The New Sony A7 : The World's Smallest Full Frame

Just two days into this blog and sharing about my debut experience with Micro Four Thirds and how much I love the compactness of MFT cameras and the joy of bringing it anywhere I go, comes the world's smallest Full Frame Interchangable Lens camera. ( 126.9 x 94.4 x 48.2 mm at 416grams )  The next smallest Full Frame goes to the Leica M with dimensions of 139 x 80 x 42 (mm) at 680grams. 

Sometimes things like this is enough to drive you crazy; Its just like buying an iPhone 5 two days ago and a week later, they told you that they are coming up with an improved iPhone 5S. 

Anyway, Sony just announced the World's Smallest Full Frame Interchangable Lens Camera; With a combination of the size of an NEX camera together with Full Frame sensors -The All New Sony Alpha 7 and Alpha 7R. 

The Sony A7 is packed with a solid punch. This world's smallest Full Frame A7 is equipped with a 24 megapixel CMOS, while the A7R has a 36 megapixel CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter. With an ISO up to 25,600 ,outputs 14-bit RAW images, 4K ( 4096 x 2160 )  images, shoots at 5 FPS, and the ability to record 1080P video at 60 or 24 FPS and uncompressed HDMI ( which means uncompressed video ). It also comes with a tilt-able rear display, a first for Full Frames.

Besides these highly impressive stats and figures on the specification chart, Sony has also boost an arsenal of 5 new lens for this Full Frame model known as the FE Lens. So right now, the FE Mount adds to the existing  2 other Sony mounts; the A mount for Sony's DSLR SLT camera and the E-Mount, for their NEX series of  consumer camcorders series such as the NEX-VG30 as well as for the broadcast camcorders NEX-FS100 and NEX-FS700. The A7 is  also backward compatible with existing E mount lens so its going to be good news for NEX upgraders. Hopefully Sony would also come up with some adaptors to mount FE lens onto A or E mount cameras. I think they will call it the LA-EA3 after the A to E adaptor LA-EA2. ( And LAEA1 as well )

Nonetheless, this is truly a game changer and I think a rival to the compact segment. For the Full Frame A7 will address the limitations of smaller formats such as better performance at high ISO . 

The A7 will be a very serious contender especially to Micro Four Thirds. Performance aside, lets talk about size first. As we all know, the biggest selling point for MFT would be a smaller camera body  but compromised with a  smaller sensor size. With the A7, a perfect blend of Full Frame in a small body, its amazing now that Sony managed to squeeze everything in to make everyone happy. Now we get everything we always wanted; Full Frame everywhere we go. So one less excuse to the girlfriend or wife about missing some great shots at the beach because the bulky D4 was left in the hotel. 

Lets now take a look at the Olympus OMD-EM1, since its new and burning with excitement from MFT lovers. First look wise, the OMD-EM1 and the Sony A7 does indeed share several similarities; Besides a compact body with a handgrip, they also have an electronic viewfinder as well as two dials on the top right side of the camera body. Similarly, the A7 is also weather sealed. However I am not so sure if it is as freeze proof as the OMD-EM1 to operate at 10° C. Similar to the OMD-EM1, the  A7 also has a hybrid autofocusing system which is both phase detection and contrast detection. How wonderful!

Well, a few weeks back, I also have read about Sony ( Olympus's biggest shareholder ) having engineers working together with Olympus on the 5 axis stabilization system for Sony's upcoming cameras and therefore I am quite surprised that the 5 axis stabilization system is not being incorporated onto the A7. A quick check on DP Review on the A7 shows no mentioning of such feature. 

While the A7 is not exactly cheap, its also not obscenely expensive where I need to sell off my 50 litre dry cabinet to raise funds for a purchase. With a price tag of US$1699 ( body ) and US$1999 with the kit 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 lens, its just a bit more expensive than the OMD-EM1 body at US$949. However at this point of time, its not just the World's Smallest Full Frame, but cheapest Full Frame too.

For a start, the A7 looks to be the camera that everyone may be waiting for. Specifically, I would think that the A7 looks to be targeting to existing NEX  or other mirrorless users who are thinking of switching from APS-C to Full Frame. 

I am certainly looking forward to response from  rival brands. Maybe a Full Frame EOS M? How about a Full Frame Nikon 1?  

It might really be very exciting if Olympus and Panasonic do come up with their own Full Frame Micro Four Thirds camera. It will be nice to see a Full Frame OMD or Lumix. By the way, they should name this new format the Macro Four Thirds.

APS-C Vs MFT

As I mentioned in my earlier post, any attempt to compare the APS-C  with the MFT format to have a serious debate on which is better, is very likely to take a very long time and most probably will incur the wrath of both sides of supporters of APS-C and  MFT. 

In fact, the highly controversial APS-C vs MFT debate has been ongoing in the photography universe for so long that it would be impractical for me not to waste any more bandwidth here... Haha. Well, Full Frame is still the best but only if my pocket does allow it. For smaller formats like APS-C and MFT, there are pros and cons to each system and whichever format is better, really depends on one's intended use of the system ,  the individual's goal, shooting style and preference. 

By the way, whatever I am going to share in this blog are purely based on my knowledge and user experience. While I am no expert in digital photography, image production or lens construction, I try my best to research and learn.  If I have made any mistakes in doing so, please do enlighten me through the comments below.

Anyway these are some of the findings that I have come up with regarding the Micro Four Thirds format. 

1. Sensor Size 

With a crop factor of 2.0 for the MFT, a Full Frame Sensor is twice as big as an MFT.  The size of the APS-C ( 1.5 or 1.6 crop factor ) were much closer ( 30% smaller ) to Micro Four Thirds instead, as seen from the illustration below. I have tried my best to keep the dimension in proportion and this is the best I can come up with.

So what is this all about? 

In layman's term, the Field of View of a MFT lens is the same as a Full Frame lens with twice the focal length. In other words, this means that a 45 mm lens mounted on a MFT body would have a Field of View equivalent to a 90 mm lens on a Full Frame camera and a 17mm lens on MFT would have a equivalent 34mm Field of View  on a Full Frame. 

Image the image below was a physical piece of paper and with Full Frame, you get the entire piece of image. Using an APS-C or MFT is like using a pair of scissors to snipe off the corresponding borders. 

There are also situations where the crop factor comes into use. We can get a far better reach with the same lens on an MFT than on a Full Frame.

Secondly, a bigger sensor will have a broader dynamic range. Dynamic range in photography is defined as the ratio of maximum light intensity measurable to the minimum light intensity measurable.  A wider dynamic range will ensure that dark and bright signals with all details are captured within the same image. No image information is lost  and at the same time, very bright signals as well as black background are all captured without missing details.

Besides a wider dynamic range, the bigger Full Frame sensor will also translates into a smoother image quality taken at higher ISO. So at the end of the day, Full Frames or APS-C will always perform better under low light than MFT due to their bigger sensors. 

Full Frame sensors will also be the preferred choice for architectural photography as having a wider angle is useful with tilt/shift lens. 


2. Weight & Dimension

Besides a smaller sized sensor, the main characteristic of a mirrorless setup are the removal of a mirror box and the AF sensor and as a result, we have a lighter and smaller MFT camera body as well. 

Having a lighter camera setup does come useful for the average photographer who have at least 3 lens ( wide angle + portrait + telephoto ) with them all the time. When you have to lug around with a bag full of photographic gear, you'll start to appreciate a lighter setup that will accomplish the job minus half of the weight. This is especially true for travel photography, where each kilogram counts.

With a smaller camera, I also appreciate the increased opportunities to bring it to places that I have never brought my EOS60D to before. I also love the ability to shoot discreetly without attracting much attention in situations where wiping out a DSLR would have been very obtrusive. Having a light weight camera around me most of the time, I notice that I am shooting much more frequently. Its just so light and easy to carry around. 


3. Depth Of Field

Due to a smaller sensor size, the Depth Of Field on a MFT would be deeper ( less blur / less bokeh ) as compared to a Full Frame. In other words, you will not be able to get as shallow Depth Of Field as you will on a Full Frame. 

"Bokeh is the pleasing or aesthetic quality of out-of-focus blur in a photograph."

Because of the x2.0 Crop Factor, F1.8 on a Full Frame camera body will have twice the aperture of an equivalent lens at F1.8 on an MFT body ( That means F1.8 at MFT = F3.6 on a Full Frame ) and  twice as deep a depth of field ( less blur / less bokeh ) as Full Frame cameras. This is simply because the smaller MFT format camera uses  shorter focal lengths for the same Field of View, and therefore similar f-stops mean a smaller aperture and you get a deeper Depth Of Field ( less blur / less bokeh ).

As I do not have a Full Frame, I cannot explain in pictures. However I have found a very good thread from an MFT Forum for a more detailed comparison. 

You may also refer to the Depth Of Field Calculator at www.dof.com for a deeper analysis. For me, I think while its good to know and understand how the concept works, however its way too much to spend a three month research into the theory behind Depth of Fields where the time could have been better spent on actual photography field work.  

There are also some really fast prime MFT lens such as the Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm F1.8 or the Panasonic Leica 25mm F1.4 with wide apertures that can still create nice out of focus background for a great portraiture look. 

On the positive side, a deeper Depth Of Field / less blur / less bokeh might just be what we need for landscape photography. With a deeper Depth Of Field, shooting landscape for a sharp front-to-back shot has never been easier. 

So we can see that the above are the limitations of the Micro Four Thirds format. However as they always say, 

" Know what you don't know, then don't do it "  

Irregardless of the format that we choose to use, we need to understand the pros and cons behind the system toaximise their potentials and minimise the limitations. Whether its APS-C or MFT, this would be the best way to make the best use out of whatever gear that we are holding. 

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From APSC to MFT

Micro Four Thirds cameras have been around for almost 5 years since Olympus and Panasonic announced their joint development on the 5th August in 2008. During this period of time, there has been much interest as Micro Four Thirds camera bodies and lens were launched progressively; With these interchangeable lenses and good image quality, people are slowly paying attention to this compact camera system . 

It was however, only a month ago that I really have my very first hands-on experience on the Micro Four Thirds system with the purchase of my first mirrorless; The Olympus PEN EPL6.

M.Zuiko 45mm F1.8 Lens

 ( Out Of Cam Pic Taken with the M.Zuiko 14-42mm Kit Lens )

I first noticed the Olympus PEN a few years ago during the debut of the first PEN, the EP1. In fact, I think that Olympus has done a very good job with the PEN series, appealing to users who were upgrading from point and shoot and bridge cameras. With a very retro look, similar in many aspects to the original PEN from the 1950s, its a constant reminder that Olympus has been in the camera business for a long long time. 

While my initial plans was to go Full Frame for my next camera purchase; By upgrading from my current EOS 60D to either the full framed 6D or even the 5DMk3. It was however after reading about the well-received Olympus OMD EM5 last year and hearing about how good it is, I began to research into Micro Four Thirds seriously. 

There are countless of Micro Four Thirds resources available both online and offline for anyone wanting to learn more about the format but the official Four Thirds website ( www.four-thirds.org ) is a very comprehensive site for beginners and I have gotten much of my needed information there.

Just a couple of months back I gotten a little bit more excited with the upcoming launch of the OMD EM1 and finally I decided to go for the Micro Four Thirds system.

                                               

I love photography and would love to snap pictures of anything wherever I can and like what they say, " The best camera is the one that is always with you ". After entering the world of Micro Four Thirds, I am further convinced about my right decision to shed weight and go small. Sure, its nice to have a Full Frame. And it feels great shooting with one but after weighing all the 25 advantages and 1 disadvantage of Full Frame vs APS-C, I decided to give Full Frame a miss. This one and only disadvantage being.... my bank account balance. 

As you see, I am only a recreational photographer with a day time job  with tonnes of bills to pay, I shoot merely as a hobby and I do not see the need to upgrade and go Full Frame. Neither do I require the  size of the mighty Canon EOS1DX or the muscular Nikon D4 to impress any customers.

The pictures that I shot are for me and my family's pure viewing pleasure and I do not make any money out of photography. The only exception being selling away a small tripod for $40 which I got it for free during my purchase of my EOS60D. And that was like years ago and now we have the improved EOS70D coming along to replace the aging EOS60D.

With the small, compact and light weight MFT gear, I have the flexibility to bring it anywhere and everywhere I go and not missing a shot while retaining the picture quality. 

The worst thing that can happen to any photographer is finding something great to shoot and only to learn that the camera is not with him. A smaller compact camera would be an ideal daily supplement. Sure, most mobile phones with the built-in camera may suffice for some people, but it gets very frustrating to find a poorly taken out of focus, blur  or under/over exposed shot  from the mobile phone camera which no amount of photoshop can salvage the image.

The day when photographers would ditch their DSLRs for mobile phone cameras would be the day when mobile phone makers come up with Full Frame sensors in the phone with detachable lens and the ability to shoot in RAW. Nothing is impossible given the rate of technological advancement in digital photography, considering that we already have Full Frame compact DSC-RX1 from Sony. However until such a day comes, the mobile phone camera may be the last resort for the serious photographer. Most probably this day will never come; Image the look on the customers' face when their wedding photographer turns up with a mobile phone...

   

Anyway, talking about a serious photographer and his gear, well to  me, I believe that how well a picture is taken is very much dependent on a photographer's skills and to a secondary extent, his photographic gear. Going Full Frame from APS-C is not going to guarantee any better pictures, just like buying expensive kitchenware is no guarantee for delicious food. Time and effort must be spent to improve one's photographic and culinary skills. Personally, I am still very much learning about the finer points in photography and with my new Micro Four Thirds tool, I can learn and have fun all the time.  In fact, this will be a very good complement to my existing APS-C!

 Out Of Cam Pic Taken with the M.Zuiko 45mm F1.8 

After experiencing with the Micro Four Thirds format for almost a month, I am quite impressed by the smaller format and the image quality it offers. In fact, as I began to study this format extensively, I noticed that many APS-C or even Full Frame users are also switching to this format as well. There are also just as much comparisons on APS-C vs MFT out there as you would find on the Canon-vs-Nikon debate. In fact, if we were to sit down for such a debate, it might be even longer than the OJ Simpson trial ( longest trial in US history ).

Honestly, there are pros and cons for each format and and whichever format is better really depends on one's intended use of the system. It all boils down to the individual's goal, shooting style and preference. 

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