Is the Sony a7R V Still Relevant?

The Sony a7R V was launched more than two years ago. And in terms of technology, that’s a very long time ago. But I don't think this camera should be overlooked.

I recently spent a week teaching at a photography conference (WPPI), and I got a good amount of questions from students who were looking to make the move to Sony. One of the biggest questions was exactly which camera I’d recommend they look into. While I have my own preferences, I always try to base this type of feedback on what the specific user might need rather than what I need for my own uses. So after asking a handful of questions centered around the type of work they do and how they use their current kit, almost every time my answer was to look at the Sony a7R V.

This surprised me a bit. Since the camera is technically a bit "older," I would have never jumped to this camera as a recommendation. But I use "older" very lightly here since the camera was released in late 2022. But the fact is that this camera is still packed with the highest-end features available. In fact, almost all the recent Sony variations that have been released are simply other camera variations catching up to the technology that was released with the Sony a7R V.

The Best Screen On The Market

We have seen this screen on the recent launch of the Sony a1 II as well as the global shutter beast that is the Sony a9 III. But this tilting and flip screen combo made its first appearance on the Sony a7R V. And when I say I love this screen, I mean I really love this screen. So much so that it’s perplexing that no other camera brand has tried to make a similar offering. Because with almost any camera launch, there are people who wish they had a tilt screen over a flip screen and then vice versa. So why not give people the best of both worlds? Because that's what this screen is.

Insane AF Tracking With Dedicated AI Processing Chip

Almost every recent Sony camera has a dedicated AI processing unit that helps the camera perform some insane autofocus calculations. The tracking that Sony has developed has become so good that I don't actually think about focusing anymore. It’s no longer part of my thought process when I'm getting ready to take an image. Although most recent cameras have this feature, it made its first appearance on the Sony a7R V. The only thing that is missing from the a7R V is the ability for the camera to auto-detect the subject (human, animal, car, etc.). Instead, you have to manually select what type of subject you want to track. Even so, the only Sony camera (that I’m aware of) that can do this automatically is the newest offering, the Sony a1 II. So fingers crossed this feature makes its way to older cameras via firmware update.

My Favorite Sensor 

While other cameras from Sony have similar feature sets, the standout ability of the a7R V can be found in the sensor. This 61 MP sensor, with top-tier dynamic range and fantastic high ISO ability, is (in my opinion) one of the best sensors on the market for photography. Even if you don't want the full 61 MP file size, you can always have the camera save files in a lower resolution when desired. But for me, I love being able to take images in crop mode while still retaining almost 24 MP of resolution. This gives any lens you own a second form of being with the click of a button. From here, the high dynamic range gives a ton of extra freedom in post-production.

Made For Profesionals

There is one camera on offer from Sony that will give you almost every standout feature found on the Sony a7R V and give it to you in a smaller package and at a smaller price tag. That camera is the Sony a7CR. And this camera is actually my everyday carry camera of choice. But unfortunately, there are some key elements missing from the Sony a7C R that make it less ideal for professional use. The first one is the lack of dual card slots. And I feel every professional job should be photographed with a camera that has dual card slots while simultaneously recording raw files to both cards. The other missing element is the fact that the Sony a7C R, because of its smaller size, doesn't have a shutter that can go above 1/4000 of a second. This makes it a little more difficult to take images in full daylight with shallow f/1.4 apertures. And both these elements (dual card slots and shutter speed) are not an issue on the a7R V. In addition, while the smaller size of the a7C R is nice for everyday carry, the larger and more ergonomic body of the a7R V is much more desirable for longer sessions where you need to hold the camera for prolonged periods.

Not For Everyone

While the Sony a7RV was the camera I recommended most, there were obviously people and scenarios where other cameras fit better. For example, if you didn't necessarily need the camera for professional use, then the a7CR would be a good option. Or for those that wanted a camera that was more video-centric and for that, something like a Sony FX3 or FX30 would be better suited. Then there were people that wanted a camera that could do both photo and video. For that, I recommended something like the Sony a7 IV. Lastly, there are people like me who need speed and silent shooting. And for them, the best option is the Sony a1 II or the Sony a9 III. 

Conclusion

While the Sony a7R V may not be the best camera for everyone or every need, it is still a highly capable camera that shines in the world of photography (and isn't a slouch in the video world either). So don't overlook this camera simply based on the fact it was released more than two years ago. Because most current cameras are still simply trying to catch up to what was released with this camera.