Sony A7R IV Review

Last Updated on November 25, 2023 by Sharon Advik

Sony A7R IV Review:

Participating in photography competitions is a great way to develop your skills.

A photography contest was held last month at my college.

The management told All candidates to put their photographic skills to use and capture images of various subjects.

The judges informed us that the winning photographer would receive a prize.

Each competitor started getting ready for the competition.

I was also able to obtain a Sony A7R IV camera.

My weapon: The adaptability of this camera surpasses all others.

It creates the best portrait images.

I can’t live without this camera.

With this camera, I could take the best natural portraits, and my winning entry resulted from this achievement.

This camera is ideal for many situations, so I advise anyone interested in portrait photography to buy one.

Overview:

It used this camera for the first time in a photography competition.

However, I was unsure if this camera would meet my requirements.

But I believe that for the time being, this camera will suffice to sharpen my photography skills.

I tested this camera’s features in various situations to learn more about its capabilities, which blew me away.

Before using this camera, I used a Sony 7iii, which was also quite good, but the design tweaks on the Sony A7R IV make it handle better than the A7R III.

The resolution puts it far ahead of this camera’s full-frame mirrorless competitors in megapixels.

Nonetheless, while Sony’s hybrid AF system continues to improve, 4K video remains capped at 30fps, and real-world sharpness gains are subtle.

After prolonged use, I can confidently say that the Sony A7R IV is one of the best full-frame mirrorless cameras money can buy.

So many features make it the definition of perfection, and I am excited to discuss this camera’s features and my experience.

If I had to sum it up, its high-resolution 61MP sensor captures images with incredible detail.

Plus, with quick burst shooting, excellent high ISO performance, fast AF, Real-Time Eye AF tracking, 4Kp30 video, and in-body image stabilization, my Sony A7R IV is far more versatile than one might think.

All of this adds up to make it a worthwhile purchase.

Specifications:

No Optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter

61MP – Full-frame BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 – 32000(expands to 50 – 102800)

3.00″ Tilting Screen

5-axis Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

10.0fps continuous shooting

5760k Electronic dot viewfinder

4K at 30fps Video Recording

FHD at 120fps Video Recording

665g. 129 x 96 x 78 mm

Built-in Wireless

Weather Sealed Body

Body, Size, and Weight:

I appreciated the advancements made in this camera.

And these enhancements made it so easy to use this camera. My a7R IV body feels so gentle to me, addressing many of the criticisms leveled at its predecessors.

It is immediately apparent when I pick up the camera:

The hand grip is extremely comfortable in my hand.

The buttons have been improved in terms of travel and feel.

The AF joystick is large and well-textured.

The A7 series from Sony was the first full-frame mirrorless camera design, and it is still the smallest.

I paired this camera with my big lens, the FE 200-600mm and the grip on this camera was highly comfortable.

The IV positions the front dial at a slight upward angle, which is noticeably more comfortable than the a7R III dial, which is parallel to the top and bottom plates.

I’ve always wished for this feature in cameras.

Half embedded in the body, the A7R III’s rear command dial now sits proudly on the top plate.

This dial has a pleasingly soft click.

The body is undoubtedly solid, and the attention to detail is superb.

The unmarked, difficult-to-close doors to the various IO ports on the side give the impression that they will shield the ports from splashes or dust.

Let’s get to the “most important” part.

Its dimensions and weight. The Sony A7R IV weighs 665 g (1.47 lb / 23.46 oz) and measures 129 x 96 x 78 mm (5.08 x 3.78 x 3.07′′).

The average weight of Mirrorless cameras is 456g, so the Sony A7R IV is significantly heavier for its class.

It is also not small, with a thickness of 78mm, 25mm thicker than the average of its class.

Even though I have always preferred small cameras, this camera is worth having regardless of its larger size.

Handling:

As I previously stated, the improvements made to this camera have made it extremely easy to use.

For example, I like that the AF-On button is now more visible than before and that the Multi Selector, which I always use to shift the focus point and navigate menus, has a new pimpled finish so that I can manipulate it more easily.

The control feels good in my hands, and the camera reacts to diagonal movements as quickly as it does to vertical and horizontal ones.

Holding it in any direction also allows me to move soon, whether adjusting the AF point, navigating menus, or doing something else.

The Sony A7R IV has a grip that has been subtly redesigned to provide greater comfort and support for the middle and little fingers, and it is coated with a high-friction rubber when held.

As a result, I have a camera that is comfortable to hold and secure in my hands.

The Sony A7R IV feels quite sturdy, with excellent handling and simple and pleasant controls.

I enjoyed working with this camera.

Weather Sealing:

Luckily! This camera, too, is weather-resistant. I discovered my ideal camera: a weather-resistant camera.

Nothing is going to stop me from shooting now.

Because of environmental sealings, my Sony A7R IV is weather and dust-resistant.

I don’t have to be concerned about dust and moisture destroying it.

Because I enjoy outdoor photography and want to use my camera in inclement weather, the Sony A7R IV is ideal.

It’s either ride or die for me with this camera.

I try to bring this camera everywhere I go.

Its weather-sealing ability allows me to photograph peacocks dancing in the rain quickly.

OH! They’re adorable, and I adore them.

Lenses:

I enjoy experimenting with various camera lenses.

I looked into the different types and quantities of lenses for my Canon D5S camera.

The Sony A7R IV has a Sony E lens mount, and there are currently 184 native lenses available for this mount.

Sony constantly adds new lenses to its E and FE mount lineups, and third-party lens manufacturers provide many excellent options.

Because of its excessively short focal distance, the possibilities for adapting lenses from other mounts are nearly limitless.

Sony also sells an adapter (Sony LA-EA4) that allows A-mount lenses to be used with E-mount cameras, including AF.

Yes, when I said above that I found no cons to this camera, I meant it.

As you may know, most of the cameras I have reviewed previously did not have image stabilization.

Still, fortunately, the A7R IV also has a Sensor-based 5-axis Image Stabilization system, which means that all of these lenses will be stabilized when used on the A7R IV.

Sony claims the A7R IV’s image stabilization is effective up to 5.5 stops.

The A7R IV’s 5.5-stop IS an improvement over its predecessor, the Sony A7R III, which has a stabilization system that works up to 5.0 visits.

Sensor-based image stabilization is one of an ILC’s most beneficial features.

I was very interested when I read about the lenses that would suit my camera, and I also learned that there are 88 lenses with weather-sealing for the Sony A7R IV that I can pair with my camera’s weather-sealed body.

After reading all the information about these lenses, I chose the perfect lenses to go with my camera, and all of the cameras I decided for my camera turned out fantastic.

I’ve mentioned a few of them here.

• Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM
• Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
• Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM
• Sony FE 50mm F1.8
• Sony FE 35mm F1.8
• Samyang AF 135mm F1.8 FE

Sensor and Processor:

Readers of my earlier reviews will know my enthusiasm for discussing cameras’ sensor and processor capabilities.

It is the first thing that my photography revolves around.

Every photographer is most concerned with how his camera will produce high-quality images and videos.

And I’m happy to say that the wait is over; the king of all good sensor cameras has arrived.

My camera’s full-frame 61MP Exmor R CMOS sensor, which has a back-illuminated design, works with the BIONZ X image processor to provide me with high-resolution stills and video while minimizing noise in my videos and pictures.

It increased the speed and achieved a 15-stop dynamic range.

Let me explain how the sensor in this camera works.

This sensor structure improves light collection and detail by utilizing a gapless on-chip lens design and an anti-reflection coating and eliminating the optical low-pass filter.

In addition, I discovered that the copper wiring layer significantly improves data transmission speed when creating 14-bit, high-resolution 61MP stills with a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-32000, which can be expanded to ISO 50-102400.

I like how this camera can record internal UHD 4K video with a 14-stop dynamic range using the entire width of the full-frame sensor or an APS-C-sized area.

The BIONZ X processor collaborates with a high-speed front-end LSI to achieve faster processing while capturing this impressive 15-stop dynamic range with smooth tonal rendering.

This sensor-processor combination transforms my photos and videos into works of art.

Additionally, with full-time AF/AE, the sensor and processor combination allows for quick continuous shooting at full resolution at up to 10 frames per second for up to 68 consecutive frames.

Every time I look at the pictures and videos I’ve captured with this camera, I feel so fortunate to have this camera in my life.

Autofocusing:

Even the best camera and lens image quality in the world won’t save an image if it is not sharply focused, as I have previously stated, so it bears repeating.

The grade of a picture captured by a camera is useless if the subject is not focused (except for intentional artistic blur effects).

Autofocus accuracy is crucial for most photographers, especially those specializing in sports/action and wildlife.

And yes, if we’re talking about portrait photography.

Keeping your focus on the main subject is essential.

I’m happy to inform you that my camera’s Fast Hybrid AF system has been updated.

It now combines 567 phase-detection points, which account for roughly 99.7% of the height and 74% of the width of the frame, with 425 contrast-detection areas to provide reliable and quick autofocus and subject tracking performance.

Additionally, this focusing system achieves breakneck speed and trustworthy tracking in addition to improved low-light focusing response down to -3 EV.

Additionally, the apt focus system provides me with several focusing options for enhanced accuracy. Let’s look below.

• Through the use of a customizable frame that is placed over the desired moving subject, Lock-on AF keeps focusing on moving subjects.
• When one focus point loses focus, Expand Flexible Spot uses nearby focus points to keep track of moving objects.
• I use the Eye AF, available in both AF-S and AF-C modes and for still images and video, to focus on recognizable human subjects’ eyes when taking portraits. With any focusing way when taking still photos of animals, I use eye AF there, too.
• I use the Focus Magnifier function for critical focus when honing in on intricate subject details.

LCD:

My Canon 90D is gorgeous.

It has a fully articulated 3-inch LCD screen with a 1440k dot resolution.

It was helpful when I was recording animal footage.

Articulating screens are more video-oriented than tilting; every professional photographer understands fixed screens.

I found that its resolution and screen size are suitable for this class.

I use my fingertips to adjust the settings and choose the focus point on its LCD screen.

Currently, the entire world is at my fingertips! Its rear LCD features a bank of exposure options that I can access via touch or traditional buttons.

It has a variable-angle hinge and is pointed and bright. If I have to compare it with my a7III, I will say that The rear LCD screen from the A7R III has been kept in it.

Similar to the A7R III, it is 3 inches in size, tilts, and is touch-sensitive.

I can use it for some aspects of operation, including controlling the auto-focus while using the EVF.

But I don’t have a selfie screen on my camera.

This feature is crucial to me because it enhances my quality of life.

Viewfinder:

Because my A7R IV has an integrated electronic viewfinder, shooting in bright sunlight and other conditions where it might be challenging for me to see, the LCD monitor is made simpler.

The viewfinder has a 5,760k-dot resolution and 100% coverage.

To accurately frame my shots and reduce the need for later image cropping, 100% coverage ensures that what I see in the viewfinder at the time of shooting corresponds precisely to what I will get in your image.

The viewfinder’s magnification ratio is 0.78x (35mm equivalent).

Battery:

The a7R IV also uses the FP-Z100 battery that the Mark III uses.

This versatile battery enables my camera to operate for up to 530 shots through the viewfinder and 670 images using the rear screen on a single charge.

As always, your usage style will determine the exact number you receive (we often get around double the number given by CIPA testing).

I have discovered that a rating of over 500 shots is sufficient for extended shooting periods without worrying about running out.

Image Quality:

My camera’s image quality has me completely smitten.

I remember photographing flowers in a friend’s garden and being astonished by the outcome.

The colors looked great from the camera, and the variety of Creative Styles made it easy to select the right setting with minimal effort or come up with my own with only a little more.

However, the metering system on my A7R IVs proves much more trustworthy, working well in balanced conditions and with trickier scenes, like when dealing with backlighting or sizable brighter areas like skies.

Regarding ISO, my camera does an excellent job of keeping image noise to a minimum at the lower end of the ISO range.

However, I noticed it snuck into my images earlier than on other cameras when processing images about exposure, lifting shadow details, etc.

By the time I reach ISO6400, there is a fair amount of noise, perhaps to be expected, given how populated the sensor is, though I won’t notice this as readily when looking at images at smaller viewing sizes.

Video Quality:

Additionally, as we have come to expect from modern Sony cameras, the video quality produced by this camera is excellent.

I once recorded an unexpected video while trying to register a quick dance video of my mother teaching a gardening lesson.

This camera’s detail and motion are nicely crisp and free of apparent artifacts.

Additionally, you can focus and refocus quickly and efficiently while recording, thanks to the camera’s focusing capabilities and touch functionality through the LCD screen.

The only thing that might annoy some is that some rolling shutters are visible when panning a scene in its default 4K mode, which uses the entire frame rather than the Super 35mm crop.

I’ll sum up by saying that my stunning Sony A7R IV can produce images with excellent exposure, minimal noise, and beautiful colors that are highly detailed.

The trade-off for such transparent files is that you won’t have the same flexibility for noise and dynamic range manipulation as you might with cameras with much less populated sensors.

Why should one get a sony a7riv?

• More information has 60.2 megapixels, increasing linear resolution by 58%.
• Enhanced detail lacks an anti-alias filter to utilize the sensor’s resolution capabilities fully.
• High-quality composites: After shifting the sensor’s pixels, it is possible to combine multiple shots.
• Superior image quality is significantly better (9 points) on the DXO overall rating.
• Richer colors: Produces distinctly more natural hues (1.1 bits more color depth).
• More excellent dynamic range: Captures more light and dark details (1.2 EV of extra DR).
• Higher sensitivity to low light: Can take pictures in darkened environments (0.4 stops ISO advantage).
• Better video: Offers capture of movies in higher definition (4K/3K).
• A more thorough viewfinder has a more precise electronic viewfinder (5760k).
• More thorough LCD: has a rear screen with a higher resolution (1440k).
• Fewer buttons to click: it has a touchscreen to make shooting and handling adjustments easier.
• A faster burst (10 flaps/sec) captures the critical moment.
• It has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting, which is less unsettling.
• Easy time-lapse photography: Low-frequency shooting with an integrated intervalometer.
• Long lasting: Takes more shots on a single battery charge (670).
• It Supports a faster USB protocol for data transfer (3.1).
• More straightforward wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for cordless image sharing.
• Better studio light control: Connects to professional strobe lights via a PC Sync socket.
• Greater assurance: Provides a backup card slot if the memory card fails.
• It supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard for quicker buffer clearing (UHS-II).
• It Reflects the 1-year, four-month advancement in technology since the launch of the A7 IIi.

Price:

Launch costs

In September 2019, the Sony A7R IV went on sale for USD 3,500 (CAD 4,500). For USD 400 (CAD 530), a brand-new vertical battery grip called the VG-C4EM is available. It can hold two batteries and has the exact improved grip, operability, and weather resistance as the A7R IV body.

Current costs

The Sony A7R IV’s current best price is $3,164, down from its initial MSRP of $3,500. You can also purchase a used A7R IV for less money. Used A7R IV models start at $2,099.

Conclusion:

You’ll be over the moon to have this camera.

The hand-held photo of the moon demonstrates how excellent image stabilization is.

It’s a fantastic camera for wildlife photography thanks to the 61.0MP sensor and superior autofocus performance.

The 7R4 is also great for landscape photography due to its resolution and color rendition.

Compared to the Nikon, this camera’s resolution, color, and other features are on another level.

Related posts:

Sony Alpha a6000 Review