If you’re in the market for a hybrid camera, your timing couldn’t be more perfect as you now have new options from Sony, Canon, and Nikon. Here, we’ll cover the price, release date, and our first impressions of the Sony A7 IV mirrorless camera.
Sony Finally Launches the A7 IV Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera
People have been anticipating the launch of the A7 IV for years since its predecessor, the A7 III, came out back in 2018. The hardware upgrades after a three-year gap bring this camera line up to par with the competition, such as the Canon EOS R6 and the Nikon Z6 II.
For starters, the Sony A7 IV sports an all-new 33-megapixel full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor for high-resolution stills. It uses the same Bionz XR processor as the more expensive Sony A1 for high-speed autofocus performance. Sony claims a 30% improvement in face and eye detection AF over its predecessor.
In terms of video, you now get 4K/60FPS video recording, but there’s a catch. You can only record at 60FPS in the cropped Super 35mm mode, where the image is downsampled from 4.6K. To use the full width of the sensor, you’ll need to drop down to 4K/30FPS, which downsamples the video from a 7K readout for enhanced quality.
The A7 IV can also record in 10-bit color depth and 4:2:2 color sampling, unlike its predecessor. And if you’re a vlogger, you’ll be pleased to know that Sony has finally added a flip-out screen.
Besides these hardware changes, A7 IV also includes new features that work with compatible Sony E-mount lenses. One of them is AF Assist, a feature that supports focus transitions when autofocus is enabled.
Sony has also added an all-new Breathing Compensation feature to combat focus breathing issues and ensure the camera maintains a consistent FOV even when you keep adjusting the focus.
Our First Impressions of the Sony A7 IV
Now that we know all the changes you can expect with this new model, we’re going to compare the A7 IV with both the older A7 III and the competition to see if it’s worth purchasing.
Sony bumped the sensor resolution from 24.2MP to 33MP, which we think is perfect for a hybrid camera that customers buy for both photo and video. If you look at the competition, the Canon EOS R6 has a sensor resolution of 20.1 megapixels, which isn’t great for today’s standards.
The addition of 4K/60FPS video recording capabilities at 10-bit color depth along with a long-awaited flip-out screen makes it much more desirable to videographers and bloggers. Although this is right on par with the competition, we would have liked Sony to include a 4K/120FPS mode for people who want to shoot in slow motion.
Also, as much as we love the new flip-out screen, it comes at the cost of resolution. You get a 1.03 million-dot touch screen, which is considerably lower than the 1.6 million-dot LCD on the EOS R6.
All in all, we think Sony managed to focus on key areas with the A7 IV, making it the entry-level mirrorless camera to beat for the foreseeable future. However, your purchase decision may ultimately come down to its pricing, which we’ll look at below.
Pricing and Availability of the Sony A7 IV
The Sony A7 IV isn’t available just yet, but it’ll go on sale in the United States starting from December 2021. If you live in Australia, you can get your hands on the camera early, as it’ll be available in late November.
Sony has set a price tag of $2499 for the body-only version of the A7 IV. The company will also sell a kit version for $2699, which includes the FE 28-70mm lens.
Although this price tag is right in line with the Canon EOS R6, you need to remember that Sony launched the A7 III at $1999. You’re paying $500 more for some incremental upgrades.
It boils down to whether or not you’ll take advantage of these hardware improvements. And if you’re really short on cash, you could even consider the Nikon Z6 II for $1999.
The Sony A7 IV Is the New Hybrid Camera to Beat
The hugely successful A7 III started to lose its shine due to its aging hardware and competition from other manufacturers. So, we’re glad that Sony managed to check the right boxes to ensure the A7 IV edges the Canon EOS R6 in critical areas.
Although it does have its fair share of negatives, it looks like the Sony A7 IV will be tough to beat in the next year or two.
If you’re planning to switch from a DSLR, make sure you understand the differences and know the features you may miss out on before you spend all your hard-earned money on your first mirrorless camera.
