The fourth-generation, high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera from Sony, the a7R IV, is designed around a BSI-CMOS sensor that produces images with a resolution of 60.2MP. It boasts a stronger build quality, improved controls, the newest autofocus technology from the brand, and more in comparison to prior models.It boasts a stronger build quality than previous versions, improved controls, the newest focusing technology from the brand, and more. Although having a high resolution, it is capable of shooting at speeds of up to 10 frames per second with full autofocus and 4K video at either its full sensor width or an APS-C/Super 35 cut. Moreover, it gets a 16-shot high-resolution mode that produces 240MP photos of still scenes.
DESIGN
The Sony A7R IV appears to strike the ideal mix between mirrorless cameras’ mobility and grip-friendly size. With approximate measurements of 128.9mm x 96.4mm x 77.5mm, this camera weights 665g. While the A7R III was criticized for having too little space between the grip and the lens, one component of the camera that has been addressed is the grip. Now that Sony has improved the grip, there is more space between it and the lens, decreasing the likelihood that you may drop it.
The buttons on the camera body have also been improved and updated by Sony from the outgoing design. In actuality, it benefits astrophotographers who are more likely to be wearing gloves while out on a shoot because it’s now lot more visible when you’ve pressed them, which may not seem like a very crucial issue in principle. Even though this camera’s auto-focus is so good, the AF joystick is bigger and better. But, you probably won’t even need to use it.
Picture caliber
This is the area where the a7R IV really impressed me. The a7R IV outperforms all of the preceding a7R models, which were all excellent cameras in their own way. It does help, however, that I’ve been pairing it with some top-notch lenses, such as the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM and the FE 12–24mm f/4 G.
However even at high ISOs, the image quality produced by the camera is excellent in all lighting conditions. Sony has been setting the bar with their sensors and in-built image processing for some time, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but it’s still impressive to see how far they’ve come. The natural ISO range is ISO 100 to ISO 32000, however the extended ISO range (where software intervenes to increase the capabilities of the hardware) extends all the way down to ISO 50 and up to ISO 102400. Of course, not all of that range is equally helpful in all circumstances; notably at the extremely high ISOs, the image quality does degrade dramatically, but the a7R IV continues to push the edge. I’ve shared some side-by-side images that were captured using the a7R IV at various ISO settings if you’re interested in viewing some real-world examples.
I’ve been shooting RAW+JPG for testing even though I almost always shoot RAW. Normally, I’m a little wary of JPGs, but the ones from the a7R IV are remarkably rich and wonderfully exposed. Although though it’s not enough to persuade me to use JPGs rather than RAW, it does give me more confidence to share JPGs when it makes sense to do so. The high-ISO photos are one instance where it makes a lot of sense. The disadvantages of shooting at a high ISO are beautifully corrected by the inbuilt image processor.
Functionality
The A7R IV has 11 configurable buttons in total. These buttons can be assigned to up to 100 different options, which are divided into up to 27 categories. You can set up a custom “my menu” tab with your most often used options and save your customized settings to an SD card, so it would be better to set this up as you like and mostly avoid the complicated menu structure, which is a popular complaint among Sony customers.
The camera’s 7.5cm LCD screen is really excellent in terms of quality, but it has one drawback: it isn’t fully articulating. This makes it more challenging to shoot from lower angles, especially if you’re filming in portrait orientation, and makes it the wrong camera to use if you’re more of a vlogger or videographer. Although the screen is touch-responsive, the only useful function is focus adjustment.
The A7R IV excels in low light conditions as well, making it a fantastic choice for astrophotography. Up to ISO 6400, you can utilize images straight from the camera, but once that point is reached, noise becomes noticeable. Any level of astrophotographer could use this camera because the results are so good with just one shot.
Conclusion
Overall, the Sony A7R IV is an incredibly outstanding camera that produces pictures with amazing resolution, colors, and dynamic range. Even with a sensor of this high resolution, the high ISO performance is superb. Given its image resolution, it is a camera that is much more adaptable than one might expect. For all but the most difficult sports and action scenes, it provides incredibly rapid AF and high burst speeds.
