Sony A7 IV: New full-frame camera with 33 MP sensor, IBIS and 4K video

Finally, the time had come for Sony to present the latest offshoot of its popular A7 series of mirrorless cameras. The Sony A7 IV features a 33-megapixel sensor complete with IBIS (in-body image stabilization) along with impressive autofocus up to f/22 and video recording in 4K at 60 FPS.

Sony A7 IV will be a real powerhouse

With the Alpha 7 IV, Sony is targeting ambitious photographers who want to get everything out of their mirrorless system camera. It uses a new 33-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, which is said to offer outstanding stabilization thanks to IBIS, allowing for up to 5.5 stops longer exposure times when shooting hands-free.

The Sony A7 IV full-frame mirrorless camera covers brightness levels from ISO 50 – 204,800 and, in terms of image quality, is said to offer higher detail, more natural skin tones and also better image quality in low-light conditions.

Two Bionz-XR processors are supposed to provide fast data processing, Sony fans already know the chips from the Sony A1, for example. Continuous shooting is possible with the Sony A7 IV at 10 frames per second.

Strong autofocus in the Alpha 7 IV

Also exciting is the revamped autofocus, which is said to work effectively up to an aperture of f/22. It relies on 759 autofocus points covering 94 percent of the sensor area. A real-time eye autofocus for people and animals (also in videos) is also said to provide better and more accurate focusing.

Video fans will also be pleased to hear about Focus Breathing Compensation, which can compensate for shifts in the frame caused by focusing. However, this only works with Sony lenses that are connected via the E-mount connection. In this case, the images are cropped via cropping.

Keyword video: The Sony A7 IV records a maximum of 4K videos with 60 frames per second and a maximum data rate of 600 Mbit/s and that in 10 bits. A novel cooling system is supposed to allow longer continuous recordings without the camera overheating.

In addition, the Alpha 7 offers a flip-out and swiveling screen, as well as an electronic viewfinder equipped with an OLED panel with 3.68 million pixels. It achieves a frame rate of up to 120 Hz.

In the process, the A7 IV also offers integrated connections such as HDMI Type A, USB-C (10 Gbps, charging function) as well as the older Micro-USB format. Two card slots for SD (UHS-II) and CF Express Type A cards are already integrated.

Price and Availability

The Sony A7 IV is scheduled for launch in December 2021. The manufacturer’s MSRP is 2799 euros for the body alone. Together with the kit lens including 28 – 70 mm zoom (SEL2870), the package is 2,999 euros.