Sony

Alpha a7R IV Body

Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera Body

The Sony Alpha a7R IV continues to push the boundaries as the fourth edition of the a7R series to deliver impressive imagery and versatility.

Of note is a7R IV's utilisation of an impressively high-resolution 61MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor that is paired with an enhanced BIONZ X image processor to provide smoother and cleaner imagery for both stills and video applications, a 15-stop dynamic range, and fast speed. The sensor design enables a marked increase in data transmission speed for creating 14-bit, high-resolution 61MP stills with a wide sensitivity range of ISO 100-32000 that is expandable to ISO 50-102400, providing for working in a variety of lighting conditions. Continuous shooting for 68 frames at up to 10 fps at full resolution with full-time AF/AE is possible, along with recording UHD 4K videos with a wide 14-stop dynamic range when using either the full width of the full-frame sensor or a cropped APS-C sized area.

The sensor employs an updated FAST Hybrid AF System with 567 phase-detection autofocus points, which covers approximately 99.7% height-wise and 74% width-wise of the frame, and 425 contrast-detection areas for markedly fast, reliable and accurate autofocusing and subject tracking, along with enhanced low light focusing response down to -3EV.  Furthermore, the utilisation of phase-detection points avails the use of A-mount lenses with the a7R IV via separately available LA-EA3 or LA-EA1 lens mount adapters with full continuous AF/AE tracking compatibility. A range of focusing functions made available by this impressive focusing system lends to increased focusing accuracy, including the Lock-on AF for maintaining focus on moving subjects, Expand Flexible Spot for using nearby focus points when the selected one loses focus, and Eye AF which, available in both AF-S and AF-C modes, aids focusing during still shooting and video recording by using recognition of human and animal subjects' eyes.

The incorporation of the 5-axis SteadyShot INSIDE sensor-shift image stabilisation provides minimisation of the appearance of camera shake by up to 5.5 stops, which is beneficial for both still shooting and video capture. Moreoever, all 5 stabilisation axes will work full time, even when the camera is paired with third-party lenses and adapters or lenses with built-in optical stabilisation. A unique compositing mode, the Pixel Shift Multi Shooting, partners with the sensor-shift image stabilisation to shift the sensor while 16 consecutive exposures are made, amassing about 240.8MP of information and achieving an image size of 19,008 x 12,672 pixels. Using the Sony Imaging Software, these files can be merged together post-production to achieve even greater resolution, colour accuracy and detail than a single exposure recorded using the 61MP sensor can.

Working at mid to high sensitivities allows for improved quality of full-frame 4K recording. UHD 4K recording in multiple frame rates at up to 30fps and Full HD 1080p recording in frame rates of up to 120 fps are supported, with both resolutions using the 100Mbps XAVC S format that is contained within an MP4 wrapper with 4:2:0 sampling. The 120fps high speed recording further provides for 4x and 5x slow motion movie recording when the frame rate is set to 30p or 24p. An optional external recorder can also be utilised via an uncompressed HDMI output for clean 4K recording with 4:2:2 sampling. From the 4K video recording, 8MP stills can be obtained and stored as a separate file by taking a frame grab during movie playback.

The a7R IV also offers extensive support for HDR content, including user control over gamma, back level, knee, colour level and more with customisable colour and gamma controls. S-Log2 Gamma Curve features 1300% more dynamic range in the video signal than traditional REC709 to provide greater postproduction flexibility.  BT.2020 colour affords recording within a wide colour gamut while the available S-Log3 produces an effective 14-stop dynamic range that enables increased grading control in the shadow to mid-tone regions of an image. HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) support is available. The Enhanced Zebra Function helps to monitor exposure values in high contrast scenes while time code and User Bit function record pertinent information for precise image editing and editing together footage from multiple cameras. Last but not least, lower-resolution proxy movies can be simultaneously recorded with the UHD 4K movies to provide for a quick review or time-saving pre-editing.

Complementing the imaging design, the durable and lightweight magnesium alloy a7R IV also features an upgraded physical design. To begin with, the body receives a more extensive and enhanced weather sealing to support operation in harsher weather conditions. The boosted UXGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF (electronic viewfinder) has an impressive 5.76m-dot resolution coupled with 120 fps refresh rate to provide for clearer viewing and much smoother playback of moving subjects. Additionally, the high resolution 1.44m-dot 3.0" rear touchscreen LCD features an intuitive touch panel for menu navigation and focusing operation while a 107° upward tilt and a 47° downward tilt supports working from high and low angles. Designed to use the same NP-FZ100 battery as its predecessor, the a7R IV's battery life is rated for an approximate 530 shots per charge with the EVF or 670 shots with the rear LCD. An updated Multi Interface Shoe allows working with the separately available ECM-B1M Shotgun Microphone or XLR-K3M XLR Adapter Kit which sends digital audio signal to the camera for improved and clearer audio recording sound.

To further enhance workflow experience, the a7R IV provides two UHS-II rated SD card slots to allow for faster file saving and transferring while a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port is incorporated to provide for quicker and more reliable tethering to charge the camera from a connected device acting as a power source. The integrated Bluetooth and 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands mean you can transfer or share images wirelessly or control the camera remotely via llnked mobile devices. Alternatively, the NFC (Near Field Communication), which enables a quick and easy one-touch connection between the camera and compatible mobile devices, allows for a connected mobile device to display live view image and control the camera's shutter remotely.