Sony A7 IV + Battery

The Sony A7 IV is a powerful hybrid camera for the serious photographer and videographer. I capture smooth 4K footage and sharp 33MP photos. Thanks to the IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization), I easily shoot stable handheld footage. However, I noticed that the burst speed for uncompressed RAW files drops to 5 to 6 fps. If you often photograph fast-moving subjects, such as athletes or race cars, and you primarily work with uncompressed files, this is something to keep in mind.

Smooth 4K videos and sharp photos I tested the Sony A7 IV with the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens. With this kit, I easily capture a variety of subjects. I tested the camera at a petting zoo and photographed wide landscapes from a distance and animals up close. The photos I took with this camera are razor-sharp thanks to its 33-megapixel resolution. I shoot in RAW and JPEG so I have editing options and can share my images quickly. For example, I photograph a cat enjoying the sun, and even after zooming in, I can clearly see all its hairs in my photos. These small details stand out even more thanks to the bokeh effect I create with the lens. I'm also happy with the videos I shoot. The A7 IV films in high resolution, 4K, at 60 frames per second. This allows me to smoothly capture a couple of playful goats. I film in 8-bit to save memory. For more color depth, I switch to 10-bit. This gives me even more flexibility in post-processing.

Fast autofocus on the eyes of people and animals The Sony A7 IV's autofocus is fast and quiet. I point the camera at a goat, and it immediately focuses on its eyes. The animal isn't startled by the soft sound of the shutter release. The autofocus also works well with people, making this camera suitable for portrait photography as well. In burst mode, this camera shoots a maximum of 10 compressed RAW photos per second. If you work with uncompressed files, this drops to 5 to 6 photos per second. For most situations, this is more than enough. Do you enjoy shooting fast-moving subjects like athletes or race cars and prefer working with uncompressed files? Then keep this limitation in mind.

Handy video functions with a single button On top of the camera is a function button that I customize. With a single press, I switch between video functions like Active Mode, Focus Compensation, and AF Assist. Active Mode further stabilizes my footage when I'm filming while walking. The IBIS in this camera helps with this. Thanks to this image stabilization in the camera body, I shoot sharp videos handheld. That works well, especially when I'm filming from an awkward angle and my hand shakes more. That's why I also recommend this camera for travel photography.

What a beast of a camera this is, for both my photography and video work. Before this I had the Sony A7iii, which was already a great camera. This one has a better grip, higher megapixel sensor, and 10-bit video (this is what makes the difference for me).

Keep them coming Sony!

Switched to the cinemaline after using it for a little over 1 year for mainly video. Nothing but praise for the image quality. Unfortunately less enthusiastic in the audio field. As soon as you plug in a headphone, the screen is extremely limited when tilting because the plug is in the way. The optional XLR unit regularly malfunctions (Accessory not supported). HDMI is also not always free of interference. After 1 year, the camera is returned to Sony because the headphone plug has stopped working. In short, do you occasionally make a video? That's fine. Are you going to use it for serious filming? Then choose something from the cinema line.