Big updates for new Sony Alpha 7 IV camera
Sony has introduced the Alpha 7 IV camera, the fourth generation of its versatile, all-rounder mirrorless model aimed at still and video photography enthusiasts and professionals.
At the same time, it has released two new powerful, wireless flashes to the market – the HVLF60RM2 and HVLF-46RM.
As you’d expect, the Mk.IV is the most advanced Alpha 7 iteration yet, introducing improvements across the board.
Top of the pile of new features is a newly developed 33-megapixel full-frame image sensor (back-illuminated Exmor RTM CMOS) that has an ISO range of 50-204,800 and allows for smooth gradation, fine details and textures, and reduced noise.
Then there’s the processing engine – the BIONZ XR used in the flagship Sony Alpha 1 camera has now trickled down to the Alpha 7 IV. Sony says it allows for “high-speed autofocus (AF), uninterrupted continuous shooting at 10 fps with AF/AE (automatic exposure) tracking and a large buffer for a smooth shooting experience”.
That autofocus system uses a huge 759 points covering 94 per cent of the image area for “tenacious” real-time tracking. Detection accuracy for human eyes is about 30 per cent better than the Mk.III and, in great news for wildlife photographers, it now recognises bird and animal eyes for the first time – for both still photos and videos.
There are a couple more AF features which come into play when shooting video with some Sony E-mount lenses: AF Assist for focus transitions; and Focus Map, which visualises depth of field. Focus breathing – or lens breathing – is addressed via a feature called Breathing Compensation, which also helps to maintain a consistent angle of view throughout focus changes.
To reinforce the Alpha 7 IV’s role as a hybrid still and movie camera, Sony has introduced a dual-layer mode dial with a lower layer dedicated to switching easily between the two modes. The top layer has Auto/P/A/S/M and MR (Memory Recall) for dedicated settings.
Other features are fast data transfer to mobile devices for streaming and content sharing, the ability to record 4K 60p 10-bit 4:2:2 video continuously for more than an hour, and a super-sharp and colour-accurate 3.68 million-dot OLED Quad-VGA viewfinder.
Sony Alpha 7 IV price
RRP $4,299
Available from late November 2021.
New Sony flashes
The two new flashes – the HVL-F60RM2 and HVL-F46RM – are wireless models with GN60/20-200mm and GN46/24-105mm coverage, respectively. Continuous-shooting flash performance is up to 200 times or 60 times at 10 frames per second.
Sony says a set of four Ni-MH batteries can power up to 240 flashes with a 1.7 second recycle time for the HVL-F60RM2 and up to 320 flashes with a 2.0 second recycle time for the HVL-F46RMxv. Time lag has also been improved.
Up to 15 flashes and/or receiver units in five groups can be controlled wirelessly.
Sony HVL-F60RM2 price
RRP $849
Sony HVL-F46RM price
RRP $649
