photo: © Albert Dros with the Sony a7 IV
The new Sony α7 IV full-frame camera (model ILCE-7M4) features a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor with a resolution of 33 MP and a broad ISO sensitivity range. Sony’s latest image-sensor innovations come together in this camera. The α7 IV also offers several new features, including remote camera control.
It is a camera for professionals and enthusiasts alike, from photographers and videographers to multimedia creators and other imaging professionals.
Wildlife photographer Gustav Kiburg recently tested the Sony Alpha 7 IV on the German island of Heligoland. Northern gannets are among the birds that breed there, and the island is an important stopover for birds migrating south. In the video below, Gustav shows how the Alpha 7 IV performs in all kinds of conditions, including its specialized Eye AF features for birds.
Landscape photographer Albert Dros also had the opportunity to try the camera: “The A7 IV immediately felt right to me because of its new, sturdier body. Everything has been improved over its predecessor. Most important to me are the new 33-megapixel sensor, its strong dynamic range and its excellent high-ISO performance. Combined with the optical quality of the G Master lenses, this simply makes the A7 IV the best all-around camera for me,” said Albert Dros, Sony Imaging Ambassador.
Thanks to its high resolution, the camera can render smooth gradations as well as fine details and textures. Its 15-stop dynamic range provides broad expressive latitude, while the Creative Look settings help users quickly create distinctive looks for photos and video.
The new α7 IV mirrorless camera features Real-Time Tracking and 759 phase-detection AF points. The AF system covers approximately 94% of the frame, enabling reliable focusing and tracking even with fast-moving subjects.
For the first time, Real-Time Eye AF can track the eyes of birds and animals in both stills and video; previously, this was available only for human eyes. Detection accuracy for human faces and eyes has also improved by approximately 30% compared with the Alpha 7 III.
The camera can produce high-quality video with maximum flexibility for color grading. For the first time in the Alpha series, the new camera includes Breathing Compensation to counter focus breathing and maintain a consistent angle of view as focus changes. The feature can be turned on or off.
The new camera offers color depth and sampling for natural gradations, intraframe encoding for more efficient editing workflows and double the compression efficiency.
The α7 IV is a versatile mirrorless camera for both stills and video, designed for easy, reliable operation. Its new menu interface makes it simple to switch between photo and video modes.
Users can quickly select dedicated settings and switch between functions. The α7 IV’s image-stabilization system is optimized for the 33 MP sensor and provides up to 5.5 stops of compensation.
The OLED Quad-VGA viewfinder has 3.68 million dots and offers 1.6 times the resolution of the Alpha 7 III’s viewfinder. Users also benefit from improved live-view image quality that minimizes false colors and increases resolution.
The camera’s new design allows videographers to record more than one hour of continuous 4K 60p 10-bit 4:2:2 video. Users can operate either the tilting 3.0-inch LCD touchscreen on the back of the camera (approximately 1.03 million dots) or the REC button on top.
The α7 IV body is made of magnesium alloy for maximum strength with minimal weight. Its redesigned structure and lens-lock button also provide improved dust and moisture resistance.
The new Sony α7 IV became available in the Benelux in December 2021 for €2,800 (body only).
