Alpha a7R IV Body
Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera Body
The Sony Alpha a7R IV continues to push the boundaries as the fourth edition of the a7R series to deliver impressive imagery and versatility.
Features
Moving to an even higher resolution realm, the Sony Alpha a7R IV continues the
noteworthy series of highly capable full-frame cameras, characterized by
impressive stills and video performance and versatility. This fourth edition of
the a7R sees the inclusion of an updated 61MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor and
enhanced BIONZ X image processor, which afford impressive imaging results with
marked smoothness, a 15-stop dynamic range, and, of course, speed. Up to 10 fps
shooting is possible along with the ability to record UHD 4K30 video, both with
support for Real-time Eye AF and Tracking AF technologies. The revised sensor
design uses a Fast Hybrid AF System, with 567 phase-detection autofocus points,
for notably fast and accurate focusing performance. Despite being such a
high-resolution sensor, it is also distinguished by its flexible native
sensitivity range from ISO 100–32000 for working in a variety of lighting
conditions. Additionally, benefitting both stills and video operation, the a7R
IV retains the 5-axis SteadyShot INSIDE sensor-shift image stabilization, which
is effective to minimize the appearance of camera shake by up to 5.5 stops.
Balancing the imaging merits, the a7R IV also sees an updated physical design with more robust weather sealing to suit working in especially harsh weather conditions. In terms of usability, the OLED electronic viewfinder has been boosted to an impressive 5.76m-dot resolution for clear viewing and the 3.0" rear tilting touchscreen LCD has a high 1.44m-dot resolution for crisp playback, live view shooting, and menu navigation. Dual SD card slots are both UHS-II-rated for faster performance and the inclusion of a USB Type-C port permits tethering and quick in-camera battery charging. Additionally, built-in Bluetooth and both 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands afford wireless transferring and remote camera control from linked mobile devices.
Dedicated Accessories from Sony
Complementing the camera body is a trio of accessories to increase battery life
and enhance audio recording capabilities when shooting video. The VG-C4EM
Vertical Grip is the dedicated battery grip, which accepts up to two more
NP-FZ100 batteries for extended shooting times. Its ergonomic design also
enhances handling when shooting in the vertical orientation.
For improved audio recording, and making use of the a7R IV's updated Multi Interface Shoe and digital audio interface, there is the ECM-B1M Shotgun Microphone, which delivers a digital audio stream directly to the camera for cleaner quality with low noise. For even more advanced audio control, there is also the XLR-K3M XLR Adapter Kit, which is a dual-channel digital XLR audio adapter for connecting external microphones to the camera while still benefitting from the digital audio interface.
61MP Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor and BIONZ X Image Processor
Featuring a back-illuminated design, the full-frame 61MP Exmor R CMOS sensor
works with the BIONZ X image processor to offer impressively high-resolution
stills and video while minimizing noise, improving speed, and achieving a wide
15-stop dynamic range. This sensor structure works with gapless on-chip lens
design and an anti-reflection coating, as well as eliminating the optical
low-pass filter, to improve light collection and enhance detail. Also, the
copper wiring layer dramatically improves data transmission speed for creating
14-bit, high-resolution 61MP stills with a native sensitivity range from ISO
100–32000, which can be further expanded to ISO 50–102400. Also, it enables
internal UHD 4K video recording with a wide 14-stop dynamic range using either
the full width of the full-frame sensor or an APS-C-sized area. The BIONZ X
processor also works in conjunction with a high-speed front-end LSI to realize
faster processing times along with the ability to capture this impressive
15-stop dynamic range with smooth tonal rendering.
The sensor and processor combination also avails fast continuous shooting at up to 10 fps at full resolution, for up to 68 consecutive frames, with full-time AF/AE.
Fast Hybrid AF System
An updated Fast Hybrid AF system now employs a combination of
567 phase-detection points, which cover approximately 99.7% of the height and
74% of the width of the frame, along with 425 contrast-detection areas for
reliable and quick autofocus and subject tracking performance. This focusing
system also achieves especially quick speed and reliable tracking, as well as
enhanced low-light focusing response down to –3 EV. The use of
phase-detection points also enables the use of A-mount lenses via the optional
LA-EA3 or LA-EA1 lens mount adapters with full continuous AF/AE tracking
compatibility.
The apt focus system also lends itself to a variety of focusing functions for refined accuracy, including Lock-on AF, which maintains focus on moving subjects throughout the use of a configurable frame that is set over the desired moving subject, and Expand Flexible Spot, which employs neighboring focus points to retain focus on moving subjects even if the originally selected point loses focus. Additionally, Eye AF can be used to base focus on recognized human subjects' eyes for portraits and is available in both AF-S and AF-C modes, for both stills and video. Eye AF can be used when photographing animal subjects, too, with any focusing mode when shooting stills. Autofocus can also be used in conjunction with the Focus Magnifier function for critical focus when homing in on minute subject details. The rear touchscreen can also be used for Touch Focus control, and a Touchpad Focus Control mode lets you use the rear screen intuitively while keeping your eye to the viewfinder.
Body Design and Built-In Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
- An updated UXGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF is featured and has a 5.76m-dot resolution for bright, clear viewing in rich detail, and a dedicated High quality setting enables a 120 fps refresh rate for especially smooth playback of moving subjects.
- In addition to the EVF, a 3.0" 1.44m-dot rear LCD is also available, which has a touch panel design for intuitive operation and focusing control. The screen also tilts upward 107° and downward 41° to benefit working from high and low angles.
- Magnesium alloy chassis assures rigidity, durability, and stability while remaining lightweight. The lens mount has also been improved to better support heavy lenses and the grip rigidity has been improved for more comfortable hand-holding.
- Extensive weather-sealing, including enhanced sealing around the battery cover, terminal cover, and chassis joints, has been employed to resist dust and moisture for reliable operation in harsh weather conditions.
- Using the same NP-FZ100 battery as its predecessor, the a7R IV's battery life is rated for approximately 530 shots per charge with the EVF or 670 shots with the rear LCD.
- Dual SD memory card slots allow for flexible file saving and handling and can be configured to partition raw and JPEG files or can be used for overflow recording. Both of the card slots are rated to support UHS-II memory cards for faster transfer speeds.
- Integrated PC sync terminal for wired flash sync with strobe packs or wireless radio remotes.
- A USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port has been added, in addition to a micro-USB port, for faster, more reliable tethering support. The USB Type-C connection allows the camera to be charged from the host power source while connected.
- Updated Multi Interface Shoe supports working with the optional ECM-B1M Shotgun Microphone or XLR-K3M XLR Adapter Kit, which provide improved, clear audio recording sound by sending a digital audio signal to the camera, opposed to an analog signal.
- The a7R IV also features a 3.5mm microphone input jack for compatibility with external microphones.
- Built-in Wi-Fi enables the a7R IV to instantly share imagery to mobile devices for direct sharing online to social networking, via email, and to cloud storage sites. Support for both 2.4 and 5.0 GHz bands also enables wireless tethered shooting support. NFC (Near Field Communication) is also supported, which allows for one-touch connection between the camera and compatible mobile devices; no complex set-up is required. Once connected, the linked mobile device can also display a live view image on its screen and remotely control the camera's shutter.
- Bluetooth connectivity allows for location data acquisition.
5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization
Packed into the robust a7R IV is a 5.5-stop effective 5-axis SteadyShot INSIDE
image stabilization system that compensates for five different types of camera
shake encountered during handheld shooting of stills and video. This allows
users to confidently use any lens, even adapted lenses, for critical imaging
without encountering blur from camera shake.
For long focal lengths, the system will correct for pitch and yaw adjustments. Macro and high-magnification imagery, on the other hand, will benefit from the inclusion of horizontal and vertical shift compensation. All shooting styles will get usage out of the roll compensation. All 5 axes of stabilization will function at all times, even when used with third-party lenses and adapters or lenses with built-in optical stabilization.
Pixel Shift Multi Shooting
This unique compositing mode allows you to achieve even greater resolution than
the 61MP sensor affords. Working in conjunction with the sensor-shift image
stabilization, this mode shifts the sensor while making 16 consecutive
exposures in order to acquire approximately 240.8MP of information for greater
color accuracy and detail than possible with a single exposure, along with an
impressive image size of 19,008 × 12,672-pixels. These files can then be
merged together during post-production by using the Sony Imaging
software suite.
UHD 4K Video Recording in XAVC S Format
Internal recording of UHD 4K movies is possible in multiple frame rates up to
30 fps and, based on the Super35mm recording area and effective 6K resolution,
oversampling renders greater detail and full pixel readout is possible, that is
void of pixel binning, for higher quality imagery with reduced moir? and
aliasing. Full-frame 4K recording has also been dramatically improved for
improved quality when working at mid to high sensitivities to permit full use of
the entire sensor width. Full HD 1080p recording is also supported in frame
rates up to 120 fps, and both resolutions utilize the 100 Mbps XAVC S format
contained within an MP4 wrapper with 4:2:0 sampling. The high-speed, 120 fps
recording also enables 4× and 5× slow-motion movie recording with the frame
rate set to either 30p or 24p. In addition to high-resolution internal
recording, uncompressed HDMI output also enables the use of an optional external
recorder for clean 4K recording with 4:2:2 sampling.
4K video recording also avails the ability to produce 8MP stills during playback by taking a frame grab from a movie and storing it as a separate file.
Additional Video Features
Support for HDR Content:
Affording extensive customizable color and gamma controls, the a7R IV allows
users to adjust the gamma, black level, knee, color level, and more. Also, users
can use the same S-Log2 Gamma Curve that is found on high-end Sony Cinema
cameras that squeezes up to 1300% more dynamic range into the video signal then
traditional REC709, for increased post-production flexibility. HLG (Hybrid
Log-Gamma) support is also available, along with the BT.2020 color space, for
recording within a wide color gamut and, in addition to S-Log2, S-Log3 is also
available for producing an effective 14-stop dynamic range with increased
grading control in the shadow to mid-tone regions of the image.
Slow & Quick Motion:
Take more control over your video capture capabilities with a variety of new
frame rates available in an S&Q mode. This will allow shooters to capture
Full HD video at one of either steps between 1–120 fps. These settings will
allow you to slow down action as well as speed up a slow-moving scene. This
setting is also NTSC/PAL switchable.
Enhanced Zebra Function:
An enhanced Zebra function is ideally suited to aid in monitoring exposure
values in high-contrast scenes. Video signal level targets can be set from 0 to
109, and specific ranges can be set to make exposure level adjustments
easier.
Time Code and User Bit Settings:
A time code can be used to record hours, minutes, seconds, frames on image data
for more precise editing while the User Bit function can record date, time, and
scene number to aid in editing together footage from multiple cameras.
Proxy Recording:
UHD 4K movies and lower-resolution proxy movies can be simultaneously recorded.
The smaller proxy files are ideal for quick previewing or pre-editing that can
reduce the time required for final 4K editing.
Other Camera Features
- A Ratings function lets you assign star values, from 1–5, to images in-camera for faster editing and sorting at home during post-production.
- An advanced 1200-zone evaluative exposure metering sensor delivers consistent and accurate results using multi-segment, center-weighted, or spot metering modes.
- Highlight and Average metering modes helps avoid blown-out highlights and provide stable auto-exposure, respectively.
- Anti-flicker shooting automatically recognizes and times the shutter action to minimize the flicker effect for more consistent results on still images.
- Picture Effect modes: Posterization (Color), Posterization (B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R/G/B/Y), High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera (Normal/Cool/Warm/Green/Magenta), and Soft High-Key.
- Creative Style modes: Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Autumn leaves, Black & White, Sepia, Style Box (1–6), (Contrast (-3 to +3 steps), Saturation (-3 to +3 steps), Sharpness (-3 to +3 steps).
Lens Mount: Sony E-Mount
Camera Format: Full-Frame (1 x Crop Factor)
Pixels:
Actual: 62.5 Megapixel
Effective: 61 Megapixel
Max Resolution 9504 × 6336
Aspect Ratio 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9
Sensor Type / Size CMOS, 35.7 × 23.8 mm
Image File Formats JPEG, RAW
Bit Depth 14-Bit
Memory Card Type 2 X SD/ SDHC/ SDXC
Image Stabilisation Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis
Video Encording Yes, NTSC/PAL
Recording Modes
XAVC S
UHD 4K (3840 × 2160p) at 23.976p/ 25p/ 29.97p (60–100 Mb/s)
Full HD (1920 × 1080p) at 23.976p/ 24p/ 25p/ 29.97p/ 50p/ 59.94p/ 100p/ 120p
(16–100 Mb/s)
External Recording Modes
4:2:2 8-Bit
DCI 4K (4096 × 2160) at 23.976p/ 25p/ 29.97p)
Full HD (1920 × 1080) at 23.976p/ 50i/ 50p/ 59.94i/ 59.94p
Video Clip Length Up to 29 Min
Audio Recording
Built-In Mic (Stereo)
Optional External Mic (Stereo)
Video ISO Sensitivity
Auto (100 – 12800)
Manual (100 – 32000)
Focus Type Auto and Manual
Focus Mode Automatic (A), Continuous-Servo AF ©, Direct Manual
Focus (DMF), Manual Focus (M), Single-Servo AF (S)
Autofocus Points
Phase Detection: 567
Contrast Detection: 425
Autofocus Sensitivity -3 to +20 EV
Viewfinder Type Electronic (OLED)
Viewfinder Size 0.5"
Viewfinder Resolution 5,760,000 Dot
Viewfinder Eye Point 23 mm
Viewfinder Coverage 100%
Viewfinder Magnification Approx. 0.78×
Diopter Adjustment –4.0 to +3.0 m
**Display Screen 3" Rear Touchscreen Tilting LCD (1,440,000 Dot)
**ISO Sensitivity Auto, 100–32000 (Extended Mode: 50–102400)
Shutter
1/8000 – 30 Second in Bulb Mode
1/8000 – 1/4 Second in Movie Mode
Metering Method Centre-Weighted Average, Multi-Zone, Spot, Highlight Weighted
Exposure Modes
Modes: Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority
Metering Range: EV –3.0 – EV 20.0
Compensation: –5 EV to +5 EV (in 1/3 or 1/2 EV Steps)
White Balance Modes
Auto, Cloudy, Colour Temperature, Custom, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent (Cool
White), Fluorescent (Daylight), Fluorescent (Warm White), Incandescent, Shade,
Underwater
Buffer/Continuous Shooting
Up to 10 fps at 61 MP for up to 68 Exposures in JPEG Format
Flash Modes
Auto, Fill-In, Hi-Speed Sync, Off, Rear Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync,
Wireless
Built-in Flash No
Max Sync Speed 1/250 Second
Flash Compensation –3 EV to +3 EV (in 1/3 or 1/2 EV
steps)
Dedicated Flash System S-TTL
External Flash Connection Hot Shoe, PC Terminal
Self Timer 10 Seconds, 5 Seconds, 2 Seconds
Connectivity
3.5mm Headphone, 3.5mm Microphone, HDMI D (Micro), USB 2.0 Micro-B, USB 3.0,
USB Type-C
Wireless
WiFi
Bluetooth
Battery
1 x NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 7.2 VDC, 2280 mAh
(Approx. 530 shots)
Operating Temperature
0 to 40°C
Dimensions (W x H x D)
128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5 mm
Weight 665 g