A new thriller released a few days ago is the first feature-length Hollywood film that was filmed entirely on a full-frame mirrorless camera: the Sony a7S II.

The film, titled “The Possession Of Hannah Grace,” was produced by Glenn S. Gainor, who chose the a7S II, as well as large format Vantage Hawk 65 Anamorphic lenses. The camera body retails for around $2,200, significantly less than the gear used for similar productions.

He said:

I knew that Sony’s a7S II had a full-frame sensor and could capture in 4K. And I knew that we had to make the film in a manner that would fit our schedule and budget. I had a relationship with Vantage, so we put it together and made a motion picture in a way that has never been done before.

Image courtesy Pixelshift.

Image courtesy Pixelshift.

The setup allowed the crew to shoot 2.40:1 widescreen images on the 16:9 sensor. The low cost of the camera bodies also meant the team could adhere to tight filming schedules: they purchased six camera bodies for ease of use with each of the chosen lenses (40mm, 40mm, 60mm, 60mm, 95mm, and 95mm), rather than having to spend time swapping equipment. “We had four or five cameras at the ready at any time, so we were able to pick up and go,” Gainor tells PetaPixel.

On the other hand, director of photography Lennert Hillege offered some insight into the disadvantages, highlighting that the biggest concern had been the camera’s 8-bit compression.

The film stars actress Shay Mitchell, formerly of "Pretty Little Liars." Watch the intense trailer and let us know what your thoughts are on the results.

All images courtesy Pixelshift.