<p>Sony Alpha 7 at a glance:24.3-million-pixel, full-frame sized CMOS sensor2.4-million-dot electronic viewfinderISO 100-25,600 (extended to ISO 50)117-point phase-detect AF system with 25 contrast-detection points5fps high-speed modeStreet price around 1,549 with 28-70mm kit lensSony Alpha 7 - Introduction</p><p>Along with the 36.4-million-pixel Alpha 7R that we tested at the end of 2013 (AP 14 December), Sony also gave us the 24.3-million-pixel Alpha 7. While sharing many of the same key features as the Alpha 7R, including the same design and a virtually identical build, the Alpha 7 also has a few new features of its own. Not only that, but it's the most affordable full-frame camera yet. Sony Alpha 7 - Features</p><p>Unlike the Alpha 7R, whose 36.4-million-pixel sensor omitted an anti-aliasing filter, the Alpha 7 uses a more conventional 24.3-million-pixel, full-frame CMOS sensor. As we've seen with a number of cameras recently, including the Canon EOS 70D and Olympus OM-D E-M1, the Alpha 7's sensor features on-chip phase-detection AF with 117 phase-detection points, which combines with the Alpha 7's 25-point contrast-detection AF system. The result is the Alpha 7's hybrid Fast Intelligent AF system, which is married to a new Bionz X image processor that is 3x faster than the previous chip and promises to make AF tracking effortless. However, the AF is only sensitive down to 0EV light levels, which is not quite as good as the -1EV of the D610 or the -3EV offered by the Canon EOS 6D, so it will be interesting to see how it copes in poor light.</p><p>The Bionz X processor also helps the Alpha 7 achieve a burst rate of 5fps, which is good, although it is perhaps a little disappointing to see this drop to a pedestrian 2.5fps if you want AF and exposure active between shots. The new processor also offers diffraction-reducing technology when saving JPEG images. This technology helps correct the softness that can be caused as you stop the lens down beyond its sweet spot, while Sony has also tinkered with the algorithm for the area-specific noise reduction, which varies the level of noise reduction applied across an image in an effort to retain more detail at higher sensitivities. The Alpha 7 offers a native ISO of 100-25,600, which can be expanded to an ISO equivalent of 50-25,600.</p><p><a href="http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/reviews/compactsystemcameras/129473/1/sony-alpha-7-review">Keep reading...</a></p>