Sony a7R V Review
One of the most complete full-frame mirrorless cameras on the market
Verdict
One of the most complete full-frame mirrorless cameras on the market today, the Sony a7R V combines cutting-edge features, an advanced autofocus system and high resolution to deliver a camera that will delight enthusiasts and professionals alike. Though at the higher-end of the cost spectrum, the build quality and performance warrants the premium price.
Pros
- Huge resolution 61-megapixel sensor
- Advanced autofocus system
- Weather-sealed and robust body
Cons
- Pricey for most
- Slower burst rate than other cameras
Key Features
- 61-megapixel sensor35mm full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor
- LCD display4-axis multi-angle monitor
- 8K video recording8K 24/25p video or 4K at up to 60p
Introduction
If you’re ready to take photography more seriously and are searching for a professional-level camera then the Sony a7R V should be on the top of your shopping list.
The full-frame mirrorless camera is a megapixel monster, serving up a huge amount of resolution from that 61-megapixel sensor and this will prove important to photographers seeking big detail to those who wish to create big prints from their files. And when I say big, I mean ginormous as the a7R V even has a High Resolution mode that will shoot multiple frames and combine them together to create a single 241-megapixel file.
The secret weapon that helps control all this beefy resolution is Sony’s latest BIONZ XR engine, which is able to process all that big data to keep operation speedy. The Sony a7R V is, by any measure, a big investment, but it will appeal to enthusiasts with deeper pockets and professionals who make their living via photography and video.
Design
- Extensive weather-sealing
- Powerful sensor and processor unit
- Functional design and durable build
Sony has stayed true to a function-over-fashion approach to design. While brands such as OM System and Fujifilm offer retro-chic design, Sony cameras are discreet, well laid out and actually a lot more compact than they have any right to be given the full-frame sensor and big technology inside the camera.
As a pro-level camera, it should come as no surprise that the Sony a7R V has premium build quality. Extensive weather sealing is provided at all body seams to protect against moisture and dust, ensuring the camera can be used in the harshest of conditions.
The inclusion of an ultrasonic actuator, which oscillates 70,000 times per second, helps keep dust off and away from the sensor to keep image quality at its finest. For the benefit of video users, the a7R V was redesigned to allow for better heat management – so much so that 8K video can be recorded for up to 30 minutes.
Images can be composed by either using the Electronic Viewfinder, which boasts one of the biggest resolutions on the market (9.44 million-dot) or via the huge 3.2-inch LCD screen. The latter is touch-sensitive and offers a flip-out, vari-angle design that will not only make awkward low/high compositions easier, but also will be good for taking self-portraits or filming vlogs when it’s flipped around.
At the side of the Sony a7R V there are dual-card slots, which are an absolute must for a camera at this price point. What’s clever about these slots is that they can take either SD or CFExpress cards so you can mix and match your storage media. Obviously, if you are capturing data-heavy content such as filming 8K video, you’ll want to opt for a CFExpress card, which typically have much larger write and write speeds.
Tipping the scales at only 723g, the Sony a7R V is compact and lightweight, especially when you consider all it offers but, despite the smaller footprint, there is a grip that enables a firm hold – something that’s doubly important in wet weather.
Features / Performance
- Enhanced autofocus system
- Large buffer
- Decent burst rate speeds
If there’s one thing Sony does really, really well, it’s autofocus and the Sony a7R V benefits from a host of technologies that make a real difference when you’re out and about taking photos.
Some of the AF features are more notable than others, including Real-Time Recognition, which uses deep learning technology to lock onto subjects in the scene and to track movement through the frame.
A whopping 693 Phase Detection AF points are accessible and these cover around 80% of the sensor. The AF system works well in low-light conditions, in fact it can operate down to -4 EV, which is practically near-darkness and you can even shoot focus-bracketing sequences which will capture up to 299, shifting the focus point incrementally between each frame and then combining them into a single picture with back to front sharpness.
Backing up these AF features is a decent amount of speed and a huge buffer. Don’t get me wrong, there are far faster cameras than the a7R V on the market, but not many of them can shoot in 61-megapixels of resolution. Despite the large file sizes, the Sony can shoot up to 10 frames per second in burst mode, which should be enough for everyday action sequences.
More important, however, is that large buffer which means, should you want to fire off a burst of images, you can capture up to 583 compressed RAW images in one hit, which is mind-boggling.
Video
- 8K video
- Ports for headphones and mic
- Full-size HDMI port
Although Sony produces cameras that are arguably more focused on video capture, such as the ZV-E1 or the a7S series, the a7R V is still a true hybrid offering, opening the door to pro video features such as that 8K (7680 x 4320) video option.
While 8K may be overkill to most, there are also 4K options at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and 24p along with the ability to shoot slow motion sequences too.
With ports for headphones and an external microphone, it means enhanced audio can be both captured and monitored, giving users the option to utilise a third-part radio mic system such as the Rode Wireless Go II.
What’s more, an external monitor can also be fitted and connected via the full-size HDMI port so video creators can actually build up a tidy rig of accessories around the a7R V.
Image Quality
- 14-Bit RAW files
- Huge pixel measurement
- Low digital noise
While high resolution isn’t always a guarantee, it should come as no surprise that the files from the Sony a7R V are more than a little special.
Packed with detail and clarity, the images benefit from Sony’s colour science that delivers excellent colour rendition that is free from any green or orange colour casts.
The 14-bit RAW files contain a huge amount of tonal data that can be taken advantage of in RAW conversion software such as Adobe Lightroom.
RAW files retain so much data that Shadows and Highlights can be adjusted to a vast tolerance, enabling detail to be revealed from underexposed areas of the frame, and Highlights can be pulled back to rescue detail from the sky in landscapes or from skintones when your portrait imagery has been overexposed.
The additional benefit of all that resolution is that, should you wish to, you can crop in intensively without overly compromising the image quality and this affords photographers a second chance to compose the scene.
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Should you buy it?
You want pro-grade photos and videos
Given the huge amount of detail, this camera would be suited to fine-art landscape shooters, or working professional portrait and wedding photographers – both genres where detail is critical and where large prints can be sold to make a profit.
You want a fast burst rate
One of the weakest elements of the Sony A7R V is the fact it has a slower burst rate than other cameras, including the more affordable Fujifilm X-T5.
Final Thoughts
Some photographers will baulk at the four grand price, but those with deeper pockets won’t fault to be impressed by the Sony a7R V’s individual standout features (resolution, autofocus, video specs) and by the camera as a whole package.
This professional-level device is capable of not only producing premium-quality stills, but also high-resolution video so actually, the price is not as unreasonable as some may surmise. Aesthetically, it may not turn heads but what it creates will do. Check out our Best Camera roundup for more options.
How we test
We test every camera we review thoroughly. We use set tests to compare features properly and we use it as our main device over the review period. We’ll always tell you what we find and we never, ever, accept money to review a product.
The Sony a7R V was tested over an extended time period in a range of real world photographic situations; from landscape shoots in the great outdoors to studio-based portrait set-ups.
Paired with the a7R V was the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens and images were captured in uncompressed RAW file format and converted in Adobe Lightroom.
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FAQs
The Sony a7R V features a full-frame sensor that delivers 61-megapixels of resolution
The Sony a7R V shoots up to 8K 24p video, but also has options for 4K 60p.
Yes, the combination of that 61-megapixel resolution, no anti-aliasing filter and that powerful processing engine allows the camera to capture multiple, data-heavy RAW files that can be converted in RAW conversion software.
Full specs
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
