GEAR TESTS: SONY A7C II UNDERWATER CAMERA REVIEW

THOMAS ANDERSON
Media Producer

The Sony a7C II is the latest in Sony’s compact full-frame interchangeable lens series. This camera uses essentially the same sensor as the larger a7IV, offering 33 megapixels of resolution and excellent underwater white balance for video. I shot the a7C II using the 28–60mm lens and an AOI UWL-09 Pro wet wide lens, which allows for flexible wide-angle shooting, though a fisheye lens would have been preferable for many of the shooting scenarios I encountered.

The a7C II delivers excellent image quality and a strong underwater white balance but has a few limitations. Chief among them is its flash sync speed of 1/160, which makes shooting in high ambient light or capturing sunball shots more difficult. The camera also crops at 4K 60p, making it less appealing for video compared to its larger siblings.

If you absolutely need the smallest full-frame camera available, the a7C II fills a niche like no other. However, considering the need for housing and the compromises involved, I would personally prefer one of Sony’s more advanced models, like the a7R V, despite the increased cost and size.