The new product from Sony has already been dubbed a 61-megapixel bomb by social media users. This is the first full-frame mirrorless camera with such a sensor on the global market. Sony A7R IV significantly outperforms competitors in technical specifications and functionality.
It is expected that Canon and Nikon will also introduce their solutions to the market. Experts note that competitors have not had interesting new products for a long time. As a result, Sony was the first to ‘fire,’ and very successfully. After presenting the camera and sharing its technical specifications, company representatives announced the release date and preliminary price. The new product will be available in September 2019, with a starting price of 3500 US dollars.
Sony A7R IV: Brief Overview
- Model number: ILCE-7RM4
- Sensor: 61-megapixel full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor
- Image processor: BIONZ X
- AF points: hybrid AF, 567 phase-detection points, 325 contrast AF points
- ISO range: from 100 to 32,000 (exp. 50-102,400)
- Maximum image size: 9504 x 6336
- Metering modes: multi-segment, center-weighted, spot, average, bright
- Video: 4K UHD at 30p, 24p
- Viewfinder: EVF, 5.76 million dots
- Memory card: 2x SD / SDHC / SDXC (UHS II)
- LCD display: 3-inch tilting touchscreen with 1.44 million dots
- Max. burst rate: 10 frames per second
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- Dimensions: 128.9 x 96.4 x 77.5 mm
- Weight: 655 g (body only, with battery and SD card)
Judging by the specifications, the hybrid autofocus system looks perfect. The video recording mode is somewhat disappointing. At 4K resolution, the frame rate is limited to 30p and 24p. It’s a pity that Sony allowed such a flaw. Older models from competitors can shoot at 60/50p.
However, the tracking autofocus and 10 frames per second for shooting are excellent indicators. Professionals will appreciate this. Additionally, the camera’s manageability is praised. Company representatives claim that the Mark III is not even close to the Sony A7R IV.
The new model features a pixel-shift multi-shot mode. By combining 4 full-color images or 16 subpixel-shifted images, a 240-megapixel photograph can be created.
The electronic viewfinder of the Sony A7R IV, compared to its predecessor, features an OLED display with 5.76 million dots per inch. Rumor has it that Sony ‘stole’ the viewfinder from Panasonic. At least, the models S1 and S1R have the same viewfinder. For users with shaky hands, a 5-axis stabilization during shooting is provided.
Updated version of Sony A7R III
As with its predecessor, Sony A7R III, the camera is very compact and lightweight. Engineers worked on the ergonomics of the body. The grip was made deeper, making it significantly more comfortable to hold, even with a larger lens.
A lock was added to the exposure compensation dial, which photographers on Sony A7R III constantly accidentally turned. The buttons and joystick were improved – providing a great damping feel when pressed. The body is protected against dust and moisture.
The company abandoned the traditional microphone. Now, the Sony A7R IV camera has its own analog-to-digital converter. This is a big plus for the new product. Before digitizing the audio signal, the device can eliminate noise, apply effects, and perform processing with user settings.
One more issue added to the problems with 4K video recording is the absence of a RAW editor in the camera. To process images, you will need to transfer photos to a computer. Additionally, users will not find preset settings for RAW images, such as reducing resolution for uncompressed photos. Fortunately, the flash storage market offers large capacity cards.
