I Was Wrong About The Sony a7IV
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- Опубликовано: 7 июл 2024
- While I’ve known the a7IV is a great camera since the beginning, it’s only been in the last few months that I’ve come to truly appreciate how awesome it really is. This video is a follow up to my full review and explains why the a7IV is even better than I originally thought.
•Sony a7IV:
geni.us/sWSd (Sony)
bhpho.to/33mOGZo (B&H)
•PGYTech MantisPod:
geni.us/nlUBm (Amazon)
•Sony Microphone:
bhpho.to/3ztb6Vb (B&H)
📼 a7IV Full Review:
• The Almost Perfect Hyb...
📼 a7SIII Full Review:
• The Ultimate Mirrorles...
📼 FX3 Full Review:
• Sony FX3 Full Review: ...
📼 Why I Switched From Canon to Sony:
• Canon vs. Sony Cameras...
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⏱ Chapter Markers:
0:00 - Intro & Context
1:00 - Overheating
2:35 - How The a7IV Changed My Mind
4:45 - The 4K Crop
6:02 - The Super 35 Advantage
7:12 - Custom Buttons
8:29 - Custom Settings (I REALLY overlooked this…)
10:55 - Photo Performance
11:37 - My Super Portable a7IV Setup
12:33 - Areas Where The FX3 & a7SIII Are Better
14:19 - My King of the Hill Analogy
15:49 - Is The a7IV Right For You?
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----------- VIDEO GEAR -----------
•Ecamm Live for Streaming: geni.us/ecammtom
•Sony FX3: bhpho.to/3EJuBde (B&H)
•Sony a7SIII: bhpho.to/3f8mMlS (B&H)
•Sony a7IV: bhpho.to/33mOGZo (B&H)
•Sony 24 1.4 (Main Lens): geni.us/sony24 (Amazon)
•Tamron 20-40 2.8: bhpho.to/3sTzIDy (B&H)
•Zeiss 85 1.8: geni.us/zeissbatis (Amazon)
•Sirui Anamorphic Lens: bhpho.to/309H0rV (B&H)
•GoPro Hero 11: geni.us/zXnTsh (Amazon)
•DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone : geni.us/I2e0AB (Amazon)
•ATEM Mini Video Switcher: bhpho.to/2RVGI42 (B&H)
•Elgato CamLink: geni.us/vddHN (Amazon)
•YoloBox for Mobile Streams: bhpho.to/3pc8qHU (B&H)
----------- AUDIO GEAR -----------
•Rodecaster Pro II: bhpho.to/3wCwaqI (B&H)
•Earthworks Ethos: bhpho.to/3CthFs4 (B&H)
•Shure SM7B: geni.us/tepsm7b (Amazon)
•Sennheiser MKH 50: geni.us/mkh50 (Sweetwater)
•Sony Video Mic: bhpho.to/3ztb6Vb (B&H)
•Rode VideoMic NTG: amzn.to/2ZKrHTh (Amazon)
•Sennheiser Profile (USB Mic): bhpho.to/3JDWGrh (B&H)
•Rode Boom Arm: geni.us/shr0 (Amazon)
•Sennheiser Wireless System: bhpho.to/43JgqkL (B&H)
•Rode Headphones: bhpho.to/3JNacqg (B&H)
•Blue XLR Cable: geni.us/bluexlr (B&H)
---------- LIGHTS & SUPPORTS ----------
•Nanlite Forza 200 (Key Light): geni.us/9Ofr (Amazon)
•Aputure Light Dome Mini: geni.us/vf5O (B&H)
•Small Nanlite RGB Tube Lights: geni.us/nanlite (Amazon)
•Big Nanlite RGB Tube Lights: geni.us/pavotubes (Amazon)
•Aputure MC RGB Light: geni.us/IuE4 (Amazon)
•Rolling Camera Stand: bhpho.to/3PbJGg3 (B&H)
•Big Tripod: bhpho.to/3lRoTyz (B&H)
•Small Tripod: geni.us/oQOh3Az (Amazon)
•Travel Tripod: geni.us/nlUBm (Amazon)
•Motorized Slider: bhpho.to/3ztKMJA (B&H)
•Camera Backpack: geni.us/aEH2 (Amazon)
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- Who Am I? -
Hi! My name is Tom Buck, a lifelong A/V nerd and former high school Digital Media teacher. I started this channel in 2017 as a project to share my enthusiasm for everything related to audio and video production.
It's my goal for each video to be interesting/helpful/atleastmildlyentertaining, but I'm an enthusiast and not an expert. You can take a look at my About page to know more about my background, both personally and professionally: himynameistom.com/about
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#sonyalpha #cameras #a7iv
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Episode 319: I Was Wrong About The Sony A7IV 
Кино
I love your backdrop setup. Bright colorful and so different and refreshing from all the other dark RUclips channels setups. Loved your review on the a7 iv
Thank you! Really means a lot to hear that. 🙏
That mode dial is why I almost instantly brought a 2nd A7IV. I was going to use A7IV + A7iii but I hated not having the dial on the A7iii.
It's pretty crazy how much versatility that deal adds! It makes things so much easier.
Tom, I literally LOVE your videos and reviews; you transfer so much enthusiasm and you always put your focus on the “real life” practical aspects of the gear you are reviewing.
I am always excited when you upload a new video … and your content never ever disappointed me 🤗🤗
Keep going - I really appreciate what you are doing! (A grateful FX3 AND A7IV user because of your content 💪🤝)
Michael
Thank you so much for this! It really means a lot to hear something so kind and warmhearted. Much appreciated 🙏
Tom, I appreciate a person who can take the time to come back and add to a previous video with either good or bad information. I pre purchased the A7III, and the A7IV and both cameras have performed better as I got used to the feature sets. I am in the same position, I carry my A7IV all the time, and it is a rugged little hybrid system. Thanks for taking your time to follow-up.
Thanks John! I'm glad you appreciated the video. For some reason I get nervous about revisiting topics because I don't want it to seem like I'm repeating myself, but I think it might be something worth doing more often.
@@tombuck I agree. I had to do this when I purchased the Ninja V+. After several weeks of daily use, I thought maybe my decision was not entirely correct. So, I put it down for about a month, and then went back and gave it a deep second look, and now it is almost always attached to my camera on every outing. So, I had to go back and re-think things, and then tell my friends in the broadcast operations that it was the right tool for our needs. Take care and looking for more vids from you.
Once I turned on temperature high, I have had no over heating problem. And I have come to appreciate it more as I use it more.
I thought I was compromising by getting 2 A7IVs for my video work instead of an FX3 or A7SIII... but I have not regretted my purchase at all. The pictures are beautiful and the video is incredibly sharp. I don't miss the higher end cameras at all even though I frequently use an FX3 at my day job. The A7IV is truly a camera that perfectly balances it's hybrid role and your one of the first reviewers I've seen praise it for that .Thanks!
Thanks Matt! I'm glad you're loving your cameras! I think it's definitely important for people to remember that anything "hybrid" is going to have some compromises, but as long as you're aware of that going in, then it's not an issue.
I guess the A1 would be Sony's no-compromise hybrid? Bit it's also like 3x the price of this one 😬
I got 2 A7iv also - no regrets. These things are a beast and the actually low light tests are super comparable to the Fx3
You seem so kind! Anyway, I love how you described the custom modes. Never knew so many settings were possible. Also thanks for showing us how to do it.
Totally blew my mind when I discovered that! Thank you for the kind words 🙏
Thanks Tom! Just bought one! Your videos are really helping me with my channel! Seriously appreciate your expertise 🤩
So glad to hear that! I hope you really enjoy the camera! 😎
Long term reviews > short term reviews for this reason. When you first get something, you're focused on how it's not the old thing you have/had that you probably love. But you come to appreciate the differences in time and going back to the old thing often reveals what you miss about the new one that you just kind of take for granted now.
Yep, 100%. There's value in first impressions/first looks, but there's just no way around the benefits of a longer perspective.
3:46 YES. I started to reserve my FX3 for my commercial shoots since I got the A7IV... so now the A7IV is my go to everyday camera.
It's the perfect "all arounder" 👍
Great circle back review Tom. My A7iv has eliminated the use of all of my other bodies, even my trusted Panasonic gh5ii, which i absolutely love. The convenience of that mode dial is something one can only truly appreciate once you have it. My A7c is collecting dust. Literally!
Ahh, poor A7c! 😁
You're totally right though, the quality of life features take time to learn/appreciate, but really do make a world of difference.
I was thinking of getting the a7c to go smaller from my a7iii but people keep saying it collects dust while they’re out with their a7iv lol. Looks like I’m just selling and upgrading!
I use the PGYTEC MantisPod Pro for my run and gun filmmaking with the FX3 all the time, it has literally replaced 90% of the times I would need to use a gimbal, as it is fantastic for creating a third point of contact against the body while shooting. Great stuff you got yourself a sub!
The MantisPod is so fantastic! I definitely wish I'd gotten it sooner.
Right there with you on the “bringing it into the wild” sentiment. My appreciation for the a7iv grew quickly after traveling with it a few times.
Everything really changed once I started traveling with it, even small getaways and day trips.
I'm noticing and appreciating a more moody and contrasty image in this video. Like it's a bit more color graded. The straight main camera angle looks superb with that subtle switch from the corner where the drums used to be to the symmetrical plane wall behind you.
With that out of the way, I've enjoyed the revision of the review you did earlier, and it's great when a camera grows on you like this. You won't make me change the plans for getting the FX-3 (first), it's more that you've reminded me of some great functions that my trusty A7III has, like that user configurable button to go into crop mode. I do it with a 35 mm lens at exactly 23” from my picking hand while livestreaming. I go to crop and get 56mm focal lenght. With the AF on Flexible Spot L placed in the middle of the frame, it gives a crispy image. Not to mention that those 24MP photos are just as good as when I first got blown away 4 years ago. The camera has paid for itself many times by now.
I've just graced it with a sensor cleanup by a true pro prior to the coming event shoot I'll be doing next week. Got me this new Tamron 35-150mm and it's going to be a blast.
Although the A7IV has been given superior video capabilities compared to the A7III, that won't make me buy it just because I'll get the FX-3. The A7IV is a wonderful hybrid camera and a great choice for an all-rounder.
The lighting was a bit of a mistake, but I don't mind it here 😁
I think in your case the FX3 is absolutely the one to wait for. I'm really excited for you to get it because I think you're absolutely going to love it.
Tom, I highly recommend the Tamron 28-70 f2.8 G2. It's a great zoom, and though it isn't super duper wide, it provides a good balance, and it's not super expensive. Focus breathing is minimal and it's a pretty lightweight lens which is great for living life. I use it almost every day for photo and video. (I also have the 20 f1.8 G for vlog stuff, it's an amazing lens.) Loved this video, and I absolutely love my a7IV too!!
Thanks Kelton! I've had my eye on that Tamron, but I'm also really excited for their upcoming 20-40, so I'm saving my pennies for that one 😬
@@tombuck kinda hot take - if you want a tiny can do everything setup, go for the Sony 24-105 F4!
The 20 - 40 is still more versatile for me. 20mm for interior (I use a 20mm already for this work) and 40 for product and portrait (you can crop to get 60mm)
I almost never remove my 24-70 GM2 lens. I just did for a thorough cleaning today, and my god. I had forgotten how little this body weighs
Watched your a7IV reviews back to back (original and this one). Really made me comfortable with my decision to jump back into full frame with this camera. Always great content Tom!!
So glad it helped! The a7IV really is an outstanding camera.
What an excellent review! Your enthusiasm and easy conversational style are great, and the review very thorough.
Thank you very much! This is just about the nicest thing I could hope to hear.
@@tombuckAnd subscribed, looking forward to more.
Never had any overheating problems with my A7IV either ☺️ Glad to see a video about the A7IV amongst all the Insta 360 X3 videos today ☺️
Oh I haven't checked my feed yet, haha. I'm guessing there's a new embargo?
@@tombuck oh, Yeah 😄
the a7iv has been my go to camera for everything since it came out, except for filming myself at night under moon light lol. The a7iv is an absolutely fantastic camera
It really is! I did a low light comparison against the a7SIII in my full review and I was still really impressed with how well it kept up!
I have zero regrets getting this, it came second hand from a retailer, got a second hand lens too. so was a superb deal, saved thousands of Norwegian crowns. Was stupid to not get it.
I've used it few days.
13:56 I too experienced the plasticky feel, some creaking from the grip next to the joy stick too, but mostly the SD card door
As I am mountain biking, to protect the camera I put stuff around it including a back protector from my USWE backpack, it's flexy enough to cover the bottom and around it.
I did not find the camera to be too heavy to hold, it felt great, nor too heavy in my backpack. I think I the camera will be fine as long as you are not careless, but the doors can probably be replaced by a dealer I don't know.
I have medium to small size hands in cycling gloves I am medium POC, Small in Leatt. The grip fits me perfectly. I don't have any issues with the fingers not having enough room between the grip and the lens, I see how people with thick and big fingers might have, but most won't have issues with it, unless they hold it wrong, that's where I hit my fingers on the lens, you are not meant to get your finger tips all the way to the body and point the finger joint into the lens.
Thanks a lot Tom! Very helpful and informative review! Love the way you passionately explain about the product! God bless and good luck!
Thank you! Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for this video. I had the same feeling about the A74. I love my a6600 and I am in absolute love with my A7R3. That is my baby. Got the A74 for the advanced features of the new models to supplement my R3. I really wanted an A7R5 but money is the issue. Since I started using it more, I started to see the magic in this body. It is jack of all trades and it's also a master in all for the most part, that being it is a hybrid camera, not a dedicated video camera. I think the difference in the feel of the body is the use of more composite material. Like Sony's newer lenses, along with Tamron, composite material is replacing metal to cut down on weight. The A74 feels good in the hand but better suited for a larger hand. The R3 fits the slightly smaller hand better. And...my new A6700, along with the a6600 are both a dream in the handling department. I think with the introduction of the a6700, these crop sensor cameras are the best thing. Small, light, great grip, can use any lens, good resolution, they are the greatest camera where the most extreme detail is require - enter the A7R5.
Love your friendly talk to us people, not trying to impress us with your talent, but humble and fun loving camera man.
Thanks for the reminder that we can enjoy using our new gear after we stop worrying about specs ;) It's easy to overlook the importance of the emotional component of gear/tech purchases and to enjoy using the stuff, even though it's not perfect.
It's always kind of crazy how these things feel like HUGE deals when something comes out and then time goes on and you totally forget about it.
I've had situations where I'm doing dual recording to a CF Express Type A and an SD card while pushing video to my PC through an HDMI. My apartment generally stays cool. Yet, it will occasionally just stop recording for no apparent reason. My guess is heat. Once I stopped backup recording to the SD card it stopped doing that. That's the only downside I've experienced. Otherwise, I think this is quite possibly the best camera Sony has to offer for most users especially at the price point. The screen looks nicer than the A7S iii and the customizability for whatever reason is nicer than the A7S iii (particularly with the dials).
Very interesting. I haven't used a Type A card yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if the higher performance card does generate more heat. 🤔
Nice video. That mode switch lever rocks. On my Canon R6, you can't even program C1 C2 C3 on the top dial with custom video modes, whereas on the original R and R5 you can-- awful imposed limitation. I've noticed hybrid wedding R6 shooters that don't want the R5 resolution getting the R3 which is an unfortunate solution. Sony has been good with customization.
That is weird. I get that the R6 might not have everything the R5 does, but it seems like it should have advantages over the original R in every way.
What a coincidence. I’m getting mine delivered tomorrow. Got it on a Labor Day promotion so I pulled the trigger 👍🏼 . This made me feel good 😊
Oh fantastic! You'll love it! It's definitely worth diving in to all of the menus and customizing things to suit your liking.
Quickly turning into one of my favorite channels, that King of the Hill analogy is golden 👏
Such a great episode. 👍
Amazing camera Sony made. S-cinetone has really made a huge difference in my workflow.
It’s pretty impressive what’s packed into this thing, especially compared to where cameras were just a few years ago.
Awesome follow up and I’m with you 100%. I fall more in love with my A7IV every day.
Yup! It's such a fantastic camera. I saw an article yesterday that voted it as the #1 overall camera value for 2022 and I totally agree.
gorgeous vid and informative vid, thx much! i'm gonna end up going with the fx3 (hoping to find a BF deal), but it was a close call. the still features almost pulled me in but I'll be doing so much more vid
subbed, keep up the great work!
Thanks Jace! You'll really love the FX3. When it comes to more of a dedicated video camera, there's really nothing better. I love mine so much!
So accurate and why I was so confused as to why this camera received so much hate. I love this camera every single time I shoot with it, it just impresses me time and time again. Thanks for the review!
It really is a great camera overall! I just needed more time to truly appreciate it.
@@tombuck understandable! Love your channel and presentation! Just subbed!
This Camera received lots of hate because of not giving 4k60p in full frame, Rolling shutter issues, screen display resolution and only 10fps for compress raw or jpeg. That's y still this camera have lots of criticism.
@@pematamang9268 If you want full frame buy the A7siii, if you want more FPS buy the A9, if rolling shutter is a concern and you're filming high paced shoots again look at the A7s series of cameras. No such thing as a perfect camera, they are tools, so get the right tools for your necesities. A7iv has been great in my user experience. Cheers.
That was an awesome video, Tom! I'm still pretty happy with my a7iii but 4K60 and 10Bit is REALLY tempting haha
We can’t all be as skilled as Leo, so we need newer cameras to compensate 😁
I just took this camera on a day trip to Zion and it was so perfect as a hybrid camera. Quickly switching from Vlogging to photos!
How awesome! Zion is amazing. I’ve only ever been there in the winter though, I’d love to see it when everything isn’t grey and dead 😁
Really appreciate the honest review after a longe-term real-life experience.
I wish that the upcoming A7C II (in 2023 maybe?) will have all the fantastic features that A7 IV has, apart from the size.
One area where Sony is definitely unique is that they really don't care about "saving" features- meaning that brand new and/or premium features can definitely find their way to the less expensive models.
(the bad part about this is when the higher end models never get updated to get those features too...😬😉 )
The A7iv is my favorite camera of all time. Great video!
It's definitely worthy of a title like that 👍
I love mine too. I use it with an A7S3. The res looks so good. I like the richness of the A7s3 and it’s cinema quality but this is every bit as good save for the rolling shutter. But when I use it in active stab I don’t event notice it that much. And for my photo work I’ve never been happier. I’ve filmed hour long ceremonies continuous 4k24 with no issues with heat.
It's such a great camera! I don't know why, the something about the a7IV makes everything fun again.
@@tombuck exactly! I shoot mostly video now, but I shot photos of a band yesterday with this camera; I was thinking the exact same thing; my passion is back for photos. I love that it gets out of the way and just delivers exactly what I expect. The meter is very accurate (with me doing some minor compensating for strong highlights of course) I am not getting into Lightroom disappointed with the results. Also, I think Sony has nailed the color science at this point.
I just bought the a7iv today thanks to you, I bought it with the kid lens because I’m going to take some vacations in 2 weeks so I’ll spend some money, after come back from vacations I’ll buy the 35mm GM, thanks man 🙌🏻
Oh fantastic & congrats! I hope you have a ton of fun with it and an awesome vacation!
Nice review and thanks for helping to convince me to keep diving deeper into my own a7iv. I have a fx3 as well and my a7iv is my still and b cam. You may have done a video about this, but when you are out making stills and doing short video clips with your a7iv, what strap / bag combo do you use?
In the setup, appreciate the videos! Maybe a dumb question but is there a way to export content in mono in soft20?
Beautiful video - sharp and very colourful!
Thank you very much!
I really like the A7IV but I am still having issues with using the Monitor+ and Imaging Edge apps when I am recording to my Atomos Ninja V, which is somewhat annoying.
The Monitor+ app is pretty sweet! But I haven't used it alongside a Ninja myself.
@@tombuck yes, and it is something I use every time I make a video, so when it doesn't work it is super annoying 😁
Lots of great points here. I felt the same way as you when it releases but I can see ow FD of a camera it is now. I do really love my a7siii still but that A7iv would be amazing for photos. Hoping for a A7c ii that is that camera in the A7c body. I love my A7c
I haven't used the a7C, but it seems like everyone who has one loves it!
I thought they discontinued the A7C?
Hi Tom! Great video again! And thank you for thinking at the non imperial world and using C°. Greetings from Vienna!
I try to include Celsius/Fahrenheit and Meters/Feet as much as possible. It's been super helpful in teaching me the metric system 😁
Hey Tom, great video as usual! Quick question, what are you using for the overall ambient lighting you have here? Love the look man
Thanks Chadwicke! I have a video that covers the basics of my lighting setup: ruclips.net/video/9PnB7ytODLM/видео.html
I rearranged things bit here and this video is a little darker than normal, but I don't dislike it. 😁
Thanks Tom! Appreciate your willingness to always share
just got the FX3 and honestly its the best video camera I've used so far in my life. But I plan on getting the A7IV and I'm sure its gonna be favorite camera period. I miss taking pictures hahaha and dragging the FX3 around everywhere feels weird..
I love my FX3! I got one of the Tilta cages for it that has a hand strap on the side and it makes it much easier to drag around. Definitely recommend it!
If I had that camera I'd do so many more vlogs. Love this video! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
It's such an incredible "take everywhere" camera.
The screen open is key. Mine overheated in a 68 studio shooting 4K 30 because I forgot to open the screen. The A74 is the best dual camera I take lots of pictures and videos. If you only want only video FX3 if you only want pictures maybe the A7R4? For high-end work, I go out the HDMI to an ATAMOS so you get a very sharp 4K because it is downsampling from 7K in ProRes!
I really didn't realize how much of a difference it made to have the screen open. Definitely important to stop overheating!
@@tombuck DID you know there release a new firmware? 1.10 like yesterday so (I know your video was already done but you might want to do a short up at least say something in the description...
aaaah first video with the new angle no? it's amazing how a little change, changes quite a bit... I'm on your side of the ocean again, saludos from Mexico
Wow, you're quite the globetrotter! And yes, first video with new setup!
@@tombuck yeah... I'm actually in Mexico every second month or so.... that's why I way saying I'll find a way for the Oktava mike...
I switched from Fuji to A7iv a few months ago. It’s an unbelievable camera in so many ways. Best hybrid camera On the market today. Very happy with my decision!
Glad you like it! I've never used a Fuji camera, but I know people tend to love them, so I guess that speaks volumes for the a7IV.
@@tombuck Yeah, I still keep my 100V as my daily carry, but the video AF on the Sony is next level. As a solo creator, this feature alone is worth switching for. The fact that the A7iv takes incredible photos too is just a bonus.
The A7IV is the single best camera I have owned recreationally and professionally in the last 40 years. I have a wide range of requirements for photo and video and this covers what I need.
It's really impressive to think that one camera can perform so well in so many situations.
I can't stop rolling my eyes at every pun you make! Keep it up, never stop being a real dad!!!
btw what is your video setup?
FX3/a7SIII/a7IV edited in Final Cut Pro 👍
For audio, I run the Sennheiser MKH50 directly into the FX3.
@@tombuck I am looking for a new camera and I am looking into the Canon r5c, the problem is it is a 5k body and the 3 RF lenses I want make this a 12,5k investment and that is only body + lenses for 15 - 200mm range. Would be awesome to see a review of it by you!!!
There are alot of pros and cons with this camera, I think its a great B cam to other cameras (a7S3 or Fx3) but wouldn't be my first go to since in my particular case I shoot 90% video
That's where it fits perfectly to me. As someone who does primarily video, the other cameras are a bit better, but this is such a great one to have access to!
Great vids. Definitely a great camera. No regrets getting it. But want to get some more lenses as SEL85F18 85mm I got second hand is not great for web cam, but works well to take photos of my mountain bike and nature, trails, and buildings when I am out riding. Hope to find some second hand lenses. But for now this works well for most things I do, but close up photos for reviews I am writing gets tricky sometimes. I think the SEL85F18 is a kit lens. Good all rounder, but it's not a OSS/stabilisation lens.
I’ve never been able to make mine overheat during normal shooting either. RUclips is special like that. Hahahahaha
Come to the desert and I’m sure you can make it happen 😁
Your lighting game is next level
Thanks Chris! I really appreciate the kind words! 🙏
I can’t wait to upgrade to this camera, coming from a 70D! Thanks for this review. I do maybe 60/40 photo to video split so the S3 really isn’t worth it to me.
Will the A7V be released soon dropping the price a bit of the 4? Wondering if maybe I should wait for some holiday deals 🤔
Oh wow, that'll be a huge upgrade (although the 70D really is a champ). I can't imagine a new model coming out any time soon. I'm still kind of new to the world of Sony, but it seems like they have at least 3-5 years between updates.
At 6:35 you mentioned punching in at X1.5… how did you do that. I’m familiar with super 35 but didn’t know you can punch in further
The camera has a "Clear Image Zoom" option. It's great because you can even do it slowly while recording, so you can have a somewhat practical Zoom effect. Initially it's usually in the main menu or the Function menu, but I assigned mine to the trash can button so I can press that while filming and then use the directional wheel to zoom in/out 👍
Great review still on the fence but this helped a lot
So glad it helped! Hopefully you find the camera that suits you best 👍
I appreciate this video this is my first ever camera purchase
Revisiting this video because for the time I’m considering it because I need another angle for production work and although I would love to get a 3rd A7C, it sounds pretty boring. So I looked at the FX30 but the APS-C to me would be a deal breaker. Then I out of nowhere I thought of the A7iv and wow idk why I overlooked it.
Yeah, the FX30 seems brilliant unless you’re set on full frame (which I 100% am). It’s definitely fun to have some variety in your camera setup, even though multiples of the same is super practical.
Thanks for informative video. Thinking about to get A7IV. I have the following questions: what is the name of the tripod shown on this video? What is the lens you’re using? Are you using SD card? If yes, what kind? Currently CFExpress card is too expense for me. Thanks. Keep up the good work 👍
I've been recording everything to Sandisk and Prograde V90 SD cards (I haven't gotten a Type A card yet because they are just too expensive).
The little tripod in the video is the PGYTech MantisPod and it's fantastic. I have links in the description to my bigger "studio" tripods if that's what you're looking for.
And my main lens is the Sony 24mm 1.4 👍
Just bought. Havent upgraded since a OG canon 7d. Lost my touch with photography but having a daughter now got me back in. So I left team canon for sony. Did the a7iii not do the crop in on video?
Is there a downside of just using a still frame of your video for a photo? It’s gotten to where on my iPhone it I’m recording a video and I need a good photo of something, I’ll just get good video footage of it and play with a couple dif focuses and lengths and distances from the lens so while editing I can just pull the exact best frame. It’s been working so far
Hi! I love your videos!! One question: in your opinion, what’s the better Sony A7RV or Sony A 7IV ? Thanks!
Both are great. I think the biggest difference is the price.
The a7R series used to be more photo-centric, but the RV has a lot of amazing video features too, so it can do both quite well. It does also have a higher resolution sensor and that pretty nifty flip up/out screen.
The a7IV might still edge out the RV in terms of video features though, if that's what you do more of.
Thank you very much!
so i was on the fence for the longest time before buying the A7iv, all i was thinking about is how prone to overheating it was (according to youtube). However after buying it and using it in all situations and it hasnt even come close to overheating, I was extremely happy but it made me VERY cautious about gear reviews on youtube. Everything with a few grains of salt from now on haha
I'm glad that overheating is brought up in reviews, but it's definitely not an issue for most people. Unfortunately negativity gets clicks, so some people prefer to find one or two negatives and then blow them a bit out of proportion.
Look at that nice newly balanced setup!
I like it! Need to dial in the lighting a bit, but it makes the space look bigger 👍
hey tom you did good job did you try sony grip??? it may help to overcome the overheating issue with this camera.
I haven't used any of the Sony grips yet, but it'd definitely be interesting to see how it affects overheating!
..in one of your videos with Heather, in a gear shop with green screen for stream, you had in the hand or pointed to the camera i have .. Sony DSC HX 400V ..i like it a lot..and bought it because i wanted to learn..and, 50x zoom... It is enough for my rare photos.. but in many things i learned since i have it, is next is definitly a sony 4k camcorder..only for video.. i take some time to choose, but from what i've seen on youtube, they produce what i am looking for my needs.. ..one thing i know for sure ..it's a Sony!
I was thinking of asking B&H if I can borrow one of the newer Sony camcorders to compare it to their mirrorless cameras for things like talking head RUclips videos. Seems like it might be kind of a fun thing to try!
@@tombuck ..the "problem" is..you may love them! 😂
Nice story telling, thumbs up and new subscriber.
Thank you very much! I appreciate the kind words 🙏
I have 4 a7iv's and 1 a7siii and the a7iv's overheat on me shooting in 4K30 using external monitors during the summer months. With what I film it adds heat to the studio as well. So I added an exhaust system and central air so I can keep my cameras cooler while filming. It was my plan to eventually make my studio 100% climate controlled anyways but I had no choice but to do it sooner. My a7siii never overheats so if I knew what I know now I would have bought 2 more a7siii's and 2 FX3's, I was just trying to save a few bucks but look how that turned out!!! ha ha I will say that the features on the a7iv's are the best you can get from Sony right now, IMO!!! Plus the image is a little better than the a7siii and FX3!!! I know people will ask, yes everything was turned to high temp, set on airplane mode, and everything you can open was open, even the card slot and I even tried using only 1 card. I use dummy batteries too but no luck they would all fail at different times during the shoot. I just wish Sony would raise the threshold of the overheating limit some. Great video!!!
Very interesting! I like that you just went 100% to the max and climate controlled your studio. I bet that makes things so much better. I upgraded our A/C several years ago, and it sure didn't feel like an exciting way to spend a ton of money at the time, but I'm grateful for it every day 😁
Great camera and no heat issues here. Two things I dislike: the evf at 25p and 24p is unusable. It runs maybe at 14 fps? Almost like Sony never tested that (and no reviewer has also!). EVF is great for super bright situations when you want to shoot very small and light. Second thing I hate is I cannot put the horizon level and/or histogram in every display config I want. And a minor third thing that every Sony is missing: focus stacking for macro work. How hard can it be to implement that?
The EVF hasn't been an issue for me, but admittedly I don't use it too often (only when in super bright light).
Totally agree with you about the horizon level! I would love to have that on screen every time.
Hi, which lens are you using to film on the fx3? Thanks 🙏🏼
Its the Sony 24 1.4GM. Such a great lens!
Hey Tom, What would you recommend from Sony for a studio camera if I don't have the budget for the fx3 or a7siii? Would you suggest the a7iv or something like the a6600?
If you don’t need full frame, the FX30 kind of destroys all other options, especially at its price point.
I went through 2 bodies of the a7iv - finally returning it due to front focus issues (apparently this has only been an issue when shooting wide open for stills). I now use the a7riii and hope that the new firmware has fixed this issue. I'd really like to find out the results before seeking to move to it for the 3rd time.
I have had the same issue with front focusing. Hopefully the update that came out today fixes it.
The previous firmware update really helped the focus on mine, and there was a new update released today that's supposed to make it even better. Haven't really put it to the test yet, but I'm glad they've got it sorted out.
Hey Tom,
I'm going to purchase this camera. What lens do you recommend? Thanks!
It really depends on what you want. I love prime lenses and my favorite is the 24mm 1.4. If this will be your first camera/lens combo then I think it's smart to get something that's a but more "generalized." Maybe something like the Sigma 18-50 or similar. That'll cover a lot of what you'd need and give you an idea of what you would prefer later one (if you want more zoom reach, or a wider angle, or better low light, etc).
One thing the APS-C crop is 1.5 and not 1.6 on Sony cameras. I have the A7iv and the A1, and while the A1 is the better camera in many respects being the top of the line, I would say the A7iv is 95% as good for a third of the price. Incredible camera!
I'm super curious about how the a7IV compares to the A1, so this is interesting to hear!
as always loving the content man!! Thank you! What are the arms for your rode caster and key lights? also I can get my hands on a slightly used a7siii for $2675, yay? Probably not really comparable to my iPhone 14 pro max...
The RCP is on a VESA arm and the main light is on a c stand 👍
Is the a7SIII is in good condition, that’s an excellent price!
@@tombuck Thanks brother!! Much appreciated :)
@@tombuck ended up getting the a7s iii for $2550. Shutter count 1397, it's almost brand new!
Looks like a good one. I sent my s3 in for sensor repair. If it isn’t salvageable I’m getting the 4 or a fx3, it’s a toss up.
Oh no, so sorry about your a7SIII! For mostly video, the FX3 is absolutely stellar. I can't believe how much I love it. But for a more hybrid workflow, the IV really kicks butt.
I think that A7 IV is probably the most well-rounded camera ever, and certainly the Sony camera with the best controls. I think the Canon R5 is the only other camera I've ever tried that compares to its usability, but A7 IV has one more customizable dial, so one better. Both the R5 and A7 IV have completely separated video & photo modes, so you're not stuck trying to shoot video at 1/1000 and you're not struck trying to shoot photo at 1/60 w/ flat colors. As for the A7 IV, other than obvious things like I wish it were faster with a deeper buffer with a less terrible screen and less rolling shutter, I understand those are technical limitations at this midrange budget. Still, I have a couple things for my A7 IV; and I think they're both easily solvable. First, I wish I could assign the Fn button. You can customize every button, except the Fn button. I would love to assign it to the top C2 so I can use it when I'm self-shooting on a tripod. On a Canon, they just have the quick menu accessible from the touchscreen. It's weird that I can't move the Fn button at all. Second, I wish there was some way of reducing its overheating when USB powered. I've never had it overheat when battery-powered, but when bus-powered, it's a different story. I've never been able to record to SD, stream to USB, nor record externally via HDMI for more than about 75 minutes when USB powered, and unlike the APS-C Sony cameras, Sony doesn't officially support dummy batteries for the A7 IV, and I'm not putting a $25 dummy battery in my $2499 camera heh. So, there's no way of ever shooting more than 2 hours in one take, whereas my A7C can record for 6+ hours through USB powering, and in webcam mode, it can go 24+ hours. Hence, I find myself needing to keep my A7C for niche applications like recording a whole music rehearsal or streaming all day (it's also a really awesome camera in its own right). I would love a way to reduce the video quality on the A7 IV through pixel binning, like the Canon R5 does, to produce less heat (Maybe this could enable 4K60? Heh). Canon recently solved their R5 overheating issues through firmware, so Sony should show what they're capable of, instead of botching their 1.10 firmware release like they did. Even so, overall, I think it's an S-tier camera.
I heard that the R5 was a given an update recently. That's great! I haven't heard much about it, but if it solves the overheating problem then that's HUGE news.
I found that on the A7IV if I switch off USB Power in the Settings and plug it in via USB it still keeps the battery charged but the A7IV runs for longer. Indefinitely for me although I've seen the overheat warning once or twice (set to High). I assume it draws a lower current through USB like this, which maybe keeps it cooler? I only tested it capturing via HDMI so no recording or in-camera streaming so I don't know how it might affect other functionality.
I did try a dummy battery with similar results and like you prefer to just keep a proper battery in there.
@@themartinhawkins I’ve never tried this. Will have to run some tests.
@@mbvglider Let me know how it goes!
It's nice to see someone publicly go back on what they said and explain why. Now that you like the same camera I have and validate my decision, I can re-subscribe. ;) lol
Haha, thanks Marc! It's always nice to feel validated in our decisions 😁
For me it's my first full frame camera (digital) and it's just awesome :).
There's nothing quite like moving to full frame for the first time. It really is something awesome 👍
@@tombuck It's not really the full frame, but sony APS-C cameras (I switched from) are crippled in so many ways, that getting A7 IV uncrippled me a lot. I was not aware how annoying some things were until I got A7 IV (probably A7III will do too).
My biggest deal breaker with the A7iii is how long it takes to be able to record video after doing a short burst of photos. On my Fuji it’s instant but in the A7iii there’s a long lag. How is it on the A7 IV?
The 20 - 40 is my ideal lens 👍
Can you give us a link for the mic and the tripod you use in the video for the A7iv?
Sure thing! The tripod is the PGYTech MantisPod Pro. I love it, but they just released an updated version. I haven't used it yet, but it's probably worth looking into both to see which is right for you.
The mic is the Sony ECM-B1M: bhpho.to/3ztb6Vb
There's also a smaller version called the B10M. I think the sound quality is about the same, but the bigger one is better at capturing sound from a distance.
I live in VEGAS and film commentary for my vids in my garage. ALL SUMMER LONG A7IV has over headed like numerous times. However I did have an atom is ninja with Bluetooth mic attached. Is it over heating because of the MONITOR? Just need to know for future use. I will prolly not use my NINJA if I can shoot longer
I've never used mine with a Ninja, so I can't speak from any experience, but it'd be interesting if there's a connection between using that and overheating 🤔
Maybe a dumb question, but is the 1.5x crop in camera (super 35mm mode) give the same result as cropping 1.5x in post?
Not a dumb question at all! I'm sure there's a technical reason why it's different, but in real-world use, yes, the results will pretty much be the same.
King of the hill reference...👍🏾 I remember that episode.
Such a great show. I’ve been rewatching the whole series over the past few months.
Thanks for this video! In a time where Canon is dropping the ball Sony videos like this are needed.
Oh Canon…🫠
My entire channel has been build purely using iPhone for everything. Up to my last upload using the iPhone 14 pro… This is the camera I’m about to buy to retire phone filming….. cheers for just helping to nudge me over the line
Woo hoo! Phones have gotten pretty incredible, but I'm sure you'll love the upgrade to this giant awesome full frame sensor.
@@tombuck cheers 👍🏼
Tom lives in Desert, Wow! 🔥
Hi Tom, since I got my a7IV I was wondering why there is no „beep“ sound when it grabs focus in photo mode, my a7c does have that beep sound. Is it same on your camera as well? Or did I just deactivate it by accident? Hope you can give me a hint :)
You can enable/disable the sounds in the settings. Mine makes the beep when locking focus and it's definitely super helpful 👍
@@tombuck another guy. just explains to me that the beep sound is not available for AF-continuous, all other focus modes will beep when it grabs focus.
That rolling shutter tho….love the cam but for wedding filmmaking the a7s3 is miles better
Really wish I could decide between this and the FX30 for mostly video work. Tom, I think I need your help.
I think the biggest factors are full frameand audio.
1. If you have a preference for full frame or crop, then that makes the decision there.
2. If no preference in sensor size, then does the FX30's ability to use the XLR audio handle appeal to you? There is an XLR attachment that works with the a7IV, but the FX one is wayyyyyy nicer.
3. If neither of those things matter, then I say go with the FX30 because it's less expensive 👍
@@tombuck cheers as always. Have you tested the FX30 or are you going to make a video on it at all?
@@tombuck I do like the FX30 I think the most. I honestly don't know if higher frame rates are something I will need, but the fact the FX30 has them all in 4K, maybe that will be good to future proof. I'm coming from M4/3 so both would be a huge jump. Do you ever use RAW external recording (don't think the A7IV can do this, but just curious), and how good is the XAVC codec, are you happy with it?
I tested it as webcam, it overheated in in about a minute in what I am guessing is at least 30C or more, might be 35 at times I guess, maybe more, my bed room where my pc is gets super warm due to the PC heating the room like an oven, so in the summer it gets very warm, uncomfortably warm at times. But I turned on the temperature limit on high, and opened the windows and tested later in the night, it worked, it stayed on for 20 minutes, and did not overheat, but I suspect it would be hot when it was warm, but when I opened the windows it was chilly and at night. When it overheated the screen and view finder went turned off, and camera was rendered useless until I turned it off and on again. Not even switching to photo mode or pressing any key revived it.
Hmm, that's a bummer. I feel fortunate not to have had any overheating issues with mine. It regularly gets 40-45C here, but I'm usually indoors.
@@tombuck I've not had termometer In my bed room. So don't know precise temp. But hihj temp setting seems to solve it. Will test it more.
What are your favorite lenses for the Sony #1?
I’m particularly interested in prime lenses, but if you have favorite zooms I’d like to know about them!
My favorite is the 24mm GM. I absolutely love it, but I also have the Zeiss 85mm, which is phenomenal. No zooms, but very excited for the Tamron 20-40 👍
My school also uses the a7IV, it’s a great camera.
Oh nice! It's awesome your school has such good new gear!
@@tombuck thanks, they definitely invest a lot of money in clubs.
The lens selection is what makes it a great camera as well. 😊
Absolutely! Lenses tend to stick around a lot longer than bodies for sure.
The A7iv has an amazing sensor, and when coupled with external battery (D-tap), and optionally external recording (Ninja 5+) it delivers a far better output than the A7siii.
PS I did have overheating issues before moving to external battery system
Oh interesting to know that the external battery helped with overheating. 🤔
@@tombuck Moving to external storage a la Ninja 5+ will remove it completely. It's the SD cards that get fried. I had one melt recently lol
“It may be called the A7iv…but to me it’s #1” Ever since I discovered your channel (thanks to your comment on mine) I have come for the camera insights and stayed for the laughs 😂
I’ve always been a little confused by the letters and numbers in the name of this cool little camera. I prefer calling it #1. 🏆
I'm always confused about why Sony uses Roman numerals for some cameras but not others (a7IV vs. FX3) 🤷🏻♂️
Tom would have you ever thought of doing a movie review channel? You’re well spoken that’s why I bring it up :)
Aww, thanks Luke! I do admire a lot of critical/video essay channels, but I don't think I have what it takes to do that over and over again 😁