Sony's A7s Camera Shoots 4K Video in Low Light Conditions

What's This?

Sony Alpha 7s full-frame camera can shoot 4K video in low light conditions.

Image: Sony

By Stan Schroeder2014-04-07 08:22:25 UTC

At the NAB Show currently taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sony has announced the Alpha 7s, a full-frame mirrorless camera with some serious 4K recording capabilities.

The A7s' 12.2 megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor is paired with Sony's BIONZ X image processor, giving the camera an enormous sensitivity range of ISO 50 – 409600, meaning the camera can shoot 4K video in almost complete darkness.

See also: Sony Debuts 4K Camcorder That Costs Just $2,000

The feature has its limitations: you can only store 1080p video internally; for 4K video, you'll need to pair the A7s with an external recorder.

Sony also points out that the Alpha 7s is the world's first camera that utilizes the entire width of a full-frame sensor for 4K recording, giving videographers all the features provided by the camera's sensor.

Full HD (1920x1080) video can be recorded at a 60p frame rate; for the ultra-high, 120fps shooting mode, you'll have to lower the resolution to 1280x720.

As far as codecs are concerned, in addition to AVCHD and MP4, Sony has adopted the XAVC S format, which allows for full HD recording at a 50 mbps data rate with lower compression.

Pricing and availability of the A7s will be announced at a future date.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Topics: Alpha A7s, camera, Gadgets, sony, Tech