The newest entry in Sony’s “basic” full frame camera line is anything but. Offering 33.0 MP of resolution, incredible speed, intelligent operation, advanced video performance and more, you’ll find everything you need to amaze even yourself here. Read on for image samples and a plethora of information on this new and exciting update.
The first α7 V bodies are expected in mid-December, just in time for Christmas! The α7 V will also be available in a kit with the FE 28–70mm f/3.5–5.6 OSS II lens. For lifelike imagery, seamless shooting, powerful creation, and the kind of reliability you need for everyday use, the α7 V has got you covered.
At the heart of the α7 V is a 33.0 MP full-frame partially stacked EXMOR R CMOS sensor, paired with a powerful BIONZ XR2 processor (which features, of course, an integrated machine learning processing unit). One of those deep-learning capabilities which I find quite rousing: intelligent light source recognition, dramatically improving automatic white balance (compared to the α7 IV). Brilliant! The sensor features a 16-stop dynamic range (which, wow) and should produce noticeably less noise at higher ISOs.
Another use of the BIONZ XR2’s machine learning capabilities is, as you likely guessed, a robust autofocus tracking system. The 759 focal plane PDAF points form a symphony conducted by the processor—guided by pose estimation intelligence and recognition of subjects including humans, animals, birds, bugs, cars, trains, and planes, you’re sure to nail it more often than not, and in more situations than you might think. Sony’s testing has proven the AF system to be accurate in low-light situations as grim as EV -4.0.
Speaking of nailing the shot, the α7 V can help you out in more ways than keeping you focused. The 5-axis sensor-tilt IBIS system has been rated to improve hand shake by up to 7.5 stops (which can be improved significantly more when recording video, thanks to software-based Active Mode stabilization), so your captures will be as crisp as you need them to be. Control of color is also completely in your hands. 12 Creative Look presets allow you to shift the tone easily and effectively—this is a good way to get the creative juices a-flowing, too—while in-camera RAW processing allows more hands-on tweakery. The α7 V can process multi-frame RAW captures for HDR color as well as noise-reduction. On the video side, the α7 V includes S-Log3 recording for absolute maximum latitude in post-production color grading, but also allows you to upload up to 16 LUTs for in-camera preview and processing. And, yes, there are “content creator” oriented features, such as on-screen controls which are re-oriented for vertical use—a surprisingly uncommon sight!
Movies are recorded with a maximum quality of 4K 60p oversampled from 7K with full pixel readout and no binning (whew, that was a mouthful). High speed 120p 4K recordings are also possible, with plenty of other lower-resolution combinations available. Cropping into a lower resolution enables an intelligent Auto-Framing stabilization and aesthetic-advisement feature. The heat dissipation system allows for 90 minutes of continuous recording, so you should rarely find a project frustrated by heat hang-ups. There’s even an in-camera audio noise reduction filter!
Appropriate attention has been paid by Sony’s engineers to monitoring, as that is where you will be paying attention. Up close, a 3.68-million-dot OLED offers blackout-free readouts of 30 fps bursts*, even when shooting 14-bit, full-resolution RAW. From other angles, a 3.2″ 2.1 million dot 4-axis adjustable monitor should prove more than sufficient for anyone’s needs.
Finally, the body is about what you’d expect if you’ve seen previous α7 cameras (which is a good thing). A magnesium alloy chassis decked out with rubber seals offers durability with dust- and moisture-resistance. Buttons and dials are thoughtfully placed for extremely intuitive operation. Both card slots (for there are, indeed, two) will accept SDXC cards, with one of them additionally capable of accepting CFexpress Type A cards. WiFi transfer is as slick as ever, and the α7 V can be used for instant 4K Live Streaming via USB-C. Accessibility features, including a screen reader and adjustable menu text size, really make this one a camera for the people.
All that, and environmental thought, too! More than 20% of the α7 V is made from recycled plastic and the package includes no plastic waste. If that’s not enough to tip the scales, come check it out in person with one of our imaging experts… but it might not be until next year, as we’re expecting plenty of pre-orders!
*Side note: the α7 V can perform 60 AF/AE calculations per second during the burst… that’s full capacity! There’s an adjustable pre-capture, too.
