Sony impresses with the Alpha 7 model line, there is no doubt! But their most important product of this line, if you want the core, is the predecessor of the new Alpha 7 III. It is definitely their most important product and one of the most popular tools of many video creators. The new Sony Alpha 7 IV brings an outstanding new sensor and a focus on satisfying the videographer community. But not completely.
The new Sony Alpha 7 IV is arguably the most important product of 2021 in the world of photography and videography, stepping into the big shoes of its predecessor, the Sony Alpha 7 III. The latter served many professional videographers, who used it as a backup camera for productions. But it was definitely the most popular among video creators for digital channels like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram! This is also why we expected a bit more "courage" right here. And a greater focus on these users.
Video progress - Yes - but not what we expected
Video is the future. We all unequivocally agree with that. Of course, Sony also knows this, but it seems that they do not want to give us the perfect camera for videographers. 4K can be captured with 60 frames, but a "crop" is created - the so-called cutout. Which is extremely annoying in production and completely unnecessary considering the "new" sensor itself. At Sony, they added the VIDEO setting, which is now not just one of the programs, but switches the camera to video mode, similar to the Fujifilm x-t4.
This also indicates that the Sony Alpha 7 IV camera model is a kind of hybrid (perhaps even the best hybrid of both worlds – photographic and videographic), which is good everywhere, excellent in many places, but on the other hand completely average in certain characteristics.
When we talk about the fact that the Alpha IV is excellent in many ways, we must not ignore the fact that the auto focus is logarithmic and taken from the "sports camera" A1. That the camera is improved in design and functionality and that it has an excellent 33MP new sensor. But still, the phrase remains - what if!
As for video, the a7 IV can record UHD 4K at up to 30p from the full width of your sensor (captured from 7K capture), or 60 p, captured from a portion of the APS-C sensor (4.6K capture). All of these video modes can be recorded in 10-bit detail 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 with a choice of H.265 or H.264 Long GOP or H.264 All-I for the compression itself. These 10-bit options help provide much more flexible log shots, especially for the ~14EV S-Log3 profile. But here, for our medium, we swam into pure details that may not interest you so much.
Definitely a decisive step forward!
Basic Specifications - Sony Alpha 7 IV
- 33MP BSI CMOS sensor for full-screen imaging
- Up to 10 frames per second lossy raw recording with a large buffer
- Built-in stabilization up to 5.5EV
- Full-width 4K resampled from 7K to 30p
- 4K / 60p with Super35 / APS-C mode
- Capture 10-bit HEIF video or photos
- H.265 video, S-Cinetone color mode
- OLED viewfinder with 3.69 million dots
- Two card slots (1x CFe A/UHS-II, 1x UHS-II SD)
- Full Bluetooth LE connectivity
In a time of rapid progress and big leaps, where competition brands Sony breathing by the neck, we still expected a bit more daring and bigger steps. But we understand Sony that there must also be a place under the sun for their other products. And that they don't want excessive cannibalism - for example, more than the excellent Alfa 7s III, or their other excellent ones.
Camera Alpha 7 IV will be available from November 2021 onwards at a number of Sony authorized dealers. Its estimated retail price is 2,800.00 euros for the body and 3,000.00 euros for the set of lenses - that is, in a kit with a lens that bears the mark - SEL2870. At the same time, glass to protect the screen will also be available as an accessory.
