The Latest Evolution in Resolution: The Sony a7R V

10/26/2022Link96

The future has arrived with Sony’s latest iteration of the R-series: the a7R V. This high-resolution mirrorless standard adds the power and intelligence of an evolved image processor, a 4-axis multi-angle LCD monitor, 8K video recording, and a laundry list of internal and external upgrades appealing to photo and video shooters alike.

Cory Rice

With integrated AI-assisted autofocusing capable of real-time recognition of subjects ranging from humans to insects, eight stops of image stabilization, dual CFexpress slots, and a 9.44 mil dot EVF, there is no shortage of reasons to love this new camera. A devout fan of its predecessor, I tried the a7R V in the studio and on location to see how it compared.

The a7R V is a solid studio camera. Cory Rice

AI Under the Hood

Headlining the new release is a BIONZ XR processor endowed with what Sony calls “Artificial Intelligence.” While the camera didn’t sprout legs and take photos for me, I did notice improved speed and accuracy locking onto human and bird eyes when using the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II and 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lenses. For human subjects, the camera can focus on bodies, heads, and eyes using a “human pose estimation” algorithm. Per Sony, the new camera boasts a 60% improvement in Eye AF performance over the a7R IV. It rarely missed when I used it. Beyond people, there are dedicated modes for animal, bird, animal/bird, insect, car/train, and airplane subjects. When photographing a heron, its AF worked as smoothly as it did with my human model.

Eye AF was fast and accurate for feathered models. Cory Rice

The a7R V’s real-time tracking leans on 693-point high density phase detection AF that covers 79% of full-frame and 100% of APS-C capture. If, like me, you are afraid of AI taking better photos than you, full-time DMF lets you switch seamlessly from AF to manual focusing at any time. However, as much of a neurotic advocate of manual focusing as I am, I found myself kicking back and letting the AF do its thing nearly the entire time I spent with the a7R V. I have no regrets. Even when shooting in an all-black environment lit by strobes, it locked onto my model’s eyes for nearly every single shot.

AF hit even in a blacked-out environment lit by strobes

AF hit even in a blacked-out environment lit by strobes.Cory Rice

R is Still for Resolution

The a7R V keeps the 61MP sensor that made the a7R IV a pixel-peeper’s dream. It has a native ISO range of 100-32,000—expandable to 102,400—which is the highest resolution at low sensitivity in a Sony camera to date. Fifteen stops of dynamic range secure smooth tonal gradations in nearly any lighting environment. Still life and product photographers will appreciate the addition of focus bracketing capabilities to accompany the hard-drive-devouring Pixel Shift Multi-Shooting mode from its previous model.

Burst shooting is effortless with the a7R V
Burst shooting is effortless with the a7R V.Cory Rice

For action junkies, the a7R V is capable of shooting 10 fps mechanical bursts of up to 583 compressed raw files or more than 1,000 jpegs. When I tested this feature, the camera gracefully rattled off shots, content to fill a memory card without breaking a sweat. Speaking of raw files, you have more types to choose from with the a7R V: uncompressed raw, lossless compression raw, or compressed raw. Be kind to your storage media when working with such massive files.

The new LCD comes in handy when shooting from above or below. Cory Rice

Free the Screen

The body of the a7R V has much in common with its predecessor but with one major upgrade: a 4-axis, multi-angle 3.2" LCD screen with 2.095 m-dot resolution and touch capabilities. I found myself using this feature far more than expected. Whether shooting down from a ladder or up from the ground, it is hard to deny the benefits that this articulation brings when trying to capture unconventional angles. For those recording video, it also provides the invaluable ability to watch oneself on camera in real time. By pushing away from the camera body, you are granted full access to the side ports when rotating the screen.

The a7R V is equally at home in the studio or on location. Cory Rice

The menu system of the a7R IV has been updated to the format of Sony’s more recent models. An improved 9.44 m-dot QXGA EVF with 120 fps refresh rate provides sharp, bright, and seamless viewing during capture.

a7R V (left) vs a7R IV (right)
a7R V (left) vs a7R IV (right)

Up top, an S&Q (Slow and Quick) dial setting has been added to capture time lapses or slow motion easily. Overall, the layout of the a7R V should feel familiar in the hands of Sony mirrorless veterans. S/L dials are customizable and the C1 button and Record buttons have been swapped. The two SDXC slots of the a7R IV are now complemented by a pair of CFexpress Type A slots for when you need to maximize processing power, whether shooting bursts or recording video footage at high resolutions.

The a7R V can isolate birds in busy environments

The a7R V can isolate birds in busy environments.Shawn Steiner

8K Video and 4K Live-Streaming

While the R-series has historically been thought of in still-image terms, its latest iteration has significantly beefed-up video capabilities. Most notably, it can record up to 8K at 24/25 fps with full AF and AE support. Full-frame 4K recording provides a full sensor readout with no cropping, up to 30 fps, while 4K/60 and 8K capture results in a 1.2x crop. The a7R V can capture 8K footage up to 10-bit 4:2:0 and 4K 10-bit 4:2:2. XAVC-HS is available for 8K and 4K recording in addition to HD. For subjects demanding a high frame rate, it can record up to 120 fps at 1080p.

Resolution remains impeccable with the a7R V

Resolution remains impeccable with the a7R V.Shawn Steiner

As noted above for still images, AI-assisted tracking keeps a wide range of subjects in focus when recording. In terms of color, the a7R V offers S-Log3, S-Cinetone, and HLG and HDR recording. Finally, updated 5-axis body optical image stabilization and improved camera-lens communication provide up to eight stops of stability for handheld capture with Sony’s OSS lenses.

The dynamic range of the a7R V captures a wide array of colors, even in low light. Shawn Steiner

The a7R V brings the R-series’ connectivity options into the future. First, it can act as a UVC webcam for content creators streaming in 4K up to 15p. For workflows that demand lightning-fast turnaround, FTP file transfer via 2x2 MIMO can transfer 3.5x more data than the a9 II. Additionally, files can be transferred via wireless LAN, wired LAN (via adapter), or USB-C.

Photo by Cory Rice
Photo by Shawn Steiner
The a7R V continues the appeal of the R-series in the studio and in the wild.

The a7R V builds on the strengths of its predecessor in nearly every aspect of its design. While its features and capabilities have been substantially expanded, it did not feel foreign in the hands of a photographer accustomed to the a7R IV. Be sure to see it in action in the video above.

Join Sony Artisan of Imagery Caroline Jensen, as well as B&H's Derek Fahsbender and Kevin G. Rickert, who will discuss the new Sony a7RV in a livestream.

What do you think of the latest entry in Sony’s R-series? Does it have the features you are seeking?

Comments

96 Comments

Many owners of the IV, including myself, have had ongoing issues with dust mysteriously getting into the camera and onto the sensor, even when the lens has not been changes. Recently I had beautiful photos all morning, and by the afternoon I had mysterious dust spots covering my images, even though I never changed lenses. 

Has this major flaw in the seals been addressed in the V?

The dust and moisture resistance of the Sony Alpha a7R V Mirrorless Digital Camera has been improved, but specifically, the updated camera has a new anti-dust system that starts 70,000 cycles per second to effectively remove dust and particles from the imaging sensor.

I pre-ordered the A7R IV when it was first being released and had high hopes for it. Once I started using it, I realized the auto-focus was spotty, especially in low light. I shot an indoor wedding with it under low-lighting conditions and many of the photos turned-out dreadful, in terms of sharpness. I never had to spend so much time editing photos to produce even "acceptable" photos for the customer. And the menu system was dizzying. For the money, I expected the IV to perform like the "V" sounds like it performs. I won't pre-order a camera again. I'll wait for users to post reviews of the camera before shelling-out the $$$ these cameras are commanding.

How does the menu compare toe the menu on the A1?

I am a Canon shooter using both EOS R5 and EOS 5D MK IV camera bodies. What are the features of the Sony A7R V that would compel me to switch to this new Sony Camera system?

Maybe learn to utilize the Canon's to their maximum potential would be a better solution for you whilst learning the craft?

I think David's question was about what features would be an advantage over his current setup...

Please comment on whether the V has better/worse/same noise levels as the IV and III. In particular interested in knowing if this will be an issue with night sky photos at 6400 to 12800 ISO.

Same sensor as A7RIV so in my experience the A7IV is much better with iso performance I’ve used both extensively. I’m passing on this camera because they didn’t make the sensor better and they totally can.

Refresh of the toy camera. So glad I moved away from Sony. 

I used 1 inch video sensor 40 years and it beats 8k  or 16 k sensor and it was recorded on vhs tape. It is sensor size which makes the difference. . Do not fall for 12k or 16k .always go for 1.2  f stop bigger the diameter of lens  means more light for video or photography.It is expensive but worth the price.

 

 

 

 

 

The Sony R Series looks to be a professional's tool that will get stunning results. I appreciate the demos and hearing the talk about this.

David, we're pleased to provide the information, reviews, and demos that help our readers and customers make informed choices when it comes time to purchase imaging tech. Thanks for posting your comment!

Thanks for the new Sony R-series!!

 

Aliana King (2nd Model) did a fantastic job. Both models did a bang up job. Sony your white balance has improved immensely

Thanks, Robert! Sony's color is definitely is improving for portraits. Also: the same model was used for both shoots: Nandi Summers. The magic of makeup...

Sony we need The new models with new numbers. This A7- 1/2/3//4 plus A7R - 1/2/3/45 + A7s 1 /2 /3 s/s1s2s3. Is getting very boring and confuse

Get A2 / A3 / A4 / A5 / and so on

 

According to the most recent information we have on our website, as of the date/time of this reply, the approximate estimated shipping date for the Sony a7R V Mirrorless Camera is Tuesday, December 6, 2022.  Do note that this is an estimate.  The Sony a7R V Mirrorless Camera is currently available for preorder on our website.  Also note that all pre-orders must be shipped to our customers in the order in which they were placed before the Sony a7R V Mirrorless Camera will be listed as "In Stock" on our website or in our NYC Superstore.

I'm looking forward to the Latest Sony R-series camera

Has anyone taken this head to head with the a1?

I have an a1 and was able to take the a7R V for a test this past week. My take is that the a7R V is the right camera for most people looking for high resolution imaging and capable video. The a1 brings a lot of advanced features to the table that you kind of have to know you need (like a physical Ethernet port for FTP transfer). In terms of image quality the a7R V is outstanding and equivalent to the a1 if not better in some situations because of the higher resolution. The a1 will have an edge for the electronic shutter since the stacked sensor is much faster. This faster readout should make the a1 a better pick for video shooting as well. Any specific questions you want answered?

Insane specs- glad to see Sony keeping the competition high!

Can you use electronic shutter for birds in flight at high shutter speeds?

You can, though in rare instances the rolling shutter might show slight skewing during the fastest movements. Mechanical shutter is going to be the better choice and you are still getting 10 fps.

Won't this eat into the more expensive a1 market?

In regard to Auto Focus, do I even need to Manual focus on a Moving Astro object like the Moon, or will AF keep the Moon in perfect focus, even though distance is constantly changing? Steven Groce

Looks like a solid upgrade from my a7rIII. Looking forward to checking it out in person!

Sony is clearly now leading the way in digital photography

How is the ISO performance, you didn't discuss that in the video.  Low light perf in both photo and video?

ISO performance will be pretty similar to the a7R IV- the native range is ISO 100-32000 (expandable to ISO 102400) and the BSI design of the sensor helps reduce noise levels.

Thanks for responding.  I haven't used an A7R IV so I don't know the comparison you're giving...I have the the A9, A7R3, A7IV and A7SIII.  I'd love to get this camera, but low light ISO perf is big for me as I do a lot of night scapes.   Is it comparable to the A9 in ISO perf?  Better?

Love seeing the new autofocus. This is amazing.

Mirrorless is the future now. It's all AI. Math is the unifying language, is there another one?

Super excited to order this!! Will be my first Sony Camera! ☺ 

Looking forward to testing it out.

 

I have a Sony a7R!VA  and I am sure this ver, is even BETTER!!!!!!  Sony is totally TERRIFIC!

A great addition to the line! Looking forward to try the focus stacking and A.I. autofocus features. Love the new multi-position monitor! Also love the still/movie/S&Q switch and plethora of custom buttons!

Wow, all that for about $4K !  I really love my A7RIV and its 61 MP sensor for wildlife photography ... but imagine the 8K video and improved focus capabilities of the A7RV.  It's so exciting to see photography just keep on improving, adapting, and moving into the future.

Nancy, we at B&H are also always excited by these advances in imaging technology and, of course, we are pleased to hear similar sentiments from our readers. Thanks so much for taking the time to post your comments!

As long as Sony was planning for A7RV, why they produced the A7RIVA?

Omg. To much power in a 7IV body. 

The A7R V is the obvious upgrade to my A7R III, however I held off on upgrading to the IV, thinking that the V would increase in Megapixels over the IV.  I appreciate the improvements; but doing a lot of Astro, Moon, Milky Way photography, I would appreciate a better explanation of how the resolution has improved.  Everyone is talking about how much better the detail it; but please explain why.  When you are already using the best Glass, there is nothing wrong with wanting more sharpness and detail.  For example, please explain how the V will improve in detail over the IV, in photographing the Moon.

It looks like Pixel Shift has been made usable, but probably not for the moon since it is constantly moving.

 

Polar/equatorial mount with tracking motor perhaps ...

 

 

As of the date/time of this reply, the Sony Alpha a7R V has not yet begun to ship (it is expected to begin arriving around December 6, 2022), so we will have to wait to see the real-world application of the updates offered by this camera.  That being said, it is expected to be a large leap ahead of the older Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital Camera you currently own.  While megapixels do not always tell the whole story, there is a significant increase in sensor resolution from the 42 megapixel sensor in the Sony a7R III compared to the 60 megapixel sensor in the Sony a7R V with a new Bionz XR processor that adds the benefit of artificial intelligence and improved autofocus (similar to the autofocus on the Sony a1).  As you state, using the best glass will assist in getting the most out of your sensor's performance, and this is all the more assisted by the higher resolution, the AI, and a stronger Steady Shot stabilization, allowing you to get up to 8 stops of image stabilization when hand-holding the camera (up from 5.5 stops of stabilization on the a7R III).  I have not seen any specific examples of performance in regards to lunar photography with photographing the moon, but I do believe that we will have more performance data with production model cameras once they begin to ship.  I can't say the artificial intelligence will have a direct impact on lunar or astrophotography usage needs, but I may be wrong as this is one of the first cameras that will have this benefit.  With the increased image resolution, using a good telescope and/or a motorized Equatorial GoTo mount would be an asset in getting even sharper astrophotography images.  This may not quite be the answer you were looking for, but we hope to have more information once the cameras are in users' hands for testing.  In either case, I hope this helps.

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