A7 IV Mirrorless Camera

A Serious Camera for Serious Creators

The Sony A7 IV is the kind of camera that makes you feel like a professional the moment you hold it. With its magnesium alloy body, larger grip, and intuitive button placement, it feels expensive and solid in your hands. This isn't a camera that feels like a toy or a compromise. It feels like a tool built to last.

Where the A7 IV really shines is in its versatility. If you're someone who shoots both stills and video, this camera does both beautifully. The 33MP sensor produces sharp, detailed images with gorgeous color rendition and solid low-light performance. Reviewers consistently call it pro-level quality, and the 759 phase-detect autofocus points with Real-Time Tracking make it incredibly reliable for capturing sharp moments without fussing with settings.

On the video side, the A7 IV is genuinely impressive. The 10-bit 4K60 capability with S-Log3 and HLG gives you professional color grading flexibility. The fully articulated touchscreen is fantastic if you're vlogging or shooting from creative angles. You get a camera that handles both stills and video at a professional level, which is rare.

That said, there are real limitations. The 4K60p mode is cropped, which means you lose some of that beautiful wide-angle framing. Burst shooting isn't blazing fast, so if you're chasing sports or wildlife, look elsewhere. The battery life is decent (about 580 shots per charge), but you'll want a spare for longer days. And yes, the menus are still a bit complex, though they're much better than older Sony models.

The biggest question is price. At $1,998, this is a serious investment. It's only worth it if you genuinely need a hybrid camera that excels at both stills and video. If you're just starting out or only shoot one or the other, there are cheaper options. But if you're a serious photographer or content creator who wants one camera that does everything beautifully, reviewers agree the A7 IV is worth the money.

The A7 IV is Sony's answer to a question nobody asked: how much can we charge for a camera that does everything well but nothing exceptionally?

Let's be clear about what this camera does right. The 33MP sensor is genuinely excellent. Sharp, detailed images with natural color grading from 16-bit processing. The autofocus system with 759 phase-detect points and Real-Time Tracking is class-leading, especially for video work. If you're shooting hybrid content, the A7 IV gives you reliable subject tracking that actually works. That matters.

The video capabilities are legitimately pro-grade. 10-bit 4K60 with S-Log3 and HLG support means you're not locked into one color science. You have the flexibility that costs thousands in dedicated cinema cameras. For creators who need to grade in post, this is valuable.

But here's where the critical analysis kicks in: Sony is charging $2,499 for a camera with real compromises.

The 4K/60p mode is heavily cropped. You don't get the full sensor width. Full-width 4K maxes out at 30p. That's not a minor limitation for videographers. It's a design choice that undermines the premium positioning. Canon's EOS R6 costs the same and offers faster burst shooting. Nikon's Z6 II has a clearer LCD. These aren't minor trade-offs. They're real reasons to question the value proposition.

Battery life actually regressed from the A7 III. You're getting 580 shots versus the older model's higher capacity. At $2,500, that's unacceptable. The LCD resolution of 1.04 million dots is underwhelming for the price tier. It's functional, not impressive.

The burst shooting speed is slow-ish. If you shoot sports or wildlife, this camera will frustrate you. Sony's positioning this as an all-rounder, but it's really a specialist hybrid tool wearing a generalist price tag.

Here's the honest take: the A7 IV is excellent at what it does. The image quality is strong. The autofocus is reliable. The video is genuinely capable. But excellence at $2,500 isn't enough anymore. The market has compression. Canon, Nikon, and Fujifilm have closed the gap. You're paying flagship prices for a camera that has real limitations in speed, battery life, and LCD quality.

For hybrid shooters who absolutely need that 33MP sensor and pro video codec support, this is a solid choice. For everyone else, the value argument is weak. You're paying a $500 premium over the A7 III for meaningful but not transformative upgrades. That's a business decision Sony made, and it shows in the pricing.