Sony A7R V price, specs, release date revealed

The Sony A7R V has been announced, featuring a 61MP sensor and 8K video. Alongside the usual design and resolution enhancements, the headline news for this new Sony camera is the inclusion of AI processing; I’ll come to what that actually means for you and your images later in the post. 

Other key features of the new camera are the latest BIONZ XR image processor, a 35mm full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor, high precision image stabilisation and 8K24/25P video and 4K video oversampled from 6.2k without binning. 

The camera’s design has also been enhanced. The Sony A7R V features a new 4-axis multi-angle LCD monitor design. This new Sony monitor design combines a conventional tilt monitor with side opening vari angles.

• Check out our Sony A7R hands-on review

Before I go on and break down the features and what this new Sony Alpha 7R V camera has to offer, check out some of the new features of the Sony A7R V in the official launch video here. 

The Sony Alpha 7R V is all about AI

The Sony Alpha 7R V or A7R V features an all-new AI (artificial intelligence) processing unit with dedicated AI-based image recognition. This is a first for any Sony Alpha camera and works alongside the powerful BIONX XR image processing engine. Sony states, “The combination of the high-resolution sensor and these processors enables new breakthroughs in subject recognition and capture for both still photography and video.”

The camera uses the new AI system across multiple modes and functions and works for both stills and video. One of the leading themes of the AI system is the ability for advanced subject recognition through deep learning; this enables the camera to recognise and track humans with extreme accuracy. At a base level, that sounds slightly scary but essentially means that the AI system will help ensure you get the pictures you need for sports and event photography. 

The new Sony AI system works by processing detailed information about the human form and pose, enabling the camera to outperform cameras that presently only utilise face and eye detection. 

The AI has been developed for real-time recognition and can detect several types of objects, including animals, vehicles and insects. 

Sony A7R V fast focus tracking and shooting.

The new AI features build on Sony’s existing AF and drive technologies which all see a boost in the new camera. Real-time tracking is enhanced with a faster, more precise, wide-area, high-density AF system. 

Wildlife and event photographers will welcome the silent vibration-free shooting at up to 7fps, continuous shooting for up to 583 compressed raw images at high speed and 10fps with AF/AE tracking. 

The Sony A7R series is known for its high-resolution images. Other AF features have been fine-tuned, including DMF (Direct Manual Focus) and focus bracketing, enabling users to capture focus-stacked images. 

Industry-leading full-frame resolution

As with the previous Sony Alpha 7R cameras, the new Alpha 7R V features a high-resolution sensor at 61MP. To help ensure that the images stay sharp, Sony has incorporated an 8-step image stabilisation system.

Video has also been well catered for with 8K video output and an all-new 4-axis multi-angle screen. 

“The newest addition to our Alpha 7R lineup is the perfect example of our relentless drive to develop industry-leading imaging technology,” said Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. “We are thrilled to introduce the all-new Alpha 7R V with high-resolution and extremely advanced AI integrations that deliver next-generation autofocus performance. We are excited to see what our community creates with the new Alpha 7R V.”

The BIONZ XR image processing engine and full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor are at the heart of the camera. The new image processor has been designed to handle the large file sizes captured by the A7R V, enabling high resolution even in low-light conditions. The Sony A7R V features a sensitivity range of ISO 100 to ISO 32000 for both stills and video, with a wide dynamic range of 15 stops. 

Sony A7R V Image Stabilisation 

Sony has developed a completely updated image stabilisation system to ensure that high-resolution images stay sharp. Advanced gyro sensors and image stabilisation algorithms ensure stability for stills and video. 

The 8-step compensation effect for stills is joined by the stabilisation algorithm that provides detection and control at single pixel level; this enables you to make the most of the full resolution in all sorts of challenging shooting conditions.

If the 65MP images aren’t enough for you, then the upgraded Pixel Shift Multi Shooting gives you more options. Taking advantage of the in-body image stabilisation, the camera can take multiple images that can be composited with the Image Edge Desktop app. The new version of the software boosts movement correction to ensure sharp, clean, high-resolution images. 

As an example of the system, you could take 16-images to composite an image with 240.8 million pixels.

Additional features for stills. 

Alongside the headline features are more enhancements, external flash control has been upgraded, and the system is now able to effectively detect and suppress flickering from artificial light for both stills and video.

There’s also the addition of Lossless raw image compression and selectable raw image sizes and quality, Greatly expanded focus and exposure bracketing, Creative Look settings for stills and videos in camera, High-quality HEIF images with high compression efficiency and Wide brightness range for large screen viewing.

Cinematic video capability

The Sony A7R series has been a staple for professional photographers who need a high-resolution stills camera. Yet, alongside the imaging is the video capabilities. 

The new camera features 8Ki 24/25P video and 4K oversampled from 6.2k without pixel binning. To help combat the huge file sizes captured when shooting 4 and 8K video, Sony has included the ability to capture in the high-efficiency. MPEG-H HEVC/H.265 codec, all intra-recording, 10-bit 4:2:2, along with plenty of other options and features. 

Video has also been boosted with evolved subject recognition to enable real-time tracking reliability, breathing compensation, the ability to use camera metadata for post-processing, and advanced in-body image stabilisation. 

Sony A7R V operation

The Sony A7R V is a camera squarely aimed at the professional market and packs in features that will appeal to any jobbing photographer. The compact form factor with a fully articulated LCD monitor adn electronic viewfinder with 9.44 million dots will give a clear idea of the captured images and video. The new screen is a touch screen and offers a greater amount of customisation than ever before. 

The new camera features two CFexpress Type-A/SDXC compatible slots to ensure maximum speed. 

Workflow is a serious consideration for any photographer, and Sony has updated connectivity support here. Data can be transferred over Wi-Fi (802.11ac) 2×2 MIMO or through a wired SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps connection via the USB-C port.

The Sony A7R V will also feature all-new streaming features that support UVC/UAC that will enable direct 4K (QFHD) resolution streaming. 

Heat with the high-resolution camera is always an issue, and Sony has improved heat dissipation to enable longer filming times. 

Sony A7R V price and availability

The Sony Alpha 7R V will be available in December for an estimated retail price of €4,500 EUROS / £3,999 / $3,900 USD / $5,300 CAD