The “camera that can see in the dark” now has a worthy successor. Sony has officially announced the availability of the new A7S mark II for the Southeast Asian region, with retail prices for all markets including Malaysia.
The original A7S was a technological marvel – indeed, the entire A7 series were quite a breakthrough – with Sony claiming the “S” in A7S name standing for “Sensitivity”. With a usable ISO range of 50 all the way to 409,600, the 12.2MP Exmor sensor is even more sensitive than the human eye.
With the new A7S mark II, Sony has refined the camera to be even better. This time around, Sony is introducing internal 4K recording, 120fps Full HD recording, faster autofocus and a similar built-in five-axis optical image stabilisation from the recently-announced A7 II for even better low-light performance, effectively making one of the most unusual cameras in recent times even more impressive.
Sony is also perfectly aware that the A7S was a favourite for videographers, and the A7S II’s new S-Log3 shooting mode is another nod in that direction. The 4K internal recording is also done without pixel binning, in full-frame format. In addition, video is recorded in XAVC format at up to 100Mbps. But to utilise this function, users will need to use at least a UHS Class 3 memory card. Autofocus has also been beefed up, with a new contrast-detection AF with 169 focus points offering faster and more seamless autofocus in video recording.
Besides that, Sony redesigned the magnesium-alloy body to offer a more natural grip, while adding new features like a silent shooting mode, reduced-vibration shutter movement, and a reinforced lens mount. There’s also a new electronic OLED viewfinder with 0.78x magnification, and a vari-angle LCD screen at the back.
On top of that, users can also use the USB port to charge the camera even when it is being used, reducing chances of being stuck with a dead battery. When not in use, powering the USB port will charge the battery instead. As a Sony camera, WiFi and NFC are also built in, allowing users to connect their smartphones using the PlayMemories Mobile app for Android and iOS.
The new Sony A7S MkII will be available for pre-order in Malaysia, at a retail price of RM13,499 for the body only. There is a host of compatible E-mount lenses already for sale, while Sony is also offering a limited-time pre-order from 9-25 October bundling a 128GB memory card, Artisan strap and Think Tank case with every order at a Sony Store or the Sony Online Store.
For more information about the new α7S II, check out the official product page here.
