Thanks for the review. I have used Nikon, Canon, Olympus M4/3, Panasonic and Fuji X-T3 and finally settled on the Sony A9 and A6400. Overall, I think Sony has the best gear, especially in the mirrorless realm. Yes, this stuff cost a lot of money and I mostly buy used gear to save money. I waited almost a year before I sold my Fuji and had enough money to buy the A9 which is an incredible machine. I was a newspaper photographer for 35 years. When I first got into the business, I was using Nikon and we never bought new bodies every year. We used the same bodies, same glass. Updates were far and few between. Then I switched to Canon which I used for 20 years. Although Sony gear is expensive, it does a lot of things good and a lot great. Now that I'm retired, I have plenty of time to research my options and I found Sony to be the best option for what I do. Thanks.
@Julian Smith The Nikon Z7 is the best mount in Mirrorless ..Have the Z7 and the 50 1.8 is the Best 50 , as is the 24-70 f2.8 , 70-200 f2.8 ever made ..so I will stay with Nikon
Great video. After shooting both cameras for flying birds and stills of other wildlife, I chose the A7RlV over the A9ll because of the 61/26 pixels.. The ability of crop for a wildlife shooter is huge. I have the 200-600 and the 100-400. I can say without reservation that the 100-400 is the perfect lens for flying birds. It is fantastic on the A7RlV especially in the crop mode.
I've been an amateur photographer for many years. I shot Nikon for years back in the film days. But, I switched to Canon when they introduced the first affordable dslr. Then I went to Sony when the A7 was released. I currently use the Sony A7rIII with a variety of Sony G and GM lenses that suit what I shoot. I used to use battery grips with my Sony cameras. But, now with the larger batteries and a lot of my photography being travel photography, I find I don't really need the battery grip. I'm sure I'll upgrade to a newer model Sony in the future. But, so far, I haven't felt the need.
Awesome camera review. Camilla & I use the Sony A9II for increased speed and lower light performance for wildlife photography, but many wildlife photographers use the A7R IV for pure detail resolution amazing
Liked very much this review, extremely complete, and with the right info for professionals. I own the Sony A7 iii and I felt the same it's just such an advanced camera that you can't believe it, it's like having played a ps1 from Canon or Nikon for 10 years and suddenly you switch to Sony and it's a PS4, it's such an awesome improvement that you'll never want to go back
I have had the camera since almost 6 months and it still continues to be my dream camera. Having started the advent into sony from the a7r and then the r2 the R4 really taken everything up by a notch. To get this kind of resolution on such a small body with 5 & a half stops of stabilization & an excellent evf along with excellent DR and the ability to attach light lenses makes for a very ergonomic instrument. Personally I find the menu system intelligent as it allows customization of all the buttons etc. The software in camera has improved so much that I tend to shoot most of thetime in jpeg or compressed raw unless I feel that the light situation may be tricky and require more post processing. Often the native software works better than a 3rd party (lightroom included). I use a lot of manual lenses fromthe film era & I am amazed at the quality I get from many of them - even in comparison to the earlier 42mp sensor. The increase in detail means that the sensor functions like a zoom allowing one to reframe & recompose in post. Hence prime lenses cantake on a zoom function. For design - fine art - composition - anything that requires that extra detail this camera reallyshines
SC Leigh - I did go back and finish watching the review. I appreciate that you go out of your way to offer unbiased reviews and honest opinions. Excellent job as always. Thank You.
Thank you for the great review of this camera. I own this camera and feel the autofocus is very good. I also use the a9ii to shoot wildlife and oh boy the autofocus on the a9ii is out of this world. My wife and i will be at the grand Tetons on May 18th and Yellowstone for 9 days. Looking forward to using them both.
Un buen vídeo. Personalmente trabajo con una A9 y el 200-600 G, muy contento con el equipo, es rápido, confiable y ofrece mucha calidad en la imagen. En cuanto al enfoque del ojo de los animales va bien para las mascotas, no tan bien para las aves que son mi pasión pero no hay problema pues trabajo con el punto flexible en S y siempre al ojo, conclusión, foto clavada y nítida. Ser rápido, previsible y conociendo los hábitos del ave, uno se puede anticipar a la acción. Un saludo desde España.
That was the greatest intro disclaimer I have ever seen. Back on my home world we just say, " No, I did not say that." or "You have the wrong person." but you took it to the next level...wow, verbal art...Ok, just kidding, I do understand, after reading so many comments on yours and other YT channels how fan boys, and girls, of a particular camera brand can get their underwear in a bunch if they feel their brand is dis'd' Also, If their choice was based on your review and or recommendation of that brand they might feel inclined to feel mislead. But to your main point, You deliver excellent material and information for the average Joe, or Jane, to make an informed decision. Which leads us to the audience. it is our responsibility when we purchase a product to take ownership of our decision/choice... and not to blame....wait for it...you. As always, Keep up the good (excellent)work and keep'em flying...I do enjoy your channel. If i had the means i would purchase that bad boy in a second...a7r4. I would have to give up my xt2 and 16-55, but the gains would be awesome. Have a nice day...
You give great reviews! The only problem for me. I can't afford camera new camera gear! And a lot of new photographers I would think they watch your channel and others. Thinking they always need new updated equipment for the next great photo. If i could say something that is not true! I can finally say i have a great portfolio. Using definitely older camera gear. The secret everyone is to learn to use what you have. And not compare yourself too others!
Doug Potosky Great comment thanks for waking up everybody here because the camera cost way over $3000 will not produce much better photos than your current camera. Most of the time it’s the photographer itself who creates better photos and it is much better to train yourself and practice a lot and not buying new gear point. I spent a lot of time with RUclips videos until I got understand the point.
Hey. Stunning photos you made with this. I think this camera really inspired you and added something to your shooting. What a machine it is. And you are good enough to exploit it.
Great review in good details! Thanks for all your hard work putting all the specs information together for us. I am looking forward to buy the Sony A7RV as my first professional DSLR.
My first ever proper camera is the Sony A6400. As a person who knows very little about photography, I was able to take fast and great shots at an event in manual mode. If a newbie like me can use a Sony mirrorless effortlessly, it definately is a great camera.
I have the A7RIV along with A9. I was a Pro Nikon and Canon user (both systems) for over 40 years and then moved to Sony. I am very happy with its very complete mirrorless system including Sony and third-party E-mount lenses. IMHO it is the best camera for what I shoot, which is everything. Cheers and thanks for your very fair review.
I use both the Sony A7R4 and Sony A9 for my Wildlife work. And yes, the Sony A7R4 is for a game changer. And this for many reasons but most important for Wildlife is the ability to do a 100% crop and still get 27MP images. And this paired with excellent Autofocus, speed and buffer. Superb! BUT: the Sony A7R4 is for me a low performer in terms of Autofocus (both acquisition and tracking) and ISO performance in low light situations especially when going after small animals, e.g. passerine birds. The Autofocus simply failed in such situations from time to time and the image was not sharp. In the same low light situation the Sony A9 nailed the focus - no exception. It is just a fact for me based on my own experience using top notch lenses such as a Sony 400mm 2.8 GM or Sony 600mm 4.0 GM. Also, the noise pattern of the Sony A7R4 beyond ISO1600 is at least in my opinion quite ugly requiring a lot of effort in post processing to correct it a bit. I think over ISO1250 you substantially loose resolution, the 61MP is just a number and history then. For me this is important as I am after Feather Perfection in my bird images. So that's why I use this combo, in low light situations or where I face super fast action - my choice is the Sony A9. And if the light is good and I use a fast lens - my choice is the Sony A7R4. Don't get me wrong, the Sony A7R4 is - as I mentioned - a game change for me. But you need to know the limits of your gear as there is no "perfect" camera which works perfectly in any situation and this includes also the Sony A7R4 (although the Sony system comes close to it :)). And by the way, the howling about the Sony menu system is wining on a high level. Just get all the items you need on the customizable page and that's it. Easy. Also, I never had any issue at super low temperatures, moisture, dust / sand and rain with the Sony A9 or Sony A7R4. A lot here is just complaining without practical experience.
Thank you for sharing your experience. How cold have you had the a9 and a7R IV out in? And did you have the camera in your hands or was it sitting out on a tripod (using interval timer so not touching the camera). I'm curious to know because I am out in the cold often and my camera did stop taking photos. :)
TheSnapChick Hi, I was till last week for the Snow Leopards in the Mountains around Yushu city what is in the southwestern Qinghai province in China. Temperatures were at daytime around -25C at 4700m altitude. Wether the A7r4 nor the A9 II showed any malfunction over the day but we were also outside most of the time, it was dry and we avoided any potential condensation. In December I was in Iceland at temperatures around -5C and also moderate volcanic sand penetration of my A7r4 at Stokksnes Beach in the southeast part of Iceland. I did not experience any issue here, the camera worked fine. On Iceland I used most of the time a Tripod. In the Himalayan Mountains I did not use a Tripod. Just important is to clean the camera at the end of a day carefully. All I can say is that I was a bit surprised how well the Sony‘s performed in this harsh environment in the Himalayan Mountains. I had as a backup a Canon 1DX Mark II with me but never used it on this trip. This is also, beside some other points the reason why I am gradually moving to Sony now.
You might want to try topaz denoise AI on your higher ISO shots. Its a genuine step forward in noise reduction effectiveness compared to more conventional noise reduction. I'm not one to get hyped very easily, I tend towards the more cynical side of things, but its that good ive had to completely re set my whole notion of what my cameras are capable of ISO wise. I was going to stick with my A7riii because I was concerned about high ISO performance of the new model, but the topaz noise reduction has made me re evaluate and I'm going to get the new model now.
mark rigg Hi, yes, I am currently trying Topaz. Looks actually quite good but I need to check here more. I am cropping a lot with the A7R4 , both in camera and in post, that’s why noise is for me really a topic.
I've used the A9 hardcore for 2 years and love it, but I wanted a 2nd body and opted for the A7RIV and WOW! Being able to crop in post is incredible. The detail is amazing. The tracking is solid (clearly not as good as the A9 nor should it given the price difference). The animal eye-af on both bodies is good with huge potential. I was photographing a great gray owl last week. It was just the bird and I at first when I walked up on it in the forest so I was closer. Eye-AF was perfect! It would follow the owl's head movements. But the next time I saw the owl in a different location further away, the animal eye-AF was grabbing lower parts of its tail feathers even though I was aiming my cursor at the head. So I've now added that feature to my quick menu to quickly turn off if the subject isn't as close. (photos of the GGO at thehuntingphotographer instagram). The ergonomics are great although I'm a small human so I love the A9's ergonomics as well. The buffer is fine - still fantastic enough for BIF bursts. I find I'm choosing my moments slightly more than using the A9 which isn't a bad thing anyways. It's taking some time for me to get used to blackout again because I've shot for 2 years with out lol For low light, yes grain shows up more, but the Sony bodies are great handling high ISOs, plus utilizing Topaz Denoise can be a major help. Very solid review SC! This is honestly one of the most thorough 7RIV reviews out there!
TheSnapChick it works better on GGOs, iffy on northern hawk owls (maybe because the eyes are smaller) and decent on both snowys and barred owls. But again, I find the distance to the subject is important.
What a wonderful, thorough and informative review. I just ordered an a7R4. Watching your review made me even more excited than I already was. Too bad about the April, 2020 trip. Maybe another one soon? Hope so!
Hopefully I can afford these kinds of camera in the future. Been saving for good camera since 2013. Im halfway ish for the price of it. Although I'm just 15 yrs old I been doing photography at weddings and festivals using my rebel t3 and 18-150mm tamron lens that I bought last 2011. This really inspires me a lot.
Thanks for creating this In-depth review. I especially appreciate the time you took to explain the various AF modes and what your experiences were like. The A7r IV is impressive as hell and I’m feeling a pull on the wallet here. I’d ask for some elaboration to complete your evaluation such as 1. How slow is the bootup process? 2. More talk on ergonomics. It was helpful to hear you like the small size and that your partner prefers the battery grip. 3. More high ISO thoughts? I’m intrigued by/the single Astro shot that you used in the review and hope your really explore this body’s potential for Astro enthusiasts. Mahalos :)
What a wonderful comprehensive review! I own the A7R4 and indeed it’s the best camera I have ever owned. Nice to see this balanced review. It was worth the time watching! 👍
Great review - I've had the A7rIV for about 2 months now and have really grown to love it. The menus intimated me initially too, but now I feel very comfy with them, and the "MyMenus" are really handy. The eye tracking is doing wonders for both the humans and animals that I have used it on. I moved over from the Canon line and feel great about the move.
I've got this setup with the 70-200 f4 and the 200-600mm lens for my wildlife photography kit but I've been having trouble finding an ideal hiking/camera backpack, do you have any recommendations for that? Anything compatible with a hydration bladder?
Thanks for the very comprehensive and detailed review. I shot with Canon bodies and lenses for several decades, but found that even my small sized first generation Sony a6000 mirrorless body has very good focus tracking for birds in flight, and the lighter mirrorless bodies allow for much faster instinctive response time when out in the field with a Sony 200-600 telephoto. So far i've managed to get sharp images of powerboats, flying birds, and F-16 fighter jets which were quite far off and moving fast, which has me sold on Sony camera bodies. I was going to upgrade to the a7R111, but now, based on your review, the a7R1V with the improved real-time autofocus and tracking looks like the best way to go, along with the new 70-200 f/2.8 GM OSS 11 and Sony 1.4X adapter. for a versatile lightweight set-up.
This video popped in my feed. I’m glad it did. Good content and I like your delivery style. I see that you were at the bottom of the Grand Canyon by the Bright Angel Campground. Subscribed!
I use an A7R3 for my macro photography, coming from Nikon i found it easy to set up the quick menu on the Sony, so no need to menu dig. As for hard drive space i always do allot of culling in Capture One Pro which can free up lots of space. Strangely enough I never used the auto features as i shoot macro in manual up to 2:1x . I just got the Sony for the high MP, and now i'm looking at the A7R4 for even more detail and resolution.
VERY well done review!!! And just so everyone knows, the a7R IV and a9 II have larger bodies, including deeper grips, compared to previous similar Sony cameras.
I'm considering moving from a Nikon D850 to the Sony A7RIV - I already use the A7c and have spent some cash on good glass to go along with the Sony E-mount. I've also invested a lot in glass for the Nikon F-mount. In your opinion, would you change from the D850 to the A7RIV? I'd hate to sell off a bunch of high quality Nikon glass (and the D850 body!) if the gains will only be marginal, but I've already invested in the Sony Alpha system with the A7c (which is my daily carry) as well as the option I go with if I'm hiking or riding in the back country due to the compact form factor. I could afford to just buy an A7RIV, but would that render the DSLR system from Nikon obsolete? Thank you so much for your excellent content and fair reviews.
I have found that eye detect works best on birds if I use spot focus, but if the eye leaves the area of the spot, large or small, it will stop tracking. Still playing around with it when I get a chance with more patient and still subjects.
Hi, now r5 is here and what z your thoughts about a7r4? I’m debating b/w a7r4 vs r5. The only thing I don’t like about a7r4 is the lack of touch screen, articulated screen and lack of multiple raw formats, which are all in r5 with I believe almost close to Sony in eye tracking too. But glasses for r5 ridiculously prized. Being a7s3 announced with all these features, I believe it is best in investing in a7r4 for future proof. What is your thoughts b/w these cameras? I don’t care about video features at all? Thanks in advance.
I usually shoot Sony Video and Nikon for my photos. The last Sony camera I used was the A55. previous to today I used the Nikon D7000. Your video was very helpful and I look forward to learning and using the file menus and perfecting my skills with this camera. I loved your video but found the music needing a fix. Thank you.
I am battling the decision right now if I should got the Sony a7R4 or to upgrade my Nikon! I have the d810 and was ready to get the d850 and all I can think about is the Sony a7r4....... I cannot afford both. (Any chance that you have an extra Sony a7r4?) I tried. I can’t decide and your video has me leaning towards Sony again, I was leaning Nikon yesterday. Stresssssss! I really wish I could buy both!! Alas There can be only 1 Arrgggg no clue what to do Ty for you video ! ~Mike
Fantastic review, really honest and balanced, one question and one observation, question: I thought the real-life shots per sec at 62mp was 4 or 5 when using tracking AF ? Observation: I would swap from all my canon gear tomorrow, but its taken 20 years to acquire 35k of lenses, I cannot face buying another 600MM f4 prime for 11k and the adapter would slow the AF with this lens down soooo much frustrating as this camera is utterly outstanding
Thank you for this great and comprehensive review! You said you used the Sony a7R III before - how is the autofocus compared to the a7R IV? And if you have some experience in the a7 III: Is the autofocus compareable to it?
Both the III and IV have great autofocus capability. The a7R III had a small wobble of sorts when achieving focus, which is not present on the a7R IV. I have not used the a7 III though.
Do you mind doing a video comparison between the new Sony Alpha 7C Vs Sony Alpha 7r4, since 7c has some interesting AF features and other things? Also if Alpha C can do 70% job that 7r4 does, then it makes sense to buy it since it is half the price of 7r4
after buying one a bit used i immideatly bought 2 more NEW bodies, cos i dont like to change lenses. Good for me i spent 20k euros for setup( 3x body, 20mm f1.8, 200-600mm, 24-105mm, 135mm f1.8, 35mm f1.8, (35mm 1.4Already had), (70-300mm also had already) 28mm-135mm cinema lens) and made it back in 5 days trading stocks)) as i have been doing for last 20 years. This is incredible camera and no other cames close to. No 5dm4, no nikon d500, do 5dsr, no fuji xt3, what more can u suggest))
My Canon 5d Mk IV never failed or slowed down due to slow temps until I tried to take pics in -47 f (Around -43 c) I'd usually keep it in a insulated bag that also has my water bottles, which are boiling hot to start so they stay unfrozen. Only had my a7r iv in -11c so far, It seemed to do just fine for that. Have yet to test taping handwarmers onto the batteries, or running with USB and a battery bank adding power.
If we ignore the sensor size then a Lumix G9 is actually superior technically other than the resolution and dynamic range (obviously) but at least it has a flip and fully articulating screen. Actually you could just bracket and use the high res mode to counter that deficiency where its appropriate so whilst in some ways I agree that Sony tech is good its actually not the best if we look at the whole picture. Panasonic don't get enough credit for their constant innovation. Let's not forget they and Olympus pioneered the very mirrorless tech that everyone else is now just starting to get to grips with. One last thing Panasonic animal AF picks up virtually every animal in existence :)
Market limitations...because they also have more expensive and professional camera's..like the FX3 ..the Sony A1 and the A9.. ,nice channel and thank you for your honest experience revieuws....thanx
Use mainly Nikon for Sports but tried Canon and Sony cameras up to Canon 1dx Mark 2 and Sony A9. But the issues for me the layouts of menu plus the “look” of the photos appeared more washed out and flat compared to the “pop” of colours in my Nikon. SD cards I find are not robust enough for my liking and funny Sony not used the new CFexpress cards which Sony is a part designer of CFexpress not being used in Sony A9 mark 2 is a strange omission.
Great thorough review and you really touch on a lot. I enjoyed hearing your perspectives! One thing I somewhat disagree with you on is the color science gripes you have. I think the Sony color science is amazing. Wondering if you have played around with using different color profiles in Lightroom as a starting point? That really makes a difference. I recommend starting with one of the color profiles and then make further tweaks using the camera calibration tab then save that as your camera RAW default for that camera. Thanks again and looking forward to your future videos!😊
A great, very informative video. I've been debating whether to buy an A7 iii or an A7R iv, and though it's a lot more expensive, I think I'll go for the latter.
I ordered one yesterday. But I'm not happy with the omission of the following features: - S-Raw, M-Raw, XS-Raw (makes sense, given the A7r's sensor resolution) - Lossless Compression - an onboard GPS - In-camera focus stacking - In-camera pixel shift processing - 10-bit 4:2:2 codec for video (of secondary importance to Me) - 120fps 4K video (I can live with it for now, but still lament the said omission) If the last two features would necessitate a larger body, then I don't care for them: I'd never buy a Panasonic S1-series, as I cant stand large and heavy cameras that I will take along a fraction of the time I would a smaller, lighter one.
Well said! Never too late to the party. I was a Canon shooter 7 years ago when I jumped to A7. I knew what the limitations are and bought A6000 to complement A7. I never look back. Today, I still use both set up A6500 and A7III. There are still minor frustration when using Sony body but overall, it does all that I need. Many Sony critics discredit Sony colour science. Most people forget it was not Sony sensor that was the issue. Sony choose to use lens coating that's cooler than Canon or Nikon. Newer Sony lens changes the formula. This is true because I used Samyang FE14mm F2.8 AF and vintage Takumar lenses which tend to produce warmer results than earlier Sony lenses. Sony GM 24mm produces warmer result compare to FE28 or FE55 or FE85. The latest FE200-600....also produces quite warmer results. A7RIV is to die for to replace my A6500 :-)
The Grand Canyon (and Flagstaff) are two of my favorite places. Do you ever do photo workshop / tours there? I am currently experiencing analysis paralysis in deciding which camera(s) to upgrade from my V-Lux 4. I'm torn between a Q2 and a mirrorless like the A7R IV. While I'm stuck, I may end up selling the V-Lux 4 and getting a V-Lux 5 for an all around use and travel camera until I decide.
Hi again! I just wanted to report back on the animal eye auto focus. I talked about it working good on larger owls, but I've been photographing foxes and the animal eye-af (AEA I guess :) - works fantastic!
The drawbacks of the R4 make me hope the A7IV gets a higher resolution sensor and some other noticeable upgrades. I shoot with the A7III and have definitely been tempted by the higher resolution bodies to see if I notice the difference, but all of the workflow downsides may me think it's probably more headache than it's worth. Thoughts? Really appreciate this thorough and genuinely unbiased review. You did an awesome job :)
A very well done, reasoned, and balanced presentation of an often controversial subject. Congratulations on the review, and on your new camera. It looks like you guys will need to pick up another body, or learn to share. As far as focus capabilities the a9II is at a whole different level than even the a7RIV. Rent one and give it a try on your Yellowstone trip.
I heard that hand grip size issues were mostly alleviated with the larger III and IV grips, but this aggravated a new grip issue. Thicker fingers (or longer fingers in my case) are having a harder time fitting between the grip and some/many Sony lenses which have thicker bodies close to the mount. And by harder, I believe the reviewers mean too close, uncomfortably close, or outright too little room. Any observations on this?
Thank you for you're very, very detailed review. I have been shooting Nikon for many, many years. From 1966 unitil now, but I moved to Panasonix Lumix over the yaers to now, I only shoot a Lumix G9, GH5 and their variations. My issues are shooting many sharp shots of birds in flight. The Lumix cameras I have,, do not have the fast focusing capabilities of the Sony cameras. I do not need all those megapixles of the 7R IV, but I love the auto focus. Anything else yoiu can recommend? My Nikons bodys are the D810 and D750, I have most of the lenses. I idid not b=uy any Nikon mirrorless camera's. I need quick, sharp, auto focus. All my best!
A camera's color science affects JPG images created by the camera. When shooting RAW files, the raw processor you use determines the initial color you see. I compared Lightroom to Capture One and use Capture One. The files are cleaner and have more detail right off the bat, and I like the color. In other words, I have to do less work when using Capture One.
Keep up the killer videos. As you summed it up, their are no competitors against the Alpha7r4. Raymond is lucky being your model and I’m sure he helps you so much. Look forward to more videos. Report on your back up plan you maybe will look at. Thanks
Beside the powerbank for charging the ⍺7R IV or your other cameras and other stuff, is there a USB charger that can charge the ⍺7R IV from the wall socket?
Need some help folks. I need some advice and would be grateful if you all could help. I already have a D500 with a 500mm F/5.6 Prime. I want to now buy either of the two options. Please advise which one is better for me. I am interested in Birding (D500 + 500mm), Mammals (Body? + 70-200), Landscape & Streetscape (Small Body) and Astro hopefully in the future. OPTION 1 DSLR + Everyday Camera BODY - Nikon D850 LENS - Nikkor 20MM F/1.8G ED LENS - Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8G FL ED VR Lecia Q2 OPTION 2 - SONY MIRRORLESS
BODY - Sony A7RIV Lens - Sony EL 16 to 35mm F/2.8 Lens - Sony EL 24mm GM F/1.4 Lens - Sony EL 90mm Macro F/2.8 Lens - Sony EL 70-200 GM F/2.8 Would you suggest I go for the Nikon D850 with the Lecia Q2 seeing I already have a D500 or advice me to go for the Sony. I really would appreciate all your inputs to enable me to take a decision that I can live with for the next 5+ years.
Long time Nikon user here and some of my friends too, since you have been using Sony cameras, can you tell us if the colors both in Jpg and raw are as good as Nikon? Great day.
Well done! I would have loved to see how the camera reacts to eye identification of a large mammal, like a bison or bear. I believe many other wildlife photogs would as well!
Are you sure your mention of the noise issue really addressed the potential problem that the high resolution sensor can cause? The couple of sample images I saw that you described as "high ISO" were shot at ISO 1000 I believe. Using this camera for wildlife often means using it in low light with shutter speeds of 1/2000, 1/4000 etc in which cases the ISO will routinely be 6400 or higher. I gave up after 18 months shooting birds with the a7rIII because the noise issue was so severe. Of course if you only shoot in full daylight it won't be an issue but who wants to do that if you don't have to.
Here's the deal. The higher resolution the full frame sensor, the more you're inviting noise at high ISO. I don't consider this an issue. I'd be the first to persecute a Sony camera if I did. One solution would be to simply use a lower resolution camera. Fewer pixels over the same area will mean less noise (given that the rest of the tech in the two cameras compared is reasonably similar). If you were to downsize a Sony a7RIV image to 24mp, it would look much like an image native to a 24mp sensor at any ISO.
@@220010722001 You would not shoot cropped for this. You would downsize the full frame image to a lower resolution without shooting in crop mode nor cropping afterwards. As I said "fewer pixels over the *same* area." You need to use the whole sensor for this to work, but the pixels will be "averaged" when you downsize the file to a lower resolution. This will, in fact, reduce noise.
Thank you very much for the review! This is stunning high res landscape photography camera, but it has some drawbacks, like reduced low light performance and also lower effective speed than a9 or a9ii for instance...So this camera doesn't really "does it all" camera, but more specified pro tool. In complement to this, if money isn't an issue, pro photographer should have a9 or a9ii and also something like a7sii (or wait and get a7siii). Another option, maybe more suitable for amateur enthusiast is the a7iii all around camera or a7riii....
I want to ask when shooting wildlife birds or airshows in general, do you shoot with the crop mode or go full frame? Granted the crop mode still gives you a resolution of 6K+ and a megapixel of 26.2 which is still higher than most APC cameras, but I can't help wondering should I still utilize the full frame, take advantage of the 61 mp and the 9K resolution and crop it later in post? Has anyone did a side by side comparison to see which one results in a sharper photo?
No click bait title or image, no cheesy / cringey intro. Clear, concise, and succinct review. Subscribed!
Instablaster.
Thanks for the review. I have used Nikon, Canon, Olympus M4/3, Panasonic and Fuji X-T3 and finally settled on the Sony A9 and A6400. Overall, I think Sony has the best gear, especially in the mirrorless realm. Yes, this stuff cost a lot of money and I mostly buy used gear to save money. I waited almost a year before I sold my Fuji and had enough money to buy the A9 which is an incredible machine. I was a newspaper photographer for 35 years. When I first got into the business, I was using Nikon and we never bought new bodies every year. We used the same bodies, same glass. Updates were far and few between. Then I switched to Canon which I used for 20 years. Although Sony gear is expensive, it does a lot of things good and a lot great. Now that I'm retired, I have plenty of time to research my options and I found Sony to be the best option for what I do. Thanks.
@Julian Smith The Nikon Z7 is the best mount in Mirrorless ..Have the Z7 and the 50 1.8 is the Best 50 , as is the 24-70 f2.8 , 70-200 f2.8 ever made ..so I will stay with Nikon
@@Mr09260 Wait Nikon mirrorless uses the same lenses like Nikon's DSLR?
Great video. After shooting both cameras for flying birds and stills of other wildlife, I chose the A7RlV over the A9ll because of the 61/26 pixels.. The ability of crop for a wildlife shooter is huge. I have the 200-600 and the 100-400. I can say without reservation that the 100-400 is the perfect lens for flying birds. It is fantastic on the A7RlV especially in the crop mode.
I've been an amateur photographer for many years. I shot Nikon for years back in the film days. But, I switched to Canon when they introduced the first affordable dslr. Then I went to Sony when the A7 was released. I currently use the Sony A7rIII with a variety of Sony G and GM lenses that suit what I shoot. I used to use battery grips with my Sony cameras. But, now with the larger batteries and a lot of my photography being travel photography, I find I don't really need the battery grip. I'm sure I'll upgrade to a newer model Sony in the future. But, so far, I haven't felt the need.
Awesome camera review. Camilla & I use the Sony A9II for increased speed and lower light performance for wildlife photography, but many wildlife photographers use the A7R IV for pure detail resolution amazing
I haven't tried the a9 II yet but I adored the a9.
TheSnapChick if you adored the A9 you will get engaged to the A9II
Liked very much this review, extremely complete, and with the right info for professionals. I own the Sony A7 iii and I felt the same it's just such an advanced camera that you can't believe it, it's like having played a ps1 from Canon or Nikon for 10 years and suddenly you switch to Sony and it's a PS4, it's such an awesome improvement that you'll never want to go back
I have had the camera since almost 6 months and it still continues to be my dream camera. Having started the advent into sony from the a7r and then the r2 the R4 really taken everything up by a notch. To get this kind of resolution on such a small body with 5 & a half stops of stabilization & an excellent evf along with excellent DR and the ability to attach light lenses makes for a very ergonomic instrument. Personally I find the menu system intelligent as it allows customization of all the buttons etc. The software in camera has improved so much that I tend to shoot most of thetime in jpeg or compressed raw unless I feel that the light situation may be tricky and require more post processing. Often the native software works better than a 3rd party (lightroom included). I use a lot of manual lenses fromthe film era & I am amazed at the quality I get from many of them - even in comparison to the earlier 42mp sensor. The increase in detail means that the sensor functions like a zoom allowing one to reframe & recompose in post. Hence prime lenses cantake on a zoom function. For design - fine art - composition - anything that requires that extra detail this camera reallyshines
SC Leigh - I did go back and finish watching the review. I appreciate that you go out of your way to offer unbiased reviews and honest opinions. Excellent job as always. Thank You.
Thank you for the great review of this camera. I own this camera and feel the autofocus is very good. I also use the a9ii to shoot wildlife and oh boy the autofocus on the a9ii is out of this world. My wife and i will be at the grand Tetons on May 18th and Yellowstone for 9 days. Looking forward to using them both.
Un buen vídeo. Personalmente trabajo con una A9 y el 200-600 G, muy contento con el equipo, es rápido, confiable y ofrece mucha calidad en la imagen. En cuanto al enfoque del ojo de los animales va bien para las mascotas, no tan bien para las aves que son mi pasión pero no hay problema pues trabajo con el punto flexible en S y siempre al ojo, conclusión, foto clavada y nítida. Ser rápido, previsible y conociendo los hábitos del ave, uno se puede anticipar a la acción. Un saludo desde España.
That was the greatest intro disclaimer I have ever seen. Back on my home world we just say, " No, I did not say that." or "You have the wrong person." but you took it to the next level...wow, verbal art...Ok, just kidding, I do understand, after reading so many comments on yours and other YT channels how fan boys, and girls, of a particular camera brand can get their underwear in a bunch if they feel their brand is dis'd' Also, If their choice was based on your review and or recommendation of that brand they might feel inclined to feel mislead. But to your main point, You deliver excellent material and information for the average Joe, or Jane, to make an informed decision. Which leads us to the audience. it is our responsibility when we purchase a product to take ownership of our decision/choice... and not to blame....wait for it...you. As always, Keep up the good (excellent)work and keep'em flying...I do enjoy your channel. If i had the means i would purchase that bad boy in a second...a7r4. I would have to give up my xt2 and 16-55, but the gains would be awesome.
Have a nice day...
You give great reviews! The only problem for me. I can't afford camera new camera gear! And a lot of new photographers I would think they watch your channel and others. Thinking they always need new updated equipment for the next great photo. If i could say something that is not true! I can finally say i have a great portfolio. Using definitely older camera gear. The secret everyone is to learn to use what you have. And not compare yourself too others!
I love using all different types of gear, new and old. You can DEFINITELY create incredible photo work with most any camera! :)
Doug Potosky Great comment thanks for waking up everybody here because the camera cost way over $3000 will not produce much better photos than your current camera. Most of the time it’s the photographer itself who creates better photos and it is much better to train yourself and practice a lot and not buying new gear point. I spent a lot of time with RUclips videos until I got understand the point.
Hey. Stunning photos you made with this. I think this camera really inspired you and added something to your shooting. What a machine it is. And you are good enough to exploit it.
Great review in good details! Thanks for all your hard work putting all the specs information together for us. I am looking forward to buy the Sony A7RV as my first professional DSLR.
Best r4 review on YT
My first ever proper camera is the Sony A6400. As a person who knows very little about photography, I was able to take fast and great shots at an event in manual mode. If a newbie like me can use a Sony mirrorless effortlessly, it definately is a great camera.
I have the A7RIV along with A9. I was a Pro Nikon and Canon user (both systems) for over 40 years and then moved to Sony. I am very happy with its very complete mirrorless system including Sony and third-party E-mount lenses. IMHO it is the best camera for what I shoot, which is everything. Cheers and thanks for your very fair review.
Well done! Bought myself the A7R4 for Christmas... loving it so far and look forward to more of your videos....
I use both the Sony A7R4 and Sony A9 for my Wildlife work. And yes, the Sony A7R4 is for a game changer. And this for many reasons but most important for Wildlife is the ability to do a 100% crop and still get 27MP images. And this paired with excellent Autofocus, speed and buffer. Superb! BUT: the Sony A7R4 is for me a low performer in terms of Autofocus (both acquisition and tracking) and ISO performance in low light situations especially when going after small animals, e.g. passerine birds. The Autofocus simply failed in such situations from time to time and the image was not sharp. In the same low light situation the Sony A9 nailed the focus - no exception. It is just a fact for me based on my own experience using top notch lenses such as a Sony 400mm 2.8 GM or Sony 600mm 4.0 GM. Also, the noise pattern of the Sony A7R4 beyond ISO1600 is at least in my opinion quite ugly requiring a lot of effort in post processing to correct it a bit. I think over ISO1250 you substantially loose resolution, the 61MP is just a number and history then. For me this is important as I am after Feather Perfection in my bird images. So that's why I use this combo, in low light situations or where I face super fast action - my choice is the Sony A9. And if the light is good and I use a fast lens - my choice is the Sony A7R4. Don't get me wrong, the Sony A7R4 is - as I mentioned - a game change for me. But you need to know the limits of your gear as there is no "perfect" camera which works perfectly in any situation and this includes also the Sony A7R4 (although the Sony system comes close to it :)). And by the way, the howling about the Sony menu system is wining on a high level. Just get all the items you need on the customizable page and that's it. Easy. Also, I never had any issue at super low temperatures, moisture, dust / sand and rain with the Sony A9 or Sony A7R4. A lot here is just complaining without practical experience.
Totally agree, I use the A9II and the A7RIV in the exact same way you described! 👍🙋♂️
Thank you for sharing your experience. How cold have you had the a9 and a7R IV out in? And did you have the camera in your hands or was it sitting out on a tripod (using interval timer so not touching the camera). I'm curious to know because I am out in the cold often and my camera did stop taking photos. :)
TheSnapChick Hi, I was till last week for the Snow Leopards in the Mountains around Yushu city what is in the southwestern Qinghai province in China. Temperatures were at daytime around -25C at 4700m altitude. Wether the A7r4 nor the A9 II showed any malfunction over the day but we were also outside most of the time, it was dry and we avoided any potential condensation. In December I was in Iceland at temperatures around -5C and also moderate volcanic sand penetration of my A7r4 at Stokksnes Beach in the southeast part of Iceland. I did not experience any issue here, the camera worked fine. On Iceland I used most of the time a Tripod. In the Himalayan Mountains I did not use a Tripod. Just important is to clean the camera at the end of a day carefully. All I can say is that I was a bit surprised how well the Sony‘s performed in this harsh environment in the Himalayan Mountains. I had as a backup a Canon 1DX Mark II with me but never used it on this trip. This is also, beside some other points the reason why I am gradually moving to Sony now.
You might want to try topaz denoise AI on your higher ISO shots. Its a genuine step forward in noise reduction effectiveness compared to more conventional noise reduction. I'm not one to get hyped very easily, I tend towards the more cynical side of things, but its that good ive had to completely re set my whole notion of what my cameras are capable of ISO wise. I was going to stick with my A7riii because I was concerned about high ISO performance of the new model, but the topaz noise reduction has made me re evaluate and I'm going to get the new model now.
mark rigg Hi, yes, I am currently trying Topaz. Looks actually quite good but I need to check here more. I am cropping a lot with the A7R4 , both in camera and in post, that’s why noise is for me really a topic.
Great unbiased video. The way you explain and talk is so very relaxed and refreshing (compared to some others like JP, which I also like)!
New to your channel. Your work is thoughtful and concise. Straight to the point. Refreshing. Thank you!
Love my A7R4 it did feel a little small in my (large) hands. I put a smallrig brand cage on it, now it’s perfect! Great review, thanks!
I've used the A9 hardcore for 2 years and love it, but I wanted a 2nd body and opted for the A7RIV and WOW! Being able to crop in post is incredible. The detail is amazing. The tracking is solid (clearly not as good as the A9 nor should it given the price difference). The animal eye-af on both bodies is good with huge potential. I was photographing a great gray owl last week. It was just the bird and I at first when I walked up on it in the forest so I was closer. Eye-AF was perfect! It would follow the owl's head movements. But the next time I saw the owl in a different location further away, the animal eye-AF was grabbing lower parts of its tail feathers even though I was aiming my cursor at the head. So I've now added that feature to my quick menu to quickly turn off if the subject isn't as close. (photos of the GGO at thehuntingphotographer instagram). The ergonomics are great although I'm a small human so I love the A9's ergonomics as well. The buffer is fine - still fantastic enough for BIF bursts. I find I'm choosing my moments slightly more than using the A9 which isn't a bad thing anyways. It's taking some time for me to get used to blackout again because I've shot for 2 years with out lol For low light, yes grain shows up more, but the Sony bodies are great handling high ISOs, plus utilizing Topaz Denoise can be a major help. Very solid review SC! This is honestly one of the most thorough 7RIV reviews out there!
Brian Houle Just follow to your Instagram account...nice shots! 👍
It picked up owl eyes??!! That's great. I'm interested to experiment more with what eyes the camera will register.
TheSnapChick it works better on GGOs, iffy on northern hawk owls (maybe because the eyes are smaller) and decent on both snowys and barred owls. But again, I find the distance to the subject is important.
Another great thing is: adapters for mix and matching lens brands is getting awesome. IE using Sony G master lenses on a Nikon Z body!
What a wonderful, thorough and informative review. I just ordered an a7R4. Watching your review made me even more excited than I already was. Too bad about the April, 2020 trip. Maybe another one soon? Hope so!
Hopefully I can afford these kinds of camera in the future. Been saving for good camera since 2013. Im halfway ish for the price of it. Although I'm just 15 yrs old I been doing photography at weddings and festivals using my rebel t3 and 18-150mm tamron lens that I bought last 2011. This really inspires me a lot.
Thanks for creating this In-depth review. I especially appreciate the time you took to explain the various AF modes and what your experiences were like. The A7r IV is impressive as hell and I’m feeling a pull on the wallet here. I’d ask for some elaboration to complete your evaluation such as 1. How slow is the bootup process? 2. More talk on ergonomics. It was helpful to hear you like the small size and that your partner prefers the battery grip. 3. More high ISO thoughts? I’m intrigued by/the single Astro shot that you used in the review and hope your really explore this body’s potential for Astro enthusiasts. Mahalos :)
I learn more from your site than any other thanks.
What a wonderful comprehensive review! I own the A7R4 and indeed it’s the best camera I have ever owned. Nice to see this balanced review. It was worth the time watching! 👍
Great review - I've had the A7rIV for about 2 months now and have really grown to love it. The menus intimated me initially too, but now I feel very comfy with them, and the "MyMenus" are really handy. The eye tracking is doing wonders for both the humans and animals that I have used it on. I moved over from the Canon line and feel great about the move.
4k video, ibis, 61mp, huge dynamic range, amazing AF, this kind of stunned me
Definitely looking forward to all of your upcoming Sony videos!
Thanks a lot Leigh for the awesome detailed review! It was really helpful and informative for me! God bless you!
I've got this setup with the 70-200 f4 and the 200-600mm lens for my wildlife photography kit but I've been having trouble finding an ideal hiking/camera backpack, do you have any recommendations for that? Anything compatible with a hydration bladder?
Thanks for the very comprehensive and detailed review. I shot with Canon bodies and lenses for several decades, but found that even my small sized first generation Sony a6000 mirrorless body has very good focus tracking for birds in flight, and the lighter mirrorless bodies allow for much faster instinctive response time when out in the field with a Sony 200-600 telephoto. So far i've managed to get sharp images of powerboats, flying birds, and F-16 fighter jets which were quite far off and moving fast, which has me sold on Sony camera bodies. I was going to upgrade to the a7R111, but now, based on your review, the a7R1V with the improved real-time autofocus and tracking looks like the best way to go, along with the new 70-200 f/2.8 GM OSS 11 and Sony 1.4X adapter. for a versatile lightweight set-up.
This video popped in my feed. I’m glad it did. Good content and I like your delivery style.
I see that you were at the bottom of the Grand Canyon by the Bright Angel Campground. Subscribed!
I use an A7R3 for my macro photography, coming from Nikon i found it easy to set up the quick menu on the Sony, so no need to menu dig. As for hard drive space i always do allot of culling in Capture One Pro which can free up lots of space. Strangely enough I never used the auto features as i shoot macro in manual up to 2:1x . I just got the Sony for the high MP, and now i'm looking at the A7R4 for even more detail and resolution.
VERY well done review!!! And just so everyone knows, the a7R IV and a9 II have larger bodies, including deeper grips, compared to previous similar Sony cameras.
I'm considering moving from a Nikon D850 to the Sony A7RIV - I already use the A7c and have spent some cash on good glass to go along with the Sony E-mount. I've also invested a lot in glass for the Nikon F-mount. In your opinion, would you change from the D850 to the A7RIV? I'd hate to sell off a bunch of high quality Nikon glass (and the D850 body!) if the gains will only be marginal, but I've already invested in the Sony Alpha system with the A7c (which is my daily carry) as well as the option I go with if I'm hiking or riding in the back country due to the compact form factor. I could afford to just buy an A7RIV, but would that render the DSLR system from Nikon obsolete? Thank you so much for your excellent content and fair reviews.
I have found that eye detect works best on birds if I use spot focus, but if the eye leaves the area of the spot, large or small, it will stop tracking. Still playing around with it when I get a chance with more patient and still subjects.
Hi, now r5 is here and what z your thoughts about a7r4? I’m debating b/w a7r4 vs r5. The only thing I don’t like about a7r4 is the lack of touch screen, articulated screen and lack of multiple raw formats, which are all in r5 with I believe almost close to Sony in eye tracking too. But glasses for r5 ridiculously prized. Being a7s3 announced with all these features, I believe it is best in investing in a7r4 for future proof. What is your thoughts b/w these cameras? I don’t care about video features at all? Thanks in advance.
im in the process of buying a new camera, the AR7IV is my initial choice, i think im convinced now thank you, great review
You do such GREAT work... I'm very impressed... keep doing you!!! 👍
The best review ever. Thank you!
I usually shoot Sony Video and Nikon for my photos. The last Sony camera I used was the A55. previous to today I used the Nikon D7000. Your video was very helpful and I look forward to learning and using the file menus and perfecting my skills with this camera. I loved your video but found the music needing a fix. Thank you.
I am battling the decision right now if I should got the Sony a7R4 or to upgrade my Nikon!
I have the d810 and was ready to get the d850 and all I can think about is the Sony a7r4....... I cannot afford both. (Any chance that you have an extra Sony a7r4?) I tried.
I can’t decide and your video has me leaning towards Sony again, I was leaning Nikon yesterday.
Stresssssss! I really wish I could buy both!! Alas There can be only 1
Arrgggg no clue what to do
Ty for you video ! ~Mike
Fantastic review, really honest and balanced, one question and one observation,
question: I thought the real-life shots per sec at 62mp was 4 or 5 when using tracking AF ?
Observation: I would swap from all my canon gear tomorrow, but its taken 20 years to acquire 35k of lenses, I cannot face buying another 600MM f4 prime for 11k and the adapter would slow the AF with this lens down soooo much
frustrating as this camera is utterly outstanding
Thank you for this great and comprehensive review! You said you used the Sony a7R III before - how is the autofocus compared to the a7R IV? And if you have some experience in the a7 III: Is the autofocus compareable to it?
Both the III and IV have great autofocus capability. The a7R III had a small wobble of sorts when achieving focus, which is not present on the a7R IV. I have not used the a7 III though.
Given the choice of one or the other, would you pick the Sony a7r4 camera, or the Sigma fpl? Thanks for your reply.
Do you mind doing a video comparison between the new Sony Alpha 7C Vs Sony Alpha 7r4, since 7c has some interesting AF features and other things? Also if Alpha C can do 70% job that 7r4 does, then it makes sense to buy it since it is half the price of 7r4
very detild information thank u soo much ... great presentation 👏
after buying one a bit used i immideatly bought 2 more NEW bodies, cos i dont like to change lenses. Good for me i spent 20k euros for setup( 3x body, 20mm f1.8, 200-600mm, 24-105mm, 135mm f1.8, 35mm f1.8, (35mm 1.4Already had), (70-300mm also had already) 28mm-135mm cinema lens) and made it back in 5 days trading stocks)) as i have been doing for last 20 years. This is incredible camera and no other cames close to. No 5dm4, no nikon d500, do 5dsr, no fuji xt3, what more can u suggest))
My Canon 5d Mk IV never failed or slowed down due to slow temps until I tried to take pics in -47 f (Around -43 c) I'd usually keep it in a insulated bag that also has my water bottles, which are boiling hot to start so they stay unfrozen. Only had my a7r iv in -11c so far, It seemed to do just fine for that. Have yet to test taping handwarmers onto the batteries, or running with USB and a battery bank adding power.
Hi Leigh, Thank you for the reviews. . I’m not familiar with the tags you have on your gear , can tell what there for. I’m assuming security.
If we ignore the sensor size then a Lumix G9 is actually superior technically other than the resolution and dynamic range (obviously) but at least it has a flip and fully articulating screen. Actually you could just bracket and use the high res mode to counter that deficiency where its appropriate so whilst in some ways I agree that Sony tech is good its actually not the best if we look at the whole picture. Panasonic don't get enough credit for their constant innovation. Let's not forget they and Olympus pioneered the very mirrorless tech that everyone else is now just starting to get to grips with. One last thing Panasonic animal AF picks up virtually every animal in existence :)
Market limitations...because they also have more expensive and professional camera's..like the FX3 ..the Sony A1 and the A9.. ,nice channel and thank you for your honest experience revieuws....thanx
Can you talk more about this camera with landscape photography specifically?
Use mainly Nikon for Sports but tried Canon and Sony cameras up to Canon 1dx Mark 2 and Sony A9. But the issues for me the layouts of menu plus the “look” of the photos appeared more washed out and flat compared to the “pop” of colours in my Nikon. SD cards I find are not robust enough for my liking and funny Sony not used the new CFexpress cards which Sony is a part designer of CFexpress not being used in Sony A9 mark 2 is a strange omission.
Great thorough review and you really touch on a lot. I enjoyed hearing your perspectives! One thing I somewhat disagree with you on is the color science gripes you have. I think the Sony color science is amazing. Wondering if you have played around with using different color profiles in Lightroom as a starting point? That really makes a difference. I recommend starting with one of the color profiles and then make further tweaks using the camera calibration tab then save that as your camera RAW default for that camera. Thanks again and looking forward to your future videos!😊
A great, very informative video. I've been debating whether to buy an A7 iii or an A7R iv, and though it's a lot more expensive, I think I'll go for the latter.
I ordered one yesterday. But I'm not happy with the omission of the following features:
- S-Raw, M-Raw, XS-Raw (makes sense, given the A7r's sensor resolution)
- Lossless Compression
- an onboard GPS
- In-camera focus stacking
- In-camera pixel shift processing
- 10-bit 4:2:2 codec for video (of secondary importance to Me)
- 120fps 4K video (I can live with it for now, but still lament the said omission)
If the last two features would necessitate a larger body, then I don't care for them: I'd never buy a Panasonic S1-series, as I cant stand large and heavy cameras that I will take along a fraction of the time I would a smaller, lighter one.
Well said! Never too late to the party. I was a Canon shooter 7 years ago when I jumped to A7. I knew what the limitations are and bought A6000 to complement A7. I never look back. Today, I still use both set up A6500 and A7III.
There are still minor frustration when using Sony body but overall, it does all that I need.
Many Sony critics discredit Sony colour science. Most people forget it was not Sony sensor that was the issue. Sony choose to use lens coating that's cooler than Canon or Nikon. Newer Sony lens changes the formula. This is true because I used Samyang FE14mm F2.8 AF and vintage Takumar lenses which tend to produce warmer results than earlier Sony lenses. Sony GM 24mm produces warmer result compare to FE28 or FE55 or FE85. The latest FE200-600....also produces quite warmer results.
A7RIV is to die for to replace my A6500 :-)
I guess you will switch to back to Canon when the R5 arrives :)
Super comprehensive and a wonderfully produced video.
Thank you for watching! :)
The Grand Canyon (and Flagstaff) are two of my favorite places. Do you ever do photo workshop / tours there?
I am currently experiencing analysis paralysis in deciding which camera(s) to upgrade from my V-Lux 4. I'm torn between a Q2 and a mirrorless like the A7R IV. While I'm stuck, I may end up selling the V-Lux 4 and getting a V-Lux 5 for an all around use and travel camera until I decide.
Picked mine up couple days ago with a FE 2.4 70-200mm GM AND A FE 1.4 85mm 1.4 GM.
Hi again! I just wanted to report back on the animal eye auto focus. I talked about it working good on larger owls, but I've been photographing foxes and the animal eye-af (AEA I guess :) - works fantastic!
The drawbacks of the R4 make me hope the A7IV gets a higher resolution sensor and some other noticeable upgrades. I shoot with the A7III and have definitely been tempted by the higher resolution bodies to see if I notice the difference, but all of the workflow downsides may me think it's probably more headache than it's worth. Thoughts? Really appreciate this thorough and genuinely unbiased review. You did an awesome job :)
not a workflow problem. files are definitely bigger at 122mbs, but i love that cropping capability
How’s the sensor dust? Heard it’s notorious for picking it up.
I just found this video, well done. Were all the photo's at the end of this video taken with the Sony a7R IV ?
Great Review! I just bought this camera and this was very helpful! Surprised that you have the 200-600, not the 100-400mm.
A very well done, reasoned, and balanced presentation of an often controversial subject. Congratulations on the review, and on your new camera. It looks like you guys will need to pick up another body, or learn to share. As far as focus capabilities the a9II is at a whole different level than even the a7RIV. Rent one and give it a try on your Yellowstone trip.
Can eye detection be used when not in fully automatic? As in use auto focus, but set own ISO, F Stop, and shutter speed? thank you
I heard that hand grip size issues were mostly alleviated with the larger III and IV grips, but this aggravated a new grip issue. Thicker fingers (or longer fingers in my case) are having a harder time fitting between the grip and some/many Sony lenses which have thicker bodies close to the mount. And by harder, I believe the reviewers mean too close, uncomfortably close, or outright too little room. Any observations on this?
Sony really needs to use CFExpress cards in the a7R IV and a9 bodies. The SDII are simply not fast enough to write the files after a long burst.
I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the buffer cleared after a burst but there would certainly be improvement with the CFExpress/XQD cards.
Hi, great video. I note that your ISO for the shot at time 14:20 is 12800, what’s the noise like at such ISO’s?
Have you done a comparison with the A7III and the A7RIV?
Very balanced review, well done!
I looked at one today, I was NOT expecting to like it so much :)
Thank you for you're very, very detailed review. I have been shooting Nikon for many, many years. From 1966 unitil now, but I moved to Panasonix Lumix over the yaers to now, I only shoot a Lumix G9, GH5 and their variations. My issues are shooting many sharp shots of birds in flight. The Lumix cameras I have,, do not have the fast focusing capabilities of the Sony cameras. I do not need all those megapixles of the 7R IV, but I love the auto focus. Anything else yoiu can recommend? My Nikons bodys are the D810 and D750, I have most of the lenses. I idid not b=uy any Nikon mirrorless camera's. I need quick, sharp, auto focus. All my best!
Great choice. Congratulations
So many lenses now for Sony FE
San Diego.. Balboa Park! Hey! :) Great Review! Happy to have found your channel. Keep up the great work!
What is this upgrade to 12-bit that you are going to send your camera in about and is this for the Sony or your Nikon Z?
I wonder how many of the features ever get used ? As I'm not taking many (if any) pictures
at the moment, I have no plans to replace my D500.
A camera's color science affects JPG images created by the camera. When shooting RAW files, the raw processor you use determines the initial color you see. I compared Lightroom to Capture One and use Capture One. The files are cleaner and have more detail right off the bat, and I like the color. In other words, I have to do less work when using Capture One.
Incredible Work ✌️
Keep up the killer videos. As you summed it up, their are no competitors against the Alpha7r4. Raymond is lucky being your model and I’m sure he helps you so much. Look forward to more videos. Report on your back up plan you maybe will look at. Thanks
what is the name of your strap? I want to get one like that for my Sony. Also, what are the 2 names of the UH II disks?
Beside the powerbank for charging the ⍺7R IV or your other cameras and other stuff, is there a USB charger that can charge the ⍺7R IV from the wall socket?
Well done (as usual)!
So, are you selling your Nikon D7? Just curious.
No plans to sell any Z cameras at this point.
@@LeighAndRaymond Crazy if you do
I don't know you will convince or not but out of the cringe on youtube.... Your channel is my favorite photography channel
Thanks for the review...It's very helpful...👍👍.Love from India.🇮🇳
I've just bought the Sony a7 iv, I'm nervous because I'm switching from Canon, but I am also so excited.
It is scary to switch/add systems! I'm excited for you too, though. :)
You’re so professional kind and smart. So beautiful
Need some help folks. I need some advice and would be grateful if you all could help.
I already have a D500 with a 500mm F/5.6 Prime.
I want to now buy either of the two options. Please advise which one is better for me.
I am interested in Birding (D500 + 500mm), Mammals (Body? + 70-200), Landscape & Streetscape (Small Body) and Astro hopefully in the future.
OPTION 1 DSLR + Everyday Camera
BODY - Nikon D850
LENS - Nikkor 20MM F/1.8G ED
LENS - Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8G FL ED VR
Lecia Q2
OPTION 2 - SONY MIRRORLESS
BODY - Sony A7RIV
Lens - Sony EL 16 to 35mm F/2.8
Lens - Sony EL 24mm GM F/1.4
Lens - Sony EL 90mm Macro F/2.8
Lens - Sony EL 70-200 GM F/2.8
Would you suggest I go for the Nikon D850 with the Lecia Q2 seeing I already have a D500 or advice me to go for the Sony.
I really would appreciate all your inputs to enable me to take a decision that I can live with for the next 5+ years.
Long time Nikon user here and some of my friends too, since you have been using Sony cameras, can you tell us if the colors both in Jpg and raw are as good as Nikon? Great day.
It's all personal preference.
Well done! I would have loved to see how the camera reacts to eye identification of a large mammal, like a bison or bear. I believe many other wildlife photogs would as well!
so excited to get my a7riva :)
Are you sure your mention of the noise issue really addressed the potential problem that the high resolution sensor can cause? The couple of sample images I saw that you described as "high ISO" were shot at ISO 1000 I believe. Using this camera for wildlife often means using it in low light with shutter speeds of 1/2000, 1/4000 etc in which cases the ISO will routinely be 6400 or higher. I gave up after 18 months shooting birds with the a7rIII because the noise issue was so severe. Of course if you only shoot in full daylight it won't be an issue but who wants to do that if you don't have to.
Here's the deal. The higher resolution the full frame sensor, the more you're inviting noise at high ISO. I don't consider this an issue. I'd be the first to persecute a Sony camera if I did. One solution would be to simply use a lower resolution camera. Fewer pixels over the same area will mean less noise (given that the rest of the tech in the two cameras compared is reasonably similar). If you were to downsize a Sony a7RIV image to 24mp, it would look much like an image native to a 24mp sensor at any ISO.
@@scraymond5597 Wrong. If you shoot with the a7riii in crop mode you get a smaller file but the noise issue is not resolved.
@@220010722001 You would not shoot cropped for this. You would downsize the full frame image to a lower resolution without shooting in crop mode nor cropping afterwards. As I said "fewer pixels over the *same* area." You need to use the whole sensor for this to work, but the pixels will be "averaged" when you downsize the file to a lower resolution. This will, in fact, reduce noise.
@@scraymond5597 Or, shoot with a body with a lower resolution sensor to start.
Thank you very much for the review! This is stunning high res landscape photography camera, but it has some drawbacks, like reduced low light performance and also lower effective speed than a9 or a9ii for instance...So this camera doesn't really "does it all" camera, but more specified pro tool. In complement to this, if money isn't an issue, pro photographer should have a9 or a9ii and also something like a7sii (or wait and get a7siii). Another option, maybe more suitable for amateur enthusiast is the a7iii all around camera or a7riii....
I want to ask when shooting wildlife birds or airshows in general, do you shoot with the crop mode or go full frame? Granted the crop mode still gives you a resolution of 6K+ and a megapixel of 26.2 which is still higher than most APC cameras, but I can't help wondering should I still utilize the full frame, take advantage of the 61 mp and the 9K resolution and crop it later in post? Has anyone did a side by side comparison to see which one results in a sharper photo?