Sony A7S II PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Sony Alpha 7S II? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Sony makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the A7S II offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Sony Alpha 7S II below.
In any case, the A7S II is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This mirrorless interchangeable lens camera was announced on September 11th, 2015, which means that, as of today, the camera is 3300 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Sony A7S III as a replacement in the same line of cameras.
Sony's instruction manual for the A7S II
The camera's instruction manual is 104 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the A7S II is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Sony Alpha 7S II manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Sony's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Sony A7S II manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Sony Alpha 7S II
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your A7S II by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Sony A7S II is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
Sony A7S II FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the A7S II.
What technology is the imaging sensor in the Sony A7S II based on?
The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Sony A7S II to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Sony equipped the A7S II with the BIONZ X image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Sony A7S II?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 102400, which can be extended to ISO 50-409600.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Sony Alpha 7S II?
Sony mentions a shutter rating of 200 000 actuations for the A7S II. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the A7S II over, say, three years, one would have to take about 200 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Sony A7S II?
Sony embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your A7S II has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Is completely silent shooting possible with the Sony A7S II?
The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Sony A7S II?
The A7S II offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Sony A7S II feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Sony A7S II for flash photography?
The A7S II's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.
Does the Sony A7S II support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the Sony A7S II use?
The camera gets its power from the Sony NP-FW50 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the Sony A7S II?
Yes, Sony offers the VG-C2EM as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Where can I find the best deals for the Sony A7S II?
Grey imports from Asia, as found on ebay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Sony.
Further reading
How does the A7S II stack up against available alternatives? If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 1300D vs Sony A9 II
- Canon 90D vs Sony A7S II
- Canon G7 X Mark II vs Sony A9 II
- Leica M10 vs Sony A7S II
- Nikon D5500 vs Sony A7S II
- Nikon D7200 vs Sony A7S II
- Nikon P900 vs Sony A7S II
- Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A7S II
- Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A9 II
- Panasonic S5 vs Sony A9 II
- Pentax K-50 vs Sony A9 II
- Pentax K-S2 vs Sony A9 II
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Sony Alpha 7S II.
Camera Model | Sony A7S II | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
Camera Lens | Sony E mount lenses | |
Launch Date | September 2015 | |
Launch Price | USD 2 999 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 35.6 x 23.8 mm | |
Sensor Area | 847 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 42.8 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.0x | |
Sensor Resolution | 12 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 4 240 x 2 832 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 8.40 μm | |
Pixel Density | 1.42 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 4K/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 102 400 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 50 - 409 600 ISO | |
Image Processor | BIONZ X | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 85 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 23.6 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 13.3 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 2993 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.78x | |
Viewfinder Resolution | 2400k dots | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 1229k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | No front-flip | |
Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 5 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 200 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | Electronic Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | MS or SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
UHS card support | UHS-I | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | Sony NP-FW50 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 370 shots per charge | |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | |
Body Dimensions |
127 x 96 x 60 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 627 g (22.1 oz) |
Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.
You are here: Home » Sony A7S II Review » Sony A7S II User Manual