£2,399/$2,499

Not just another affordable all-rounder, but a powerhouse

1 With this front dial, the two on the top and a rear dial too, there’s no shortage of dials!

2 The viewfinder offers 100% coverage and 3.69m dots, slightly up on the A7 III.

3 The new 33MP Exmor R sensor is responsible for much of the A7 IV’s speed and power.

www.sony.co.uk

Specifications

Sensor: 33MP full-frame Exmor R CMOS Image processor: Bionz XR

AF points: 759-point hybrid phase/contrast-detect ISO range: 100 to 51,200 (exp 204,800 stills, 102,400 video)

Max image size: 7,008 x 4,672 Metering modes: Multi-segment, Centre-Weighted, Spot (Standard/Large), Avg, Highlight

Video: 4K 30p full width, 4K 60p Super 35 crop

Viewfinder: 0.5 type Quad VGA OLED, 3.69m dots, 100% coverage

Memory cards: One CFexpress Type A/SD UHS-II, one SD UHS-II

LCD: 3-inch fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04m dots

Max burst: 10fps, up to 828 RAW+JPEG (with CFexpress Type A card) Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Size: 131 x 96 x 80mm Weight: 658g (with card and battery)

Traditionally, the Alpha 7 has been the range’s ‘vanilla’ camera, with the ‘R’ models adding resolution and the ’S’ models adding sensitivity. But there’s nothing vanilla about the A7 IV. While it technically supersedes the A7 III, it’s an altogether more advanced camera that, we think, targets a higher-level audience.

The A7 III will continue for now; that model and the A7C will offer a ‘beginner’ option for the full-frame Sony camera system going forward. We have only spent a few hours with the A7 IV so far, but it is some way from an entry-level camera in its capabilities – and in its complexities.