The Sony a7 IV is a versatile camera that goes above and beyond the basics. It excels in both stills and video capture, and it can even record 4K video. Photographers will appreciate the high resolution and autofocus performance of the a7 IV, while filmmakers and content producers will appreciate the strong 4K 60p video recording capabilities of this innovative hybrid mirrorless camera.
More: Best Gimbal for Sony A7 IV
Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor with 33MP resolution
The newly developed Exmor R full-frame sensor, with a back-illuminated architecture that supports excellent clarity, low noise, and rich color representation, has been created by Sony. Working in low-light circumstances is made easier by this design, which is combined with a wide sensitivity range of ISO 100-51200. Its architecture also yields an outstanding dynamic range of around 15 stops, and data may be captured in raw, JPEG, or the 10-bit HEIF format, among other formats.
| BIONZ XR | Sony Alpha A7 IV
Processor BIONZ XR (BIONZ XR stands for Bionz XR).
High-speed image processing capabilities are accessible because of the use of the flagship-class BIONZ XR engine, which allows for rapid continuous shooting, 4K video recording, and superior AF tracking performance.
The rapid processing also aids in the reduction of rolling shutter and other motion distortions, resulting in a more accurate representation of moving objects.
For shooting rates, the sensor and processor allow for up to 10 frames per second shooting with either the mechanical or electronic shutter and with AF/AE enabled. Additionally, when using a CFexpress Type A card, the buffer allows for the recording of up to 828 consecutive uncompressed raw + JPEG frames.
Videotaping is a type of recording that is used to capture video.
Sony a7 IV | 7K to 4K conversion
10-bit recording of 4K 60p video at 4K resolution
UHD 4K 30p XAVC HS 10-bit recording is possible using the full width of the sensor, allowing for impressive sharpness and realism. Making full use of the high-resolution 33MP sensor and fast processing capabilities, UHD 4K 30p XAVC HS 10-bit recording is possible using the full width of the sensor, allowing for impressive sharpness and realism.
Oversampled 4K recording is also possible using a 4.6K capture area combined with a Super 35 crop, which results in UHD 4K output at up to 60p in 10-bit.
The absence of a recording time limit allows for the creation of unlimited clip lengths, and the camera’s physical design incorporates a better heat-dissipating structure to allow for longer possible recording times; for example, more than one hour of continuous 4K 60p 10-bit 4:2:2 recording is possible.
The a7 IV employs a pair of codecs to accommodate different workflows: XAVC HS, which employs HEVC/H.265 encoding to retain more detail at lower bitrates, and XAVC S-I, which is an intraframe codec that provides consistent performance and quality at bitrates of up to 600 Mb/s. The a7 IV also employs a pair of codecs to accommodate different workflows: XAVC HS
Color and gamma controls such as S-Cinetone, S-Log3, and others are available.
A new color and skin tone rendering technology, S-Cinetone, is available for use with the FX9 and FX6 cameras, as well as the a1 and a7S III. It is based on technology from professional Cinema Line cameras, including the VENICE, and can deliver distinct colors and healthy-looking skin tone rendering. With this color profile, you’ll get natural mid-tones, soft hues, and highlights that are exceptionally well-controlled.
HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) compatibility enables recording in a broad color gamut for the purpose of creating HDR-ready material directly from the camera without the need for additional software.
S-Log3 is also available for creating images with a 15+-stop dynamic range and enhanced grading flexibility in the shadow to mid-tone sections of the image, among other things.
A system with Hybrid AF with Quick Response Time
AF Points on the Sony a7 IV
Autofocus Powered by Artificial Intelligence
A Fast Hybrid AF system with 759 phase-detection points, which covers about 94 percent of the picture area, allows for rapid and precise focusing in a variety of lighting circumstances with sensitivity as low as -4 EV, and is capable of shooting in low light. All recording modes, including video and stills, may take use of this focusing technology, which is beneficial for both video and stills applications.
Real-time tracking, as well as real-time eye autofocus
Its tracking and subject identification capabilities have been refined from the flagship AF system, allowing the a7 IV to latch onto subjects rapidly and refine focus correctly on subjects’ recognized eyes and faces.
It is an AI-based subject recognition system that identifies color, pattern, and subject distance information in order to achieve high accuracy and focusing speed while maintaining high accuracy and focus speed.
Real-time Eye AF does more than just follow subjects; it also fine-tunes focusing accuracy and detects the eyes of humans, animals, and birds, resulting in vital sharpness. Real-time Eye AF even keeps focus on a subject’s eye even when they leave and re-enter the frame, enabling for more spontaneous shooting situations to be captured with the camera.
Autofocus (AF) when recording video and other focusing modes
Eye AF is fully supported during video recording and may be used for subject recognition and tracking of human, animal, and bird eyes as well as tracking of moving objects such as cars and planes.
For more control over how focus shifts seem while recording, the seven-step AF transition speeds and five-step AF subject shift sensitivity options allow you to fine-tune how quickly focus switches from one place to another and how smoothly focusing shifts occur during the recording process.
In a similar fashion to peaking, Focus Map is a novel approach to seeing the depth of field. It works by overlaying the image with a color overlay that shows whether or not certain portions of the scene are in front of or behind the focus point, depending on the aperture selected.
This function, which was brought over from the FX6 digital cine camera, allows you to effortlessly switch from autofocus to manual focus control for altering the focal point when using AF. Using this technique, you may quickly switch selective focus between several subjects in a scenario while filming.
Focus Compensation is a one-of-a-kind approach for compensating for how particular lenses function while racking focus. When shifting the focus location during a photo, breathing compensation will automatically smooth out the transitions between the two points of focus and keep the field of vision steady. When focusing occurs, this mode crops the image slightly into the frame and corrects for any compositional shifts that have been identified. This function is compatible with a limited number of E-mount lenses; for more information, see the Breathing Compensation lens compatibility page.
Body Design, Connectivity, and Streaming are all important considerations.
Sony a7 IV | Variable-Angle LCD Display
Both the viewfinder and the LCD screen are used.
With a 3.68m-dot resolution, the upgraded QVGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF provides crisper and clearer viewing than its predecessor and is about 1.6x greater in resolution than the previous model. A long 23mm eyepoint, 0.78x magnification, and 37.3° field of vision characterize the physical design of this viewfinder, which supports both normal 60 fps and 120 fps frame rates for smooth motion rendering.
The side-opening 3.0″ 1.03m-dot vari-angle articulating screen is ideal for vlogging or other self-recording applications. It may be utilized in a front-facing posture or tilted up or down to accommodate working from high or low filming angles.
This LCD screen also functions as a touchscreen, allowing for more intuitive shooting control and navigating through the menu system.
Ports on the Sony a7 IV
The Ports and the Interfaces
Full-size When dealing with external recorders, the HDMI A port provides a more dependable connection than the HDMI B connector.
There is now an additional USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, in addition to a micro-USB port, to allow for speedier and more reliable tethering capabilities. While connected, the camera may be charged or powered by the host power source thanks to the USB Type-C connection.
The use of a 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as an external microphone connector, allows for better control over audio recording.
With the optional ECM-B1M Shotgun Microphone or the XLR-K3M Extender Kit, the Multi Interface Shoe provides better, clear audio recording sound by providing a digital audio signal to the camera, rather than an analog signal, which is then recorded on the camera’s internal microphone.
This port may be used in conjunction with an optional Ethernet wired LAN adapter to enable 1000BASE-T connectivity, wired remote shooting, and FTP transferring capabilities, among other things.
5-Axis SteadyShot Image Stabilization INSIDE the camera
Camera shake is compensated for by the improved 5.5-stop effective 5-axis SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilization system, which compensates for five different types of camera shake encountered during handheld still and video shooting. This allows users to confidently use any lens, including adapted lenses, for critical shooting without encountering blur from camera shake.
When working with longer focal lengths, the system will compensate for pitch and yaw corrections automatically. The incorporation of horizontal and vertical shift correction will, on the other hand, be beneficial for macro and high-magnification pictures. The roll compensation will be beneficial to photographers of all shooting types. No matter if you are using third-party lenses and adapters or lenses with built-in optical stabilization, all five axes of stabilization will always be active and working properly.
Also available for video is an Active IS mode, which employs even more accurate stabilization technologies to provide even smoother footage right out of the camera, compared to the standard IS mode.
External Flash Control with the Sony a7 IV and HVL-F60RM2.
Control of the external flash in high-definition
When working with flash and capturing fast-moving subjects, P-TTL flash metering may be used in between each exposure when using low, medium, or even high-speed continuous shooting modes, which is very advantageous.
When working in low-light bursts, this aids in the maintenance of stable lighting, and it is especially beneficial when working in shifting or low-light situations.
The improved flash control system also aids in the reduction of flash trigger lag, makes use of the camera’s AWB information for realistic color rendering, and allows for the adjustment of certain flash and transmitter units directly from the camera’s interface, among other things.
Wireless Connectivity with the Sony a7 IV
Wireless connectivity and streaming are two important features.
Built-in Wi-Fi allows for remote camera operation and the immediate transfer of images to mobile devices for uploading to the internet. Support for both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands also allows for wireless tethered shooting. This link also allows for remote control of the camera.
The use of the Imaging Edge mobile app is made possible by the use of Bluetooth, which ensures a stable connection between the camera and mobile device.
Supports Visual Story, which allows for quick and easy cloud-based delivery of photographs and movies immediately following the shooting session.
Sony a7 IV with USB Webcam and Streaming Capabilities
It is possible to stream live straight from the camera by connecting the camera to a computer or a compatible mobile device via USB. This enables the camera’s video and audio capabilities to be used for live social networking and video conferencing applications.
There are recording options for 4K 15p, FHD 60p/30p, and HD 30p, as well as integrated Creative Look and Soft Skin effects for a refined image quality right out of the camera. The camera also has a built-in microphone for voice recording.
Internal recording to a memory card is supported while live streaming to a computer.
In order to increase visual and sound quality while streaming, the UVC and UAC standards are supported by the software.
Sony a7 IV Specs
| MSRP | $2499, €2,800, £2,400 (body only) |
|---|---|
| Body type | SLR-style mirrorless |
| Max resolution | 7008 x 4672 |
| Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 33 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 34 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) |
| Sensor type | BSI-CMOS |
| Processor | Bionz XR |
| ISO | Auto, 100-51200 (expands to 50-204800) |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 50 |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 204800 |
| White balance presets | 7 |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
| Image stabilization notes | 5-axis |
| CIPA image stabilization rating | 5.5 stop(s) |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Extra fine, fine, normal |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 759 |
| Lens mount | Sony E |
| Focal length multiplier | 1× |
| Articulated LCD | Fully articulated |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,036,800 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.78× |
| Viewfinder resolution | 3,686,400 |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 sec |
| Aperture priority | Yes |
| Shutter priority | Yes |
| Manual exposure mode | Yes |
| Subject / scene modes | No |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (Multi-interface shoe) |
| Continuous drive | 10.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedHighlight-weightedAverageSpot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±5 (3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes |
| Format | MPEG-4, XAVC S, XAVC HS, XAVC S-I, H.264, H.265 |
| Modes | 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, XAVC HS, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, XAVC HS, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 140 Mbps, XAVC HS, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 140 Mbps, XAVC HS, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC HS, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 600 Mbps, XAVC S-I, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 500 Mbps, XAVC S-I, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 300 Mbps, XAVC S-I, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 250 Mbps, XAVC S-I, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 240 Mbps, XAVC S-I, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 140 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 140 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 222 Mbps, XAVC S-I, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 185 Mbps, XAVC S-I, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 111 Mbps, XAVC S-I, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 93 Mbps, XAVC S-I, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 89 Mbps, XAVC S-I, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage types | One CFexpress Type A/UHS-II SD, One UHS-II SD |
| USB | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 GBit/sec) |
| USB charging | Yes (USB PD supported) |
| HDMI | Yes (Standard) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | Yes |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11ac (dual band) + Bluetooth |
| Remote control | Yes (wireless or smartphone) |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | NP-FZ100 lithium-ion battery charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 580 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 659 g (1.45 lb / 23.25 oz) |
| Dimensions | 131 x 96 x 80 mm (5.16 x 3.78 x 3.15″) |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Sony a7 IV Price
