By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
TechgoonduTechgoondu
  • Audio-visual
  • Enterprise
    • Software
    • Cybersecurity
  • Gaming
  • Imaging
  • Internet
  • Media
  • Mobile
    • Cellphones
    • Tablets
  • PC
  • Telecom
Search
© 2023 Goondu Media Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Hands on: Sony Alpha 7R Mark IV
Share
Aa
TechgoonduTechgoondu
Aa
  • Audio-visual
  • Enterprise
  • Gaming
  • Imaging
  • Internet
  • Media
  • Mobile
  • PC
  • Telecom
Search
  • Audio-visual
  • Enterprise
    • Software
    • Cybersecurity
  • Gaming
  • Imaging
  • Internet
  • Media
  • Mobile
    • Cellphones
    • Tablets
  • PC
  • Telecom
Follow US
© 2023 Goondu Media Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Techgoondu > Blog > Imaging > Hands on: Sony Alpha 7R Mark IV
Imaging

Hands on: Sony Alpha 7R Mark IV

Wilson Wong
Last updated: August 13, 2020 at 10:38 PM
Wilson Wong Published July 31, 2019
11 Min Read
SHARE
  • The Sony Alpha 7R Mark IV. PHOTO: Handout

With competition intensifying in the mirrorless camera market, Sony has come up with its latest Alpha 7R Mark IV sporting the industry’s first 61-megapixel full-frame back-illuminated sensor to blow the socks off users.

Like its predecessors, the R versions of Sony’s Alpha mirrorless cameras are designed to produce high-resolution images that can be cropped for various uses, particularly for large prints and posters.

The 61-megapixel sensor here can produce JPEG image files as large as 35MB each. This contains more than enough data, including 15-stops of dynamic range, to provide enough detail for viewing an A0 print up close.

There’s no questioning the raw power of the sensor. The new Sony camera can also output 14-bit RAW image files which allows plenty of data for a creative user to work with.

The first 61-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS full-frame sensor, on the Sony Alpha 7R Mark IV. PHOTO: Handout

If you still need more resolution, the new Alpha 7R Mark IV has a new feature called Pixel Shift. By using the in-camera stabilisation, the sensor is shifted in 0.5 and 1-pixel increments to create 16 image files to be combined into an approximate 240.8-megapixel image file.

This may sound really impressive but the camera must be used with a sturdy tripod and the subject needs to be still to avoid capturing movement in the frame.

I shot this under artificial light set up at ISO 400. Not much ISO noise on the skin but there are some artefacts in the shadow areas. Clicking on the image, you can even see thin strands of facial hair and the reflection of the studio lights on the eyes very clearly. The colour is on the cool side. PHOTO: Wilson Wong

Like with most full-frame cameras, you could shoot in APS-C crop sensor mode as well. This means you can crop into the image, giving it a 1.5x zoom effect without changing the lens.

In turn, that means you can use a 300mm lens that will translate into an image that is perceived to be shot with a 450mm lens.

The downside of using the crop mode is the drastic drop in the image resolution, sometimes to only 10 megapixels, which is not enough to maintain good image quality in big prints.

Under natural lighting the skin tons is a tad better but still has a bit of green tint. I have cropped this image down to 40 megapixels and the details still hold very well. Click the image to see more. PHOTO: Wilson Wong

Thanks to the huge 61-megapixel sensor, the Alpha 7R Mark IV ‘s APS-C mode can yield as much as 26.2-megapixel resolution, which is higher than other native APS-C DSLR cameras such as the 20-megapixel Canon 7D Mark 2 and the 20.9-megapixel Nikon D500. It even beats Sony’s own Alpha 7 Mark III, which has a 24.2-megapixel sensor.

This is the first time we are seeing a camera that has enough resolution for high-quality printing in both full-frame and cropped sensor mode in a mirrorless body.

With such huge JPEG files being processed by the Bionz X chip, you might worry that the camera would take some time to capture and save the images to the memory card. Surprisingly, it can keep firing away even when the big image files are being saved.

It helps to have a memory buffer that is large enough. The Alpha 7R Mark IV accommodates 68 images files at Extra Fine JPEG or Compressed RAW setting so you will not miss a single shot.

However, to maximise the performance of the camera, a SDXC UHS-II high-speed SD card should be used to make sure that the camera does not slow down when you’re taking multiple shots at one go.

I tried to create problems for the autofocus system by picturing a strong light source behind the dancer as she moved but it followed not only her face but her eyes too. Shot at ISO 1600, the image is very clean. PHOTO: Wilson Wong

When you have a sensor with such a huge megapixel count, image sharpness could be compromised, no thanks to camera vibration. The 5-axis in-body stabilisation and a newly developed shutter system in the camera seem to work well to keep vibration to a minimum.

The icing of the cake for this new camera is the new autofocus (AF) system. With 567 phase-detection points covering 74 per cent of the sensor and 425 contrast AF points, the camera is able to track a subject accurately.

It picked out the faces, and even the eyes of the models, as they moved around a stage at a Singapore launch event yesterday. I didn’t see the camera lose the subject during my brief hands-on, either for stills or videos

What’s more, Sony’s much-hyped Eye AF can now be used on animals too via the Animal mode. This means you always focus on the eyes, whether you are photographing your pet canine or a snow leopard.

Don’t laugh. I am confident the camera can pull through well with wildlife and sports photography. This is helped by high 10 frames-per-second continuous capture with full Auto Exposure and Auto Focus.

The Sony Alpha 7R Mark IV’s grip is now deeper and my little finger can rest on the camera body. Very helpful when using with a large lens. PHOTO: Wilson Wong

To complete the transformation of the Alpha 7 series, the Alpha 7R Mark IV also comes with a new body design. It is now more comfortable to grip when you’re using larger lenses.

The camera has dual SD card slots, a necessity for a professional-level imaging tool that I found lacking in the Canon EOS R and Nikon Z mirrorless cameras.

What I also like is that Sony has now changed the first SD card slot to the top slot rather than the bottom slot. Most users naturally assume the top slot is for the primary card.

The new camera also comes with a dedicated flash sync terminal. This is critical when the accurate firing of the studio strobe system is needed for high-speed photography.

Even when another player passes in front of my lens, the camera still holds the focus. PHOTO: Wilson Wong

If you are an avid videographer, the Alpha 7R Mark IV provides 4K recordings with S-Log3 RAW footage and HDR workflow support in XAVC-S H.264 with full pixel readout from the sensor. No pixel binning here.

The video-out resolution will be in Super 35mm mode. To be fair, the Alpha 7R Mark IV is not really the top-tier 4K video tool, but it will fare well if that’s not your main focus.

As a still camera, it is a joy to use. It is responsive, quick to focus, speedy in image capture, and it even gives out a very satisfying “thud” sound whenever the shutter is engaged.

That’s great if you miss the sound of a moving mirror in a traditional DSLR. Even better is the Alpha 7R Mark IV’s electronic viewfinder. The OLED screen with UXGA resolution comes with no discernable blackouts, so I could have sworn that I was using a DSLR rather than a mirrorless camera.

The vertical grip is necessary to ensure you have enough battery power to last a long session, especially during high-burst-rate sports photography. PHOTO: Handout

It is hard to find fault with the Alpha 7R Mark IV but there are still some kinks in its armour. Take note, for one, that its battery is rated to last 530 shots when using the electronic viewfinder. This is still paltry compared to some DSLRs, which can get you more than 800 shots on a single battery.

If you are buying the new Sony camera, I would recommend buying the VG-C4EM vertical grip. It can hold two NP-FZ100 batteries for the camera to last a bit longer without you fumbling for more power packs during a football match.

The flash sync port is useful to trigger studio strobes. PHOTO: Wilson Wong

While Sony’s Alpha 9 is still seen by many photographers as the king of the hill in the Japanese company’s Alpha cameras, the new Alpha 7R Mark IV has even surpassed the old master, at least in terms of features and functions.

Even though my time with the new camera was short, I can see how Sony has a game changer on its hands. This is the first time I am seeing a camera that can be used in so many genres of photography, from studio shots to wildlife.

I certainly look forward to trying my hand at the the Alpha 7R Mark IV a bit more in the coming weeks. It arrives in Singapore stores on August 24, with a sticker price of S$4,999.

You Might Also Like

Xiaomi 13 Pro review: A photography powerhouse with 1-inch image sensor

IT leaders must manage the tension point between application development and security by embracing a DevSecOps approach

Oppo Find N2 Flip review: A worthy flip phone alternative to Samsung

Sony Playstation VR2 review: An immersive experience awaits

Debate on computational photography misses what’s real, what’s lived outside a frame

TAGGED: Alpha 7R Mark IV, price and availability, review, Singapore, Sony

Sign up for the TG newsletter

Never miss anything again. Get the latest news and analysis in your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Wilson Wong July 31, 2019
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Copy Link Print
Share
By Wilson Wong
Follow:
Wilson is a self-taught photographer whose passion started with his father’s old Canon L Rangefinder camera. He now leads the 12,000+ strong Singapore Photography & Imaging Network group. His photos have won acclaim from Nikon and Fujifilm, and are featured in various books and exhibitions.
Previous Article Take a virtual walk through Singapore’s hawker centres with Google Street View
Next Article StarHub’s new 2Gbps fibre broadband plan comes with free Asus router
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow

Latest News

Five ways the Roborock S8 robot vacuum will change the way you clean your home
Internet March 31, 2023
After another DBS outage, is it time to make banks publicly report service uptime?
Enterprise Internet March 30, 2023
Xiaomi 13 Pro review: A photography powerhouse with 1-inch image sensor
Cellphones Mobile March 29, 2023
IT leaders must manage the tension point between application development and security by embracing a DevSecOps approach
Cybersecurity Enterprise Software March 29, 2023
//

Techgoondu.com is published by Goondu Media Pte Ltd, a company registered and based in Singapore.

.

Started in June 2008 by technology journalists and ex-journalists in Singapore who share a common love for all things geeky and digital, the site now includes segments on personal computing, enterprise IT and Internet culture.

banner banner
Everyday DIY
PC needs fixing? Get your hands on with the latest tech tips
READ ON
banner banner
Leaders Q&A
What tomorrow looks like to those at the leading edge today
FIND OUT
banner banner
Advertise with us
Discover unique access and impact with TG custom content
SHOW ME

 

 

POWERED BY READYSPACE
The Techgoondu website is powered by and managed by Readyspace Web Hosting.

TechgoonduTechgoondu
Follow US

© 2023 Goondu Media Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Terms of Use | Advertise | About Us | Contact

Join Us!

Never miss anything again. Get the latest news and analysis in your inbox.

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
 

Loading Comments...
 

    Welcome Back!

    Sign in to your account

    Lost your password?