Is the SONY A7RV really all its cracked up to be? Find out.

[@kenn6592]

I am strictly an amateur stills photographer, no video. Like you I saw 61mp as pointless but was drawn to the Rv by other features and elements of the A7iv I did not like. But now I own the Rv I find the cropping ability of a 61 megapixel sensor an amazing benefit. If, like me, you use almost exclusively prime lenses, this huge sensor turns them into zooms. A number of times now I have grabbed great photos that would not have worked without the crop I could do with this camera. Admittedly as an amateur, I don’t try other brands so can’t compare , but I am super happy that I purchased my A7RV. And my real fear of file sizes turned out a non event.

[@piyhaw]

Hi..I have a A7IV and like it other than the lcd screen and not so good auto white balance. Is the RV file size really huge? Don’t need that many megapixels. How is your experience otherwise?

[@kenn6592]

@@piyhaw if you Google ‘Sony A7rv file sizes’ you will get a great AlphaShooters size chart. I have not had a single moment where I have regretted the image size. If as I do you export them from Lightroom as the highest possible quality you will need to resize them for email. Or some emails allow you to reduce file size as you send. It’s worth it.

[@DenisMark1]

Love your reviews...especially ending with "buy the Canon 6D" which I DID partly on your recommendation! Your honesty and frankness are refreshing after so much woo-woo over the latest and greatest.

[@MartinCastein]

Thanks Denis, yeah the 6d is my favourite camera all things considered, going to be getting a lot of videos out with it this year!

[@stecartmel]

Hi Martin, can I ask , so when you shoot with your. Canon 5d mkii or your Nikon d600 which did that die on you . Anyway when you shoot with those cameras oh your Nikon d800 , do you use the rear screen ? Don't you put the camera to your face and use the view finder ? . I have seen you shoot using the rear screen in wooded areas shooting along a path way of some sort. So if you was shooting a portrait do you use the back screen then just press the shutter. My opinion on cameras these days is it's all getting out of hand now. Spesh the price of the things , you could buy a good second hand car for the price of these cameras now. Your favourite photos that inspire you was shot on film forty years ago . Where does it end ? And your right no one cares how many pixels you have or care how much you paid for it or care what gear you have . They just care can you take a nice photo of us please. That's it . They just want to look at a photo and say aww that is lovely . Sorry for the rant but I agree with what you say they don't care full stop. Hand a £3000 camera to someone a stranger and tell them to shoot a nice portrait. That camera might as well be a brick , because it's useless to them if they don't know the fundamentals of photography. You can grab your 5d and smoke others with a £4000 set up if they don't know how to use it.

[@CircuitBurger]

Great video mate, I was just about to buy it from Amazon, but at the end of the video, you said don't buy it. I'm so glad you saved me pal 🤣🤣 One of your explanations that really stands out, is the target audience for who this product is aimed at, the working professional. Marketing in this modern age, just applies the pressure on the consumer, as the fear of targeting the marketing to the correct particular group holds the illusion of too much risk for the manufacturer. I witness this all of the time. Why not just advertise this camera for the Professional, just makes sense? I had a play with this camera at a Sony event at my local camera store, and instantly discovered who this camera is aimed for, especially once compared to the other models on display. It's just a numbers game these days!! Keep up the excellent show pal👍

[@MartinCastein]

🤣 yeah i can just imagine you with your finger hovering on the order button no doubt from an imaginary amazon link which I lose out on 🤣 Thanks for the comment buddy, olympus has been out again some more on that soon!!!!

[@jonathanalfred9847]

What you said at the end about glass is a major point. My first DSLR was a Nikon D80. While i was still using my D80 a freind of mine let me try his new Olympus OMD mirrorless camera that had just come out. The camera totally blew me away. And i instantly new that mirrorless cameras were the future. I could not beleive i could see my exposure live while adjusting settings. It blew me away. But at the time i wanted to go full frame and the EM5 was micro 4/3. So i bought a Canon 5Dlll when it came out. But hated that it wasnt a mirrorless. I felt like i was buying into a system that was old tecknowlogy. But there was no full frame mirrorless back then. And i spent the next five years arguing with people who didnt think mirrorless was the future. And i kept my eye on Sony waiting for something that was like a full frame Olympus. and as soon as the A7r lll came out i knew it was my time to finally get the camera i wished i couldve bought when i bought my 5Dlll. But because mirrorless was new. And Canon and Nikon hadnt jumped in yet. I wanted to hold back spending a ton of money on glass. In case i wanted to change systems a few years later. And now it is 5 years later and Canon and Nikon have fully bought in. And all the people i argued with about mirrorless being the future have all gone mirrorless. And now i have had time to see what Nikon and Canon would do to compete with Sony. And even though i love things about Nikon and Canon's new cameras. I am sticking with Sony. And it all comes down to the glass. Sony having the smaller and lighter glass. Nikon and Canons 50f1.2 lenses are absolute huge and heavy monsters. And so are there 85 lenses. Pretty much every Sony lens is smaller and lighter then the Nikon and Canon counter parts. And then when you factor in the huge range of top quality 3rd party options that are available for Sony at half the price of the brand name glass. It is really hard to justify going back to Nikon or Canon. And 5 years later my A7r lll is still one of the best cameras made. I still own my 5Dlll and D80. And all of the glass for those cameras. And it has sat in my closet for years. Except for a few lenses that i occasionally adapt to my Sony. And i am not a fanboy of any brand. But i do have a certain love for Nikon because it was my first Dslr. And i learned all the basics of a camera with my D80. But i just cant go back to Nikon even though i would love to. And Canon i feel the same way. I dont know what Nikon and Canon are thinking with the monster glass. Just look at how big and heavy Nikons new 50 f1.2 is. Its insane. or how big and heavy Canons 85 L is compared to Canons original 85 L dslr lens .... i just dont get it. And its actually a bummer. And i wonder if Nikon and Canon will ever fully let in the 3rd party glass. And i imagine that allot of loyal Nikon and Canon shooters like me that love there cameras. have also realized that Sony is a better System.

[@paulmclinden2859]

Still keeping my 5d, 5ds oh I wish they'd put a flip screen on this and a slightly faster shutter count for nature shots. We'd all be extolling its virtues even now. The 70d will always have a place in my heart as it does so much, very well. The Sony a7rV is, for sure, thee camera we'd all love to own as it does everything so well. I'm gonna stick with my canon cameras for the moment, though.

[@DaveMuller]

If my 5dsr had the articulating touch screen it would be so good :(

[@paulmclinden2859]

@@DaveMuller Canon could have made the 5ds and 5dsr two of the most important and coveted DSLR's ever made. They're up there now, but, boy, could the have been so much better with just a few tweaks to screen, video and shutter speed. Total magic and I'd have felt blessed just to own one. I kinda do with the asis versions.

[@MartinCastein]

stick with your canon cameras, i still like the 6d more overall for sure. if you bought something like this youd certainly appreciate it for something like a wedding or a lifestyle commercial shoot but youd shoot the canon most of the rest of the time.

[@artsmodelstation9396]

I have the Sony A7Rlll w/ Sony 85mm 1.8. Phenomenal combo. Paid $1000 USD. Awesome resolution and lens razor sharp and beautiful bokeh. That camera allows me to concentrate on composition and “let me chimp if in focus” is a thing of the past. Basically, it gets out of the way by doing its job and u do yours.

[@johndwilliams]

One of the better explanations of the a7rv. I have the a7rii which was a bargain, bought new, a couple of years ago when it was NOS and often wondered if it is worth the upgrade. For me, no. Been watching too many of your videos! My a7rii is more than adequate for my skill level and can’t see me upgrading unless I drop it. Be interested to see if you’ve ever used any old, adapted lenses on your Sony, especially in your line of work.

[@KyleG0211]

I totally agree on the image quality observation. I grabbed myself the Sony A7RIV for landscape a few years ago, and took it out to shoot sunrises and sunsets along with my old favorite Nikon d800E. I set up my Nikon and Sony on two different tripods and took photos with the same composition, I and nearly everyone I showed the pics to preferred the photos from the d800E, the dynamic range was noticeably more favorable in such high contrast situations with the 800E. $3,200 lesson, but I get it now! Different tools for different situations.

[@robj1366]

Excellent video very thought provoking, thank you

[@MartinCastein]

Thank you Rob!!!!!

[@HumanClouds]

Excellent review and good advice 😊. Just got a 6D yesterday, looking forward to using it.

[@DaveMuller]

I hope you aren't disappointed. I love mine so much and I very rarely want to use anything else.

[@MartinCastein]

6d is my favourite camera id say, taking everything into account.

[@richardhale9664]

Just followed you in getting one in great nick at a good price. My first Canon other than old FL/FD film ones. Cheap enough to get a 50mm f1.8 and 40mm f2.8 too. Probably all the lenses I will need for it (maybe a 85mm f1.8 or a Tamron 90mm Macro would be nice). I have a Pentax K1 ii with a slew of old MF K mount lenses which is gorgeous but heavy and a few Fujifilm cameras which I really like for being compact and I prefer the look of the B&W images from them, so the 6D is the camera I will use for just carrying about when I want to shoot colour with nothing particular in mind, as it produces beautiful colours SOOC, is not too big and heavy, has fast and reasonably competent AF, feels really good in my hands and, like the Pentax, has a nice big bright optical viewfinder which in use I prefer over an EVF despite the latter's technical advantages.

[@kiwipics4003]

As soon as we get through the power advertising and hype, things look so much different. I really get a kick from discovering just how useful seemingly forgotten gear can be. My 'Inwards Stock' department uses a tethered 1000D with a 25-105 L on the front. My 6D with the 85/1.2 & 70-200 F4 is my goto for people. My 5D I's are my 'soul machines' . You've helped me be far more objective in outlook and massively more content. Thankyou! -Greg

[@MartinCastein]

Thank you, i have a lot of new content coming soon and a lot of 6d related content too.

[@RayLombardi]

Fantastic, down to earth review and coming from a professional photographer none the less! Outstanding! I purchased the Canon 5D Mark 1 brand new in 2007 and I still have it! Have done weddings, events, landscapes, documentary...the lot! Made prints as big a 1 metre x 1,5 metres and they look remarkable! In 2018 I had it professionally converted to Infrared and that's how I am now still enjoying it today. Incredible camera however one wants to see it. Cheers, Ray.

[@MartinCastein]

Excellent Ray, I sometimes feel like people these days dont even know that stuff like this ever even happened!

[@erg1450]

Interesting review, I agree with you that the 61mB is an overkill and few people may need it (just a segment of the professionals), said that , I think you are touching three different topics, 1) Sony vs other camera manufacturers, 2) Need vs want , 3) The merits of this camera regardless of brand and price. On topic # 1, I used to shoot Nikon and moved to Sony and rejected Cannon because of their unwillingness to allow third party lens manufacturers to play ball in their court, that is a major cost impact, I have quality Tamron and Sigma lenses at the fraction of the cost of the Sony. on #2, I agree that pros may get a lot of benefit out of this camera, however, for non pros, this camera is the best alternative to shoot stills and videos at a reasonable price, making their lives also more enjoyable an easier, in my opinion, not everything is cost vs revenue, the enjoyment of using this type of camera is the revenue for the non pros. On #3 , the pros and cons of this camera would depend on how you want to use, I see the RV as a jack of all trades, not the best for video (i.e not an A7SIII or FX3), not the best for sports like the A1, but, it is great for portraits, landscape, macro and it can also do a reasonable job on sports (great AF tracking On feature) and not bad for video either , I personally don't need anything above 4k 60p 10.2.2.( has a good but not perfect IBIS)........For me, the ideal camera wold be the RV , but just with 42MP sensor .......and the price of the A7IV ..LOL

[@MartinCastein]

Thank you!!!!!

[@gfxmaniac]

My best paying gig was with Canon 5D. Low Mpix gave me easier job when shooting low light. Also colors are still best you can get. PP was easy. And I bought 5D for 200€.

[@revan2549]

I'm glad that they change the menu layout because I just hate the old Sony menu

[@MartinCastein]

me too, the old layout was a total pig of a menu system, this is now massive but the new home screen takes care of so much.

[@Twobarpsi]

I really admire your commentary on old vs new gear. You have completely changed my outlook. Your advice for sticking with a 5d2 or similar really made sense. I don't need a 61MP 30fps expensive modern mirrorless camera. I'm looking for a like new 5d2 or 5d4. I already have a modern Canon Aps-c with a nice selection of ef lenses.

[@MartinCastein]

Thank you! im glad i changed your outlook! I think you will be happy with those cameras!

[@Twobarpsi]

@@MartinCastein so glad I found your channel, searching for 5d2 and 5d4 reviews!

[@michaelkaercher]

The fact that Canon and Nikon block 3rd party lenses is the dumbest move they could do. If I would go mirrorless it would be Micro 4/3rd or Sony.

[@RichardBO9]

I am very happy with my 5DSR and EOS 1n for film. Canon L lenses are coming down in price where us mere mortals can afford to buy them. I like your take on the a7rv

[@MartinCastein]

Thanks Richard

[@alwynsmit3546]

I like that Sony pushes the boundaries. I like that they welcome 3rd party manufacturers. I like that their focus system makes capturing images easier. What I don't like as much, is the feel in hand. Here I must say I prefer Canon & Nikon. To me, it's beter than Fuji (FOR ME), but still not near Canon & Nikon. And the last thing that bothers me about Sony is that they are known to drop support whenever they feel like it.

[@MartinCastein]

💯 agree

[@baker2880]

This is a great review. I agree with what you say about the image quality, I don't see how they can improve image quality. I want the R5 for video but still need good photography capability.

[@LeandroBighetti]

Amazing ! I have a Fuji x-t1 and now I want a Canon 6d ahahaahahaha Loved the video! Cheers!

[@-MrEVIL-]

In my opinion It's absolutely worth it for people who know what they are doing

[@albedo0point39]

Have you started using larger lenses on this body? For me, it’s not so much the grip height that’s the issue, it’s the distance of the grip from the lens barrel. With the larger lenses your fingers do end up pinched against the lens. Personally, after shooting three generations of A7r (ri, ii, iiia), I’m returning to Canon (had a EOS 5, 20D, 5D2 back before Sony). The Sony bodies are getting heavier (A7r was under 500g), so although they’re a little more compact than Canon, they’re no lighter any more. Same weight/smaller body makes the Sonys feel more ‘dense’, and it’s this alongside the sharp edges and the grip proximity to the lens that’s been a turn off. Yes, lens size is a consideration - but I’m quite liking the 1.8 primes from Canon, so the smaller/cheaper options seem to exist. I agree with your pragmatic views on these things. You’re right; all modern bodies are fine for photography. It’s this realisation that’s led me to place more value on physical ergonomics over time.

[@MartinCastein]

I havent used larger lenses, this is a worry i have, im concerned about winter landscape photography and it just not being easy to use with gloves on. even in the winter will it be ok for street with fingerless gloves with a 24-70, this matters to me and i dont know if i want to fork out on the lens to find out. Ergonomics are one of the best things to decide on and lens choice depending on needs. Sony wins it for lens choice for me, but nikon for ergonomics.

[@LyndonPatrickSmith]

Interesting perspectives as always. I’d be really curious to see you review the Canon R8. I realize Canon is not currently allowing other manufacturer’s to produce AF lenses for the RF mount, but the prices of EF glass have been dropping and I’ve seen the EF 70-200 IS ii for as low as $800 CDN used in good condition. That’s insane for a classic portrait and sports lens. Since the R8 buffer is decent, I’m thinking the R8 and 70-200 would be a fantastic option for sports and portraits on a budget.

[@MartinCastein]

id love to review the R8 honestly, it would be interesting to see how good it is, it might be the best value mirrorless right now if you shoot a bit of video too. Or just in general anyway.

[@jezmink]

Very Interesting about that drop in resolution when you focus that would put me off. I have a Nikon D800e and only buy secondhand lenses also I use a TP Link router attached to my Hotshoe connecting to my smart phone with software I have touch screen focus and many options including seeing the jpegs on my phone instead of the camera LCD don't need a flippy out LCD screen, the smart phone does it all.

[@terra___photo]

Buy gear when you want for whatever reason you want. Don't get held up with comparisons and reviews. Play with it yourself if you are able to to make that decision ✌

[@sols9449]

For sure Mp don’t matter actually I would use medium raw in this case because they give you 26mp in that setting. What will help you make money and make your life easier is the incredible auto focus sharp images on the eye. Also no low pass filter is amazing as well. I just got the R5 the evf is 5M dots and it’s a wow compared to others. Af is brilliant not the easiest to edit for me yet but good files even though it has a low pass filter and no lossless compression although it’s still very good almost the same as full raw amazing menu system and customizable enough for my needs. Try it if your renting.

[@MartinCastein]

i probably will do, i want to try the z9 and r5 still and then see.

[@sols9449]

@@MartinCastein z9 is very heavy great files no low pass filter. Af is good but not R5 good. Def try them! R5 and the Z9 scream quality they aren’t plastic junk cameras today like R6 a74 Z8!! Z8 is 4$k and plastic! R5 great grip without grip extension in your words passes that threshold pinky is on.

[@MrTachy0n]

Thank you for the helpful review. However I watched some videos comparing it to a73 there are pereceivable quality differences when you zoom into fine lines and details which sensor mp alone didnt account for watch gerald undone review to learn more

[@mberggren9768]

It really doesn’t makes sense to buy the latest and greatest. I usually recommend people to buy second hand. If possible, getting stuff that is at least two or three generations old. Better to invest in more glass. Or better computer for editing whatever pictures they take.

[@MartinCastein]

and if someone was interested in an older Canon camera body, maybe one of the larger ones, what camera do you think you would recommend?

[@mberggren9768]

@@MartinCastein Haha, you already know that! 1Ds Mk II of course! But seriously, I usually recommend the 6D or 6D Mk II whenever people ask about a camera for all round photography. They have auto-iso, better screens and Wi-Fi. People tend to like that more than “best Canon colours ever”. 😄

[@Andy-rk9mu]

my only wish for high end mirror-less cameras is that thay handle in body HDR like iPhone does. If this was available, I would be willing spend extra. For I am stick to my second gen mirror-less

[@utube321piotr]

Mirrorless gear isn't selling and in future it will not feature in second hand market as we've come to expect. As a result I believe the old DSLR gear has a renaissance ahead of itself.

[@-MrEVIL-]

They’re absolutely selling mate

[@paulstubbs1843]

Don’t buy it! But I want one! 😂 Actually 4 months on and I’m now looking at the new C models. Cii or CR and considering even selling my A7iv

[@MartinCastein]

🤣 i have to say its really good.

[@RyanREAX]

Not 28 but 26 for medium raw

[@TomStrong-w1y]

Hey man, you should be aware that resolution doesn't decrease in view finder while focusing if you go go Menu/Shooting/Shutter/Silent/Anti-flicker set/Antiflicker Shoot/ OFF (just change from ON to OFF). It would be a good idea to read the user manual first before posting incorrect content.

[@draskogagula2073]

Milc toys buahahah:) Canon 5d mk2 and 5d mk4 is my Full frame tool., Nikon d 7000 crop tool ., Oh how i like dslr camera and how i do not like milc cameras hehe😂

[@MartinCastein]

hahah nice setup!