Sony a7C

The Sony a7C is a compact full-frame mirrorless camera released in 2020. It measures 124 x 71 x 60 mm and weighs 509 g, fitting a full-frame sensor into a small, light body. That combination suits travel, street and everyday photographers who want a big sensor without carrying a bulky kit.

The electronic viewfinder offers 2,360,000 dots for framing, and the 3-inch touchscreen handles settings. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in, and the camera uses the Sony FE lens mount. There is no built-in flash, though external flash units are supported.

The 24.2 megapixel full-frame sensor is the heart of this camera. It scores 80 out of 100 for Optics, a very good result that places it in the top 8% of cameras in our database, and the resolution leaves room for large prints and generous cropping.

Autofocus offers 693 points, giving many selectable positions for focusing. The camera also shoots at up to 10 fps in burst mode, though that figure is a maximum; sustained rates will depend on settings and conditions.

In-body image stabilisation reduces camera shake, making handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds more practical. It steadies your hands, not the subject, so moving subjects still need faster shutter speeds of their own.

The ISO range runs from 100 to 51200. The 1/4000 s maximum shutter speed is the main constraint: in strong light you may need to stop down or use a neutral density filter to shoot wide open.

Video is well covered for standard projects. The camera records in 4K video, which leaves room to crop and reframe in editing. It scores 70 out of 100 for Video, a good rating based on its maximum resolution, maximum frame rate and built-in timelapse mode.

The maximum frame rate is 30 fps. That handles natural motion for travel, event and interview work, but it limits the slow-motion look that some action and creative footage calls for.

Footage records in the XAVC S format. A built-in timelapse mode adds a frame-by-frame option without needing extra accessories. In-body stabilisation also helps keep handheld clips steadier, since it counters camera shake rather than subject movement.

The features score of 81 is very good, with full points for the touchscreen, weather sealing, live view and Bluetooth. The 3-inch screen has 921,600 dots, so menus and focus points stay readable. It also flips out, which helps with overhead shots, waist-level work and framing yourself.

Weather sealing helps protect the body against dust and moisture. On a camera this small, it is a practical safeguard for outdoor work in dusty or drizzly conditions.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in. There is no GPS, so files will not be tagged with locations automatically. There is also no built-in flash, though external flash units are supported when you need extra light.

The storage and battery score of 45 is modest, and the single card slot is the main reason. That one SD slot accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC cards and is UHS-II compatible. Without a second slot there is no in-camera backup, which matters when a shoot cannot be repeated.

The NP-FZ100 battery is rated at 740 shots. Treat that as a rating rather than a promise of real-world endurance, since actual results depend on how you shoot.

USB charging is supported, so you can top the camera up between shoots without the mains charger. It is a convenient backup option, but it does not remove the need to plan power around a full day of shooting.