We are entering a new era of travel cameras that are small and lightweight, yet highly functional. The first camera that is paving the way is the new Sony a7C, which is the smallest and lightest full-frame camera in the world, with built-in stabilization and an EVF.
When Sony launched the Sony a7C, I decided to order one to test it out, conduct my own field test, and see how it fares in the real world of travel and backpacking. I am here to write about my experience using the camera and why you should definitely consider buying the Sony a7C as your next travel camera.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the pros and cons of using the Sony a7C camera and why I consider this camera to be the best travel camera you can get right now.
Quick Summary of the Sony a7C
If you are short on time, here is a quick summary of the pros and cons of the Sony a7C camera and a link to check the recent price of the Sony a7C.
- Full-frame capability
- Light and compact
- Best-in-class autofocus
- Great low-light performance
- Excellent lens selection
- Great battery life
- Gyro data stabilization
- Grip Not Comfortable to Hold
- Small EVF
- Not Enough Custom Buttons
What to Look For In A Travel Camera?
Size and Weight: When it comes to picking a travel camera, one of the most important things to consider is its size and weight. If you bought a travel camera that you don't want to carry around your neck for hours while traveling, then why even bother buying it, right?
The best travel camera has to have a size and weight that is reasonable for you to travel with. It should be a camera that you want to immediately grab whenever you want to go out and explore, so before buying one, be sure to go to a store, handle it, see how light and compact it is, and pick the one that feels best for you.
Photo and Video Quality: Travel moments come and go pretty fast, and the last thing you want is to find out later, after your vacation, that the photos and videos you took to commemorate one of the best moments of your life are all blurry, full of noise, and poor quality.
A travel camera you should buy should have at least the capability to shoot 20+ megapixel photos, which should be good enough for most use cases. It should also come with at least a 4K 24p video capability so you can capture those beautiful moments in crisp detail. All in all, as long as your travel camera does not fail you in these two departments, you are good to go.
Lens Selection: As a travel photographer, here's a little secret: one of the most important factors that make our travel photos and videos stand out from the rest is, more often than not, the result of the lenses we use on our camera, not some artistic techniques that we have acquired over the years.
Before investing in a travel camera, you should first look around for lenses to pair with the camera. Lenses are brand and format-specific, so when you are buying a Sony camera, you are, in fact, investing in its system as well.
For example, if you are buying a Sony camera, find out if it is an APS-C camera or a full-frame camera (APS-C and full-frame each have their own lenses designed specifically for their respective systems), and find the lens you want to pair according to your camera's format.
A good travel camera to invest in should have a slew of high-quality lens selections at varying price points for you to choose from. You should also see if there are any third-party lenses available for your system, as that is a clear indication that the system's lens market is thriving well, and in turn, provides you with even more options to choose from.
Durability: Traveling will take you to some truly wonderful places, but it will also expose you to some extremely harsh environments. Therefore, it is important to purchase a travel camera that can withstand whatever the world throws at you. Look for a travel camera that is weather sealed, weather resistant, and built to last for many years to come.
Why Did I Choose the Sony a7C?
I know, I know! I preached and preached about not moving to a full-frame camera for years because of its bulkier profile and higher price point, but what am I going to do when, as of 2021, Sony seems to clearly be abandoning its APS-C lineup and betting their future on their full-frame lineup instead?
For years, Sony has disregarded its APS-C cameras with lackluster camera releases like the Sony a6600, the new "flagship" APS-C camera, which, in comparison to its main competitors, the Fujifilm X-T4, completely blew the Sony a6600 out of the water.
I like Sony and its innovative features and products, but I can't help but feel like the future with Sony for us consumers is to invest in their full-frame system instead of wasting money on their lackluster APS-C lineup.
When Sony releases the new Sony a7C, which it dubbed the smallest full-frame camera with EVF to date, it piqued my curiosity. However, when they informed us that it will have all the features of the Sony a7III, a wildly popular Sony full-frame camera, and a more advanced autofocus system, all within a small Sony a6600 body, it captured my undivided attention.
As I was looking for an upgrade to my aging Sony a6500, I wanted something that is as small and familiar to use but has the capability of a full-frame camera with great low light performance, better video and photo quality, and comes with all the new innovative features Sony has been releasing for its full-frame cameras lately, like the continuous eye-tracking autofocus system and gyro data stabilization. The Sony a7C ticked all of these boxes.
Plus, with all the innovation happening in Sony full-frame cameras and their lens lineup, the Sony a7C seems like it is going to be future-proof for many years to come, which is something I look for in a camera that I will be using and traveling with for the next 4-5 years.
What I Love Most About the Sony a7C
Lightweight and Compactness
It is pretty incredible how Sony managed to fit a full-frame sensor and all of its advanced features in a camera body that is almost as small as the Sony a6600, a camera that has a smaller sensor and fewer features.
The Sony a7C, with its massive full-frame sensor and all the technical prowess that is above and beyond the Sony flagship APS-C cameras, is in fact only 6 grams heavier than the Sony a6600. The Sony a7C weighs about 509 g (1.12 lb), whereas the Sony a6600 weighs around 503 g (1.11 lb), which is an incredible feat from Sony.
With the release of the Sony a7C, my main complaint about using a full-frame camera is no longer valid. The size and weight gap between the two systems is now almost negligible. If you are looking for the lightest and most compact full-frame camera for travel, there is no better option than the Sony a7C.
Best-in-class Autofocus System
Sony is still king when it comes to the autofocus system in its cameras. No other brand can beat its incredibly intelligent eye-tracking autofocus system that allows you to continuously track a moving subject when shooting and recording.
The new Sony autofocus system, which is present in the Sony a7C, as well as other newer camera models like the Sony a7SIII and a7RIV, ensures that the face and eyes of your subject are in focus even when you are shooting in the poorest lighting conditions possible.
You can also touch to track a subject you want in photos and videos, to keep them in focus even as you pan around your camera, which is great for travel photography.
All in all, the Sony a7C has one of the most reliable autofocus systems out there. If you are like me and enjoy doing a run-and-gun style of travel photography, you are going to appreciate the autofocus system in the Sony a7C.
Great Dynamic Range and Low Light Performance
One of the main reasons why I decided to upgrade to a full-frame camera from an APS-C camera is to get that extra stop of light to help maintain the sharpness of my photos when I shoot in poor lighting conditions, like during the sunrise or the blue hour.
To be honest, I was always quite frustrated with how noisy my photos would get when shooting with an APS-C camera, but I'm happy to report that is no longer the case for the Sony a7C.
With the extra stop of light from having a larger sensor, I can push my ISO down to a minimum, allowing my night photos to be sharper and noise-free. The dynamic range is also incredible on the Sony a7C. I can shoot directly at the sun, and I can still pull incredible detail out from the shadow during post-processing.
For my use case as a run-and-gun travel photographer who does not have the luxury to shoot in a controlled environment, having a camera with excellent low-light performance and incredible dynamic range really goes a long way. And if you are like me, you are going to love the Sony a7C's incredible performance.
Excellent Lens Selection
Sony's full-frame camera has one of the best lens selections you can find out there. The company has opened up its lens technology to third-party companies like Sigma, Tamron, and Samyang, allowing them and Sony to produce a ton of new lenses each year with varying quality and price points that you can shoot from.
If you are looking for the best lenses possible, Sony has you covered with its pro-grade G Master lens lineup that has incredible glass, excellent quality throughout the frame, an extremely fast aperture, and a hefty price tag like the Sony 24-70mm GM F2.8 lens.
If you are looking for something with excellent quality but at a more reasonable price point, you can buy one of the many Sigma lenses, such as the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 lens.
If you are looking for a more budget-friendly lens that comes with a fast aperture, produces sharp images, and you do not mind the build quality, you can get the Tamron lenses like the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 lens.
As you can see, one of the greatest advantages when it comes to using a Sony full-frame camera like the Sony a7C is the plethora of great Sony full-frame lenses to choose from, regardless of the budget. So, if you are looking for a travel camera and lens combination that is cheap, lightweight, and gets the job done, the Sony a7C is the best option you can find right now.
Great Battery Life
One of my main complaints about my old Sony a6500 is how horrendous the battery life was. It uses the NP-FW50 battery, which is extremely small, and I can barely manage half a day of traveling and shooting without having to switch batteries.
Fortunately, that is no longer the case for the Sony a7C camera. With the Sony a7C camera, the NP-FZ100, which is a bigger and better battery for Sony cameras, is used instead. Combining that with the more efficient new processor that the Sony a7C has, you have a travel camera that can shoot more than 720 photos per charge and can last you more than a day on one battery.
On my latest test, I spent more than 12 hours shooting photos as I traveled around Samut Prakan, and at the end of the day, I had more than 60% battery left on my Sony a7C, which is pretty exceptional.
With the Sony a7C, I no longer have to carry 3-4 spare batteries like I used to with the Sony a6500. I can easily travel with one spare battery just in case, and I am all set. The battery is incredible. If you are looking for a camera with great battery life that will last you a day or more, then you will love the Sony a7C.
Gyro Data Stabilization
One of the most innovative features Sony a7C has that I looked forward to the most is the Gyro Data Stabilization. The Gyro Data Stabilization is a feature where the camera keeps records of the gyro data when it is recording, and you can use this data to stabilize your footage during post-processing.
From testing it out in the field, I was able to get an incredibly smooth video without having to rely on a gimbal, which is a complete game-changer. With the Sony a7C, I no longer have to haul around a stabilizer in my backpack to create stabilized videos.
All I have to do now is bump up the shutter speed to around 1/100th of a second and let the Sony Catalyst app do its magic afterwards. Although the process of gyro stabilization during post-processing is still rather slow and cumbersome, it is only a matter of time when the gyro stabilization is built into native apps like Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro, which should improve the processing speed and eliminate the need for a third-party app entirely.
I don't know about you, but whatever new feature a travel camera has, if it means that I have to carry one less camera gear and allows me to keep my backpack light, that is a huge win in my book.
The Drawbacks of the Sony a7C
Grip Not Comfortable to Hold
The Sony a7C has a pretty shallow grip, possibly due to Sony trying to keep the camera profile as small as possible. Sometimes, I find the grip a little too shallow for me to hold confidently and comfortably in one hand.
Buying an L-bracket, a leather case, or a wrist strap can help with this situation, but I wish Sony made the grip of the Sony a7C a little deeper and longer so that I can hold it comfortably during a long day shoot.
The EVF is Too Small
Don't get me wrong, I understand the reason why Sony kept the EVF (electronic viewfinder) in such a small form factor on the Sony a7C. It is so that they can make the top part of the camera level equally, making it easier to store in a camera bag, which I definitely appreciate. However, I wish the EVF was a little bigger and at least came with an eyecup like the Sony a6600 cameras.
With such a small EVF, it is already pretty difficult to use it to take photos. However, when you are out in bright sunlight and you try taking photos with the EVF without an eyecup, it makes taking photos with the Sony a7C in the sun not as comfortable as it can be.
You can buy a third-party eyecup for the Sony a7C from Amazon, but you will lose the electronic hot shoe to mount a microphone or an external screen. Thus, it is not an ideal solution. Sony, if you are planning to release the new Sony a7CII, please consider adding an eyecup to the EVF!
Not Enough Custom Buttons
I don't find this to be that big of a deal personally, but for those who are used to using three custom buttons to shoot, you are going to have to get used to having only two custom buttons with the Sony a7C.
The trash can button and the video record button (in photo mode only) are the only two buttons that can be used as custom buttons, which is quite limiting compared to the usual three custom buttons you can find on other Sony cameras, even the Sony a6500 and a6600.
Thankfully, you can pretty much customize any button and personalize your Sony camera to your liking. So, the lack of one custom button shouldn't be much of a problem if you are willing to move around and replace unused buttons with the features you want.
This is the Best Travel Camera You Can Get
All in all, I found that the Sony a7C camera is the best travel camera anyone can get right now. The Sony a7C comes with the benefit of having a full-frame sensor with great low-light performance, a wide selection of lenses, and superior photo and video quality, all without the bulkiness of other Sony full-frame cameras.
It has all the future-proof features you can expect from new Sony cameras, like the best-in-class autofocus system, great battery life, and other advanced features that will allow you to shoot photos more efficiently and for many years to come.
Despite its drawbacks, they are not a deal-breaker, and you will eventually get used to it. You will appreciate just how light and small the Sony a7C is when you are using it in the real world.
I used to complain a lot about the bulkiness of full-frame lenses. However, after Sony released the Sony a7C, both Sony and other third-party lens manufacturers like Sigma and Tamron have continuously been releasing new compact lenses to be used with such a small full-frame body.
With the Sony a7C, you now have the option to choose whether you want your travel photography kit to be lightweight or go full-on G Master and get the best lenses money can buy, no matter the weight. And there lies the true reason why the Sony a7C is the best travel camera you can buy, even more so than the Sony a7III or the Sony a6600.
With the Sony a7C, you have the option to make your travel kit as lightweight as possible when you need to, and you can go in the opposite direction if you want to focus on quality by bringing bigger lenses, which is something you cannot do if you have bulkier camera bodies like the Sony a7III, etc.
At the end of the day, it will ultimately depend on your use case. But for me, who likes to carry everything in one backpack and spend hours walking around cities or going hiking, the Sony a7C is the best travel camera I have ever owned.
Sample Photos from the Sony a7C
Shot with the Sony a7C at 17mm, 1/60th of a second, F2.8, and ISO 400 on a tripod.
Shot during the Blue Hour with the Sony a7C at 39mm focal length, 1-second shutter speed, F2.8, and ISO 640.
Shot directly at the sun with the Sony a7C at 16mm, 1/2500th of a second shutter speed, F2.8, and ISO 100.
Shot during sunset with the Sony a7C at 70mm, 1/125th of a second shutter speed, F2.8, and ISO 100.
A product shot from the Sony a7C at 56mm, 1/60th of a second shutter speed, F2, and ISO 500.
Looking to Buy the Sony a7C?
If you are looking to buy the Sony a7C, here are all the lenses and accessories I use with my Sony a7C that I found to be perfect for travel photography. Use this as a guideline to choose which lenses and accessories you want to buy with your new Sony a7C.
Travel Lenses for the Sony a7C:
- Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens - A great all-around lightweight zoom lenses if money is no object.
- Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 G II lens - The best value alternative all-around zoom lens.
- Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Lens - A great wide-angle lens for landscape and architecture.
- Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Lens - The best value wide-angle lens for landscape and architecture.
- Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Lens - A great portrait lens with beautiful bokeh.
- Sony 85mm F1.8 Lens - The best value portrait lens with beautiful bokeh.
- Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Lens - A great cheap and lightweight telephoto lens for wildlife and landscape.
Camera Accessories:
- Sirui Traveler 5CX Carbon Fiber Tripod - A lightweight and affordable carbon fiber tripod with a small profile.
- K&F Variable ND and Polarization Filter - A variable ND and Circular Polarizer all in one filter for shooting waterfalls and woodlands.
- Langly Tactical Camera Strap - A cool-looking comfy strap for your camera.
- Sony Bluetooth Remote Control - A Bluetooth shutter remote to take pictures of myself remotely.
- Nitecore USN4 Camera Battery Charger - A great camera battery charger with Quick Charge technology
- Baseus 65W Wall Charger - A charger with a Quick Charge port and 2 USB-C Power Delivery ports to fast charge all your electronics.
- Langly Alpha Globetrotter Camera Backpack - A camera backpack to carry all these gears with you.
Want to take your photography game to the next level? Here are some resources to help you upgrade your work and photography gear:
Further Reading for Resources
Looking for more articles to help you with your travel, whether it be camera gear or clothing? Here is a collection of articles you might like:
- For a complete list of travel lenses to buy for Sony Full-Frame cameras, check out: The Best Travel Lenses For Sony Full-Frame Cameras.
- For the best hybrid travel camera to buy, the Sony a7R V, with its 61-megapixel sensor and video capabilities, is hard to beat. Check out my review here: A Traveler's Review: The Sony a7R V Camera
- The king of travel lenses has arrived. The Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens is hands down the best travel all-purpose zoom lens I have ever owned. Here's why: A Traveler's Review: Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens.
- The new king of landscape/architecture lens is here. Here is A Traveler's Review of the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 Lens.
- For the best landscape/architecture travel lens, you just can't beat the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 GM lens. Here is A Traveler's Review of the Sony 16-35mm F2.8 GM Lens.
- Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS lens is, hands down, the best telephoto lens to get for your Sony cameras but with an extremely high price tag. Here is a complete traveler's review of the lens: A Traveler's Review: Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM II OSS Lens.
- Looking for a lightweight and affordable landscape/architecture travel lens that is also extremely capable? Here is A Traveler's Review of the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Lens.
- Looking for the best travel portrait lens to buy for your next trip? You can't beat the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN lens. Here is A Traveler's Review of the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens.
- Looking for a compact and lightweight travel telephoto lens for wildlife and landscapes? You are going to love this lens. Here is A Traveler's Review of the Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens.
- Wondering which Sony mirrorless camera is right for you? The Best Sony Travel Cameras to Buy in 2025.
- For more photography resources like this, visit my Photography page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
17 Comments
Fantastic article....
You are so similar to me...all my cameras are geared for travel also.
Thanks for all your tips...I like the Sony 7c...but waiting for Mark 2 or see what canon brings out...
Am using the rx100 m7...right now...
Hey Jo,
I also started out with the Sony RX100, M1 at first and then M3, and then the Sony a6500, and Sony a7C. :)
Definitely, wait for the mark 2. Sony is coming up with some really incredible features like AI autofocus, etc. and these features will trickle down to other camera models eventually. In the mean time, you can start looking at full frame lenses for your new camera. ;)
What I HATE about the/my A7C is the placement of the exposure dial. It is easily unknowingly moves when holding the camera... This seriously messes up shots when the dial is inadvertently mover to -3. The new Tamron 35-150 f2 is awesome, though it costs more than the camera.
Yup. I also had to get used to that too. Always have to check the exposure dial before shooting anything which is something I didn't have to do on my old Sony a6500. Haha, yes, that lens is a beast both in terms of size and price!
" Haha, yes, that lens is a beast both in terms of size and price!"
Yeap... that thing is crazy heavy. If I am out for a week with just a backpack... that thing stays home!
I just read somewhere that Tamron has a 17-50 f2 under development for the full frames.. Line me up.
In fact I've been asking myself how can I get a lightweight camera with such advanced features that can help me produce very good videos and even for still photography, but now, here I get the solution with ease.
This is incredible!
You should also check out the new Sony a7C II Sony just released a few weeks ago! Incredible little camera with even more advance features!
"i want the smallest camera body, so it's easy to travel with" vs. "i carry multiple redundant lenses, with many covering the same focal length and aperture, because, well, you know..."
Anyone who's had the chance to road test and compare both M43 and full frame with fast lenses knows the burden is carrying the lenses not the camera body. I haven't traveled with a full frame body for at least 5 years. Only the most discerning pixel peeper can tell the difference. My back and shoulders are grateful.