The Sony a7R series of mirrorless cameras has long been respected for offering some of the best resolution and image quality available in a full frame camera in combination with many of the innovative features Sony's options have been known for, making it incredibly versatile in a variety of applications. The latest version, the a7R V, comes with a laundry list of impressive capabilities, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
Coming to you from The Hybrid Shooter, this fantastic video review takes a look at the Sony a7R V mirrorless camera. The a7R V comes with the same 61-megapixel sensor found in the a7R IV, though it does have a nice range of new capabilities and upgrades. These include:
- Faster autofocus system with improved accuracy and subject recognition
- New menu system with simpler navigation
- Improved image stabilization
- Improved viewfinder
- Pixel Shift mode offering 240-megapixel images with built-in motion compensation
- 26- and 15-megapixel reduced resolutions image options (downsampled from 61 megapixels), offering better image quality, reduced noise, smaller files, and less overhead
Altogether, the a7R V looks like an impressive camera. Check out the video above for the full rundown.
Hobbyist Stills, I started with the "R" models with the A7RM2 in '17 and then bought a used A7RM4 but after seeing the flexible screen I sold the "4" and bought the "5". The first thing I would recommend is to get a book on any of the Sony cameras and read first then play with it with settings suggested. I bought the A7S back in '14 and found the books by Brian Smith the most informative and even for this camera the possibilities and tricks. I went A7SM3 in '20 due to the A7SM2 new disappeared when the "3" came out.
With all that and some yes the 61MP is great to have but all Sony cameras are sharp and full of detail but to see it you have to zoom in and to me working with digital since '06 it is software that has gotten greater in noise, sharpness and clarity, even if you use the pixel shift you need to use Sony software and to really see the sharpness, clarity and detail you have to zoom in a lot whereas who will use a magnifying glass to look at a print.
The key is the flex screens on the SM3 and this RM5 and using a L bracket the first ones had a slot to put the screen in then came the rotating mount and the flip under L bracket, I have found the rotating mount the best for the two cameras that came last and now have a drawer full of the others. Even with a screen protector on the best thing is the screen rotated to were it is hidden and safe say for day shooting of wildlife and using the eye screen and not getting sweat on the screen is a big plus.
The EV dail going to +/- 5 EV is greatest for white birds on a sunny day to get the best feather detail or for night capture. The key is Dynamic Range you can take a dark image and get a normal exposure in post.
I fell years ago for the less pixels gets better astro captures but found with the RM2 it performed great also and with the RM5 the same thing but the key is Shutter Speed. You should use Photopills Spot Stars selecting camera and lens mm for you will find a faster SS for the more MP camera and either or you will be had pressed to go above ISO 6400 but yes 12800 sometimes but that is where the second level of clearer sensor noise starts so you are covered that high up. Again no one is looking with a magnifying glass.
As for FPS I started shooting at the 10 FPS for flying and nesting birds but found less is better and went for Mid while using Full RAW, Look even High was great but just too many frames. With either I captured the three position of the wings up, mid and low. Where it is great is for that bird in a tree getting a large twig and flying out and you press the shutter and just following its flight not even knowing what you saw using bird as subject every frame is in focus and sharp so much you get feather detail at f/8.
IBIS while using a IS/OSS etc. lens, you may faint when you are following say a bird in flight and everything is jittery but when you press the back focus button and the image just freezes while following and then the shutter button and after you see all images are frozen with not even the least of a blur. Also for those doing moon images at 1800mm not a blur edge, must be the marriage of the RV and 200-600mm updates!
Just one thing no one covers for those very dark capture places and framing yes Bright Monitoring is still a function you can assign to the trash can (a good place to put). It is the color night vision great for watching deer go by while in a stand at 4am, yes I carry my camera then.