunning images in low-light situations. This lens also features a manual aperture control ring that you can either set to clicked or de-clicked when rotating depending on your preferences. It features four XD linear autofocus motors and floating focus meaning it will smoothly track subjects no matter where they are in your frame. On top of that, there are also two customizable focus control rings on the top and side of the lens.
The brand new FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II lens is a great step up from its predecessor and this lens will perform great no matter what situation you find yourself in!
Specs:
- Price: $2,300 USD
- Full-Frame | f/2.8 to f/22
- Fast Wide-Angle Zoom
- 20% Lighter and 10% Smaller than Previous
- Four XD Linear AF Motors, Floating Focus
- Aperture De-Click and Lock Switches
- Zoom Smoothness Switch
- XA and Super ED Elements
- Fluorine Coating
- Dust and Moisture Resistant
Overview:
And it’s not just two awesome new cameras that Sony recently released, they’ve also developed an exciting new lens: the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II. This is the successor to Sony’s original 16-35mm f/2.8 and has several key improvements. Let’s take a look.
To start, this lens is significantly smaller and lighter than its predecessor coming in 20% lighter at only 547 grams and 10% smaller with a height of 111.5mm. This is the smallest and lightest 26-35mm f/2.8 lens in the world according to Sony. Not only is it more portable and easier to handle the optics have also been improved with reduced flaring and chromatic aberrations resulting in better images. This new lens also has a much closer minimal focusing distance of 8 inches allowing you to focus on subjects very close regardless of your focal length.
The FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II features a bright and fast constant minimum aperture of f/2.8 allowing you to isolate subjects and capture stunning images in low-light situations. This lens also features a manual aperture control ring that you can either set to clicked or de-clicked when rotating depending on your preferences. It features four XD linear autofocus motors and floating focus meaning it will smoothly track subjects no matter where they are in your frame. On top of that, there are also two customizable focus control rings on the top and side of the lens.
The brand new FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II lens is a great step up from its predecessor and this lens will perform great no matter what situation you find yourself in!
We offer world-class travel photography
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
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Explore our library of articles that cover everything from common questions, to in-depth guides on how to achieve that perfect shot.BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2025
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2025
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.