In a bit of a surprise release (and a disappointment to all the video creators waiting patiently for the more video focused a7s III to be announced), Sony has revealed its latest full-frame mirrorless camera: the Sony Alpha a7R IV. Along with a new 61MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor, Sony has also redesigned the camera body for easier handling and operation. This is Sony’s latest full-frame mirrorless camera since the a7 III was released.
A still-image powerhouse
With a 42.4MP sensor, Sony’s previous a7R III was no slouch when it came to photo resolution. However, the new a7R IV’s 61MP sensor absolutely blows it and other full-frame mirrorless cameras totally out of the water. Using a back-illuminated (BSI) design and Sony’s Exmor R technology, the sensor has nearly 50% more pixels than its predecessor and about 20% more than its nearest competition
If that’s still not enough pixels for you, Sony has announced an upgrade to the Pixel Shift Multi Shooting mode that captures up to 16 frames, allowing for the creation of ridiculously large 240MP images with full-color data at each pixel. Other sensor specs include:
- 15 stops of dynamic range
- 10fps shooting with full AF/AE tracking
- 567 phase-detection points (74% coverage)
- APS-C crop mode with 26MP and 325-point phase-detection AF
- Real-time Tracking and Eye AF
- 5.5-stop SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilization
Improved body
Despite the great image quality and features, Sony has always struggled with complaints about their mirrorless cameras’ handling and controls. The a7R IV represents another significant leap for the company and should be greatly appreciated by Sony shooters. It also is Sony’s most weather-sealed body to date meaning a little rain/dust shouldn’t be a problem.
Notable changes and upgrades to the body include:
- Redesigned buttons for better feel and response
- Larger dials & some with locks to prevent accidental changes
- Dual UHS-II SD card slots
- Revamped ports to optimize position and/or increase durability
- Wireless tethering via 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi
- More ergonomic grip
Most importantly, the a7R IV features a higher resolution 5.76m-dot UXGA OLED electronic viewfinder. Significantly sharper and clearer than previous models, it can be set to either 60 or 120 fps refresh rate to suit the shooting situation.
Oh yeah, video too
Sony may have other cameras (*cough* a7s III) which are better suited for video, but that doesn’t mean that the a7R IV isn’t a capable video shooter. It mostly inherits the specs of its predecessor — 4K/30fps, 100 Mb/s, APS-C/Super35 crop mode, S-Log-2/3, HLG HDR mode — with two notable improvements. Audio has been completely revamped with a new digital audio interface and Real-time Eye AF can now be used during video recording.
A suite of new accessories
Along with the a7R IV, Sony announced a few new accessories to enhance the camera’s capabilities.
- ECM-B1M Shotgun Microphone – Equipped with eight high-performance mic capsules and advanced digital signal processing, the ECM-B1M delivers a digital audio stream directly to the a7R IV through the Multi Interface Shoe.
- VG-C4EM Battery Grip – Designed to fit the Sony a7R IV mirrorless camera, the VG-C4EM grip accepts either one or two NP-FZ100 batteries to increase the effective battery life for longer shooting sessions.
- XLR-K3M Audio Adapter – A dual-channel XLR audio adapter that allows you to connect microphones and audio sources to the a7R IV or other cameras equipped with a Multi Interface Shoe.
Availability & pricing
The Sony Alpha a7R IV will be priced at $3498, $500 more than the a7R III. Pre-orders start this Thursday (July 18th) at 10am though the camera and accessories won’t ship until September.
