Sony A7R V Review

The Sony A7R V is a major upgrade for the A7R series and is far from just an incremental update. While previous versions of the A7R Series focused on ultra-high resolution, the A7R V takes things up a notch by combining the 61MP sensor with a huge boost in processing power. The result of that processing boost is a faster, smarter autofocus, improved image stabilisation, and thankfully better handling of those massive files. If you ever used the original A7R then you’ll know exactly how painful the wait for files to save down could be.

After using the camera for a few weeks there is absolutely no doubt that the A7R V is a professional-level camera, designed for photographers who need that scale of resolution without compromising on speed or performance. The upgraded Bionz XR processor and dedicated AI processing chip also mean that the autofocus is more intelligent and responsive than ever—perfect for studio work as well as landscape photographers who need precision.

That said, there’s no getting around the fact that 61MP files are huge. If you’re working on an older or slower computer, you’ll need to factor in long processing times, and storage can quickly become a pain. While Sony has added a few compression options, this isn’t a camera aimed at casual users or enthusiasts—it’s built for those who demand the best image quality possible and have the workflow to handle it.

Sony has positioned the A7R V as the ultimate high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera, sitting just below the flagship A1. Unlike the A7 IV, which balances stills and video equally, the A7R V is all about image quality first, making it ideal for studio, commercial, and landscape photographers who need detail-rich, high-resolution files.

The Sony A7R V retails for £3,999 / $3,9000 / €4,500. It went on sale in December 2022.

The Sony A7R V sticks with the same 61MP sensor as its predecessor, the A7R IV, and while the resolution itself hasn’t changed, what has is how fast and efficiently the camera processes those enormous files. The upgraded Bionz XR processor makes a massive difference, enabling fast image handling, buffering, and general improvements in the cameras responsiveness and handling. Compared with previous A7R cameras there’s a marked boost in the overall speed of all aspects of image handling.

One of the biggest boosts to the performance is the intergration of Sony’s AI-driven autofocus system. Again I’ve been impressed with just how much of a boost this is to the system and is far from an incremental update. When using the camera to recognise a subject and track it just all feels more intuitive and reliable, with it locking onto eyes, faces, animals, and even birds with speed.

The AF speed also plays a crucial role in making the A7R V a more practical camera for professional work, rather than just a high-resolution specialist. Autofocus is snappy and responsive, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice speed for detail—a common issue with ultra-high-resolution cameras in the past.

However, there’s no getting around the fact that 61MP files are enormous. Even on a powerful machine like the MacBook Pro M1 Max, processing these images can cause slowdowns—so if you’re working on older hardware, expect some performance challenges. Storage is another consideration; you’ll need high-capacity cards and plenty of external storage to keep up with the file sizes.

On the usability front, Sony’s new 4-axis articulating screen is something that is very welcome and was the one feature that made me upgrade from the A7 III to the A7 IV a couple of years ago. It adds a lot more flexibility than a standard tilt or fully articulating screen, making it easier to compose shots for both stills and video.

The combination of the high-resolution sensor, advanced processing power, and AI-enhanced autofocus makes the A7R V one of the most capable professional cameras out there. It retains everything great about the A7R IV but dramatically improves performance, usability, and speed, making it far more than just a resolution bump.

Sony has refined the design of the A7R V, and while it will still feel familiar to anyone who’s used an A7-series camera, there are some noticeable improvements. The grip is deeper, enabling a more secure hold, especially when using larger lenses. It’s not quite as chunky as some DSLR-style bodies, but it’s still well-balanced.

One of the biggest usability upgrades is the fully articulating screen. The versatility of the screens position makes composing shots much easier especially when working at awkward angles, it’s also handy when shooting video and reviewing images. That said, as many photographers especially Pro’s prefer to use the viewfinder to compose, you’ll be pleased to hear that I found the A7R V’s EVF was clear and bright, offering a detailed view with a fast refresh rate.

The menus have seen some tweaks, and while they are slightly better organised, prepare to still feel a little overwhelmed if you’re new to Sony’s system. That said, if you’ve used previous A7 cameras, you’ll likely be able to navigate things without too much trouble. As ever with most cameras the key to making this work for you is customisation—assigning your most-used functions to custom buttons and the My Menu system will make a big difference to how you use the camera.

One area where Sony has made a real improvement is the port covers especially over the standard A7 series, these are now far more premium and robust, fixing one of the common complaints from previous models.
Overall, the A7R V refines the design and usability, with plenty of customisation that will appeal to professionals.

Follow the link to browse and download full-resolution images from the Sony A7R V. Most of the images are straight from the camera and uncropped or edited, but a few have been cropped to improve the composition, followed by some light editing.

Please respect our copyright.

[FAG id=1398375]

Straight up the Sony A7R V is a superb camera, delivering a level of speed and precision that makes it a serious tool for professionals and while enthusiasts will love this camera if you are considering it – do carefully consider the size of those files. Sony’s AI-driven autofocus system is one of the big upgrades, and the more I tested it the more I could see that it genuinely lives up to the hype. Subject recognition is accurate identifying and tracking humans, animals, birds, insects, vehicles, and even aeroplanes with my 200-600mm lens.

Autofocus performance holds up impressively well in different lighting conditions. In low light, the system remains responsive, locking onto subjects even in dim environments. High-contrast situations or rapidly changing light don’t seem to throw it off either, thanks to the AI processing that helps predict movement and maintain sharp focus. This is where the A7R V really stands out from its predecessor—it doesn’t just focus quickly, it does so intelligently.

When it comes to high ISO performance, the A7R V shows decent noise control, though the improvement over the A7R IV isn’t dramatic. The Bionz XR processor helps in refining image processing, resulting in cleaner files at higher ISO values, particularly in shadow areas where noise can often creep in. Images up to ISO 3200 or even 6400 retain excellent detail with fine-grained noise that doesn’t heavily impact image quality. Beyond that, noise does become more apparent, but it remains well controlled and doesn’t completely degrade the finer details. The camera also maintains dynamic range slightly better than its predecessor at higher ISO settings, preserving highlight and shadow details more effectively. While this isn’t a low-light specialist like the A7S III, it does get the balance between resolution and high ISO performance.

Handling such high-resolution files could be a challenge, but Sony has addressed this with the improved processing power. The dual Bionz XR processors make the A7R V feel fast and responsive, even when working with large 61MP raw files, if only that speed had crossed over to my PC. Everything from startup times to image review and menu navigation runs smoothly. Shooting at 10fps sees the buffer handling extended bursts much better than the previous A7R. The increased buffer capacity enables longer bursts before hitting any slowdown, and using CFexpress Type A cards significantly improves that performance. Even when the buffer fills, it clears quickly, letting you get back to shooting too much of a wait.

Sony has also made a few changes to the in-body image stabilisation, with the A7R V now offering up to 8 stops of stabalisation. This is a big jump from the 5.5 stops in the A7R IV. The most noticeable difference is when shooting at slower shutter speeds, as it enables sharper images without the need for a tripod. For video, the stabilisation system also helps smooth out minor movements, before you need to switch to a gimbal, although a gimbal will always be a better option.

Battery life remains pretty good for a camera in this class. Sony rates the A7R V at around 530 shots when using the LCD and 440 shots with the EVF, though I found that this varied depending on the settings I was using and the shooting conditions – so use this as a variable guide.

If you’re are a professional then you’ll probably pack another battery anyway, and I’ve found the SmallRig NP-FZ batteries a great option. Through the test I found that essentially I was able to get through most of the day without needing to swap batteries when shooting stills, but as ever when shooting video this is an entirely different matter.

Overall, the Sony A7R V is an excellent camera that has been designed for professionals needing a combination of resoution and speed. The AI-powered autofocus, improved processing speed, and enhanced stabilisation make it quite a leap forward from its predecessor despite the fact that it retains that 61 MP sensor.

The Sony A7R V is without a doubt the best high-resolution mirrorless camera on the market right now. While it carries over the same 61MP sensor as its predecessor, the improvements to processing speed and autofocus make it a far more capable and responsive camera in real-world use. The AI-driven autofocus system is excellent, making subject tracking faster and more intelligent than ever. If you’re looking for speed as well as resolution—whether in the studio or out in the field—this alone makes it a a great upgrade option over the A7R IV.

If you shoot video then the redesigned four-axis articulating screen is another major advantage. It adds far more flexibility than previous models, making it a much better tool for those who need a camera that can handle both high-resolution stills and professional-quality video. While the A7R series has traditionally been more focused on stills, Sony has clearly designed the A7R V to be a more balanced hybrid camera.

That said, the resolution of this camera does come with some practical considerations, mainly shooting those 61MP images. All that image data means that file sizes are enormous, and working with them requires a plenty of storage and a relatively powerful computer to keep enhancements.

Overall, the A7R V is a superb option for professional photographers who need image resolution, image quality, and fast autofocus. If you’re upgrading from the A7R IV, the improvements in processing speed, autofocus, and usability make it well a great option if you can afford it. If you’re stepping up from the standard A7 series, this camera offers a big leap in image quality, but with the speed and responsiveness to match.