The Sony A7 IV Can Shoot 4K60 Video

The Sony A7 IV Can Shoot 4K60 Video

As a follow-up to the 3-year old A7 III, Sony has announced its successor with the A7 IV that introduces several changes to make it a compelling hybrid camera for both stills and video. The biggest change in the A7 IV is the use of a new 33-megapixel full-frame, backside-illuminated Exmor R sensor that has an ISO sensitivity of 50-204800. The new sensor features 759 phase-detection AF points for 94% coverage and features real-time eye autofocus for humans, animals, and birds. The IBIS system has also been upgraded, providing up to 5.5 stops of stabilization (vs 5 stops on the A7 IV).

The new sensor is paired to the same BIONZ XR processor that is found on the Alpha 1, where it is capable of shooting up to 10FPS with AF/AE tracking. The A7 IV can record 4K video using the entire sensor at 30FPS and below by downsampling from 7K to 4K. It can also record at 4K60, though it can only do so in Super 35mm mode and not by using the whole sensor. Upgrading from the A7 III, the A7 IV can now shoot videos in 10-bit depth and 4:2:2 color sampling, along with support for XAVC S-I intra-frame recording and S-Cinetone picture profile–the latter being a staple feature on Sony’s cinema cameras.

New to the A7 IV is a focus breathing compensation feature that eliminates the appearance of breathing. While the feature is only compatible with Sony lenses because of the unique way 1st-party lenses communicate to the A7 IV, Sony claims that it aims to eliminate any obvious shifts in perspective while shooting video. Aside from this new feature it borrows a feature from the FX6 where you can do manual focus even during autofocus shooting, giving you more precision with what you are shooting. Movie mode also has a focus map feature that visualizes the depth of field before recording is initiated.

The A7 IV also has a revamped design, with the OLED viewfinder offering options for both 60fps and 120fps modes. The grip shape has also been adjusted as well to suit photographers better for long shooting sessions. The rear LCD is now a vari-angle variety, allowing for more flexible shooting angles. The buttons have been rearranged as well, with the A7 IV now sporting a dedicated recording button on the top plate. You also get new dedicated dials for stills, movies, and S&Q modes. The dual card slots can accommodate either two UFS-II SD cards or one SD card and one CFExpress Type A card. The A7 IV now has a full-sized HDMI port for external recording and monitoring.

Taking cues from Canon’s higher-end EOS R cameras, the A7 IV’s shutter closes shut when you turn off the camera, protecting the sensor from the elements.

Aside from all its pro features, Sony also updated the A7 IV for streaming, as the camera will recognize when it is connected to a computer and prompt to go into streaming mode. The A7 IV is capable of up to 4K 15p UVC/UAC streaming with a simultaneous internal recording of up to 4K60 resolution.

The A7 IV is priced at $2500(~Php 127.2k) for the body only and $2700(~Php 137.4k) with the FE 28-70 f/3.5-5.6 OSS lens. It will be available in December.

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