It's Ridiculous | Sony A7R V for Photo and Video

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

What do you think: is the tilty flippy screen the "way of the future" or all hype?

[@sybarix]

Mandatory for all my future cameras. Each type has it's definite merits and faults so having both is a win win. Hope it's durable though.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

@@sybarix You said it better than I could! As a side note, it seems durable enough... but time will tell👍

[@echoauxgen]

Great! When I got the A7SM3 I loved it for doing Milky Way panos or Portrait captures because you no longer had to look sideways BUT the fip out you had to have a L-Bracket with a slot if you wanted to see something with a tilt it had to fit it that slot! I went out last night to do some Milky Way captures but only had a old L-Bracket from my old A7RM2 it fit over the battery compartment and had a full Portrait L side. NOW this new flippy screen comes out some and in landscape pulls out some and is great in portrait view for it is out at the bottom and a little tilt upwards where it looks a little flatter looking down at it. My only concern is it breaking at one of the joints, that would be real bad. SmallRig now has a folding L-Bracket to get the portrait L out of the way I ordered two one for the A7SM3 and the A7RM5. Just as a note the A7RM5 is real sharp with stars and really sensitive light wess had to turn ISO way down even SS down to 4s because things were just too bright but sand on the beach up close sharp ships at sea at 400% also and a city all lit at the horizon also sharp at 400% could make out some rooms with light. And the colors were like my old A7S with air gas glow colors mixed in with the MW and that was on the LCD screen. Great Camera.

[@rafaelm3404]

Bro your photos, your videos, your colors, your edit... you deserve way more subs than you have! Everything is just so well done! Congratulations! I have just subscribed! Cheers from Brazil, and keep up the great work please!! Bought my a7r5, waiting for it to arrive!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Thanks, Rafael! I'm on it! I'm excited for you on the camera, you'll have to let me know your thoughts 👍

[@amitsamakamboj]

Excellent video ❤ Great presentation ❤ and amazing background music 😅❤

[@DavidStella]

I’m also impressed by the IBIS. I’ve been able to take 4-second exposures that have come out ‘acceptably’ sharp, handheld!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

It’s wild! Have you been able to try it with any of Sony’s optically stabilized lenses?

[@DavidStella]

@@TheOtherSamMallory I don’t own a stabilized lens, unfortunately. The lens I tried it with was the 24mm GM.

[@sodiumsalt]

Imagine what you could do with a stabilized lens!

[@lucasliaskos]

Found your channel by searching for A7RV videos. Subbed, good content!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Thanks for watching and for the sub!

[@nicksince9487]

Dude, this was so well done! Great job. Subbed -- can't wait to see what else you create!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Thank you! There’s plenty more to come!

[@Fotogoscar]

There's not enough reviews regarding med raw and low light. I do landscape but there are times when I don't need 61mp. I'd like to know how it performs for Astro shooting Med Raw.

[@yevgeniis.9620]

Hello Sam , nice review! Could you give an honest advice regarding hybrid camera. Sony a7r v or canon r5 ?

[@PaulOuzounov]

Love your video, your pacing is really great. I would love to tickle the dials on such a camera - still using the Sony A7III and quite happy with it!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Thanks, Paul! The A7III is a great camera... well worth keeping 👍

[@Vlaakster]

This was a spectacular review. I chuckled at the 2001 reference too. I felt that way about the screen also! Subbed, I'm looking forward to your content, and tomorrow I'll check out your West Texas adventure.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

I was hoping people would catch the reference! Thanks for watching👏🏻

[@altonreid9726]

I just purchased this camera with the 200-600mm f5.6 G and 24-70mm f2.8 GII as my first real setup. Will be taking to Hawaii in 4 weeks.

[@TLK22]

I did the same and added the Sony 24mm 1.4 for low light! I'm coming from a Lumix G9.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Oof, I think you’ll both love it! That 200-600 is no joke, it’s like packing a telescope 🔭 You’ll get some incredible photos in Hawaii with it.

[@rollonfood]

I have never used AF on cameras because I video food. Do you think I could start using it on this camera? I own an a7rv btw. If you do, what settings should work?

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

I think there’s plenty of instances where it could come in exceedingly helpful! In terms of settings, I’d recommend checking out Phillip Bloom’s channel, he has an excellent guide on Sony focus settings!

[@jameschurro]

Great review brother! I just got the camera and learned new things from this video!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Glad to hear you learned a few things… and I think you’ll love the camera!

[@therockysafari4302]

Great review. You seem like a great guy!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Thanks for watching!

[@smooth111012]

Is this tracking not automatically on when your in AFC mode, or do you still have to press a button to turn on?

[@Keenonhang]

What is the video like in low light? I film weddings and need it to be good in low light conditions like the A7IV.

[@truebro77]

the rolling shutter is really getting me down. what iis the best mode to avoid it and will video stll be crisp?

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Regular 4K and 4K 60 fps are your best bet!

[@khmerscenery9043]

Hi there Would you please let me know what kind of sony camera is good for the video?

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Oof, tough question because it really depends on your needs… they can sort of all be great! But here’s a buying guide that can maybe help: www.soundstripe.com/blogs/best-sony-video-cameras-for-video-creators-2022

[@eliasfoerg]

Really Nice Video!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Glad you think so!

[@RastaCarlosAudiovisual]

i have a question, im looking for a new camera, probably this a7rv. actually i have a sony a7s II, do you consider that low light photos with sony a7r v its better than sony a7s ii ?? and video? do you think I notice a big improvement from a7sii from a7rv in general ? good job for your video

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Low light is great on the A7RV for photos, low light for video will be worse than the A7SII… that said, the 10bit higher bit rate codecs make the video generally much better. It has some weird crops and downsampling that make certain formats better than others but I find it’s overall an excellent hybrid camera 👍🏻

[@RastaCarlosAudiovisual]

Thaaaanks a lot 👌🏻

[@rollingshutter5468]

Hi, I have the Sony Zv-E1. I cant decide between the A7cii and the A7cr as my 2nd camera. I mainly shoot video but I want my 2nd camera to be able to shoot stills and still be great for video. Which one shall I go for? Btway love your videos man. ( A7cr has pixel binned 4k that is swaying me away from it)

[@kr8s]

What microphone is that?

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

It's a Rode NT-USB... the older one? It works well, but takes some small EQ adjustments 👍

[@borlach321]

If you need 4k/120 what do you recommend?

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

I rock the Sony A7S III when it comes to 4K/120 (which I almost never use, btw) but I think the FX3 is now more compelling for video unless you prefer using an EVF. There are also some really interesting competitors from Panasonic and Fujifilm. What will you need 120 for?

[@rgreeneish]

Nice video. One thing I’m curious about is if there is a noticeable improvement in noise and low light performance if you shoot in M raw or S raw.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

I can’t say I’ve played with this but will look into it… my general experience has been the noise reduction is quite good, and more pixels means more noise but this can be compensated a bit through processing when shrinking to Medium or Small. I’ll play with it a bit more!

[@strippedlist]

I have a question, a7rV in medium raw, 26 mp the files are 12 bit or 14bit? I wish i could see in the next video the difference between 26mp and 61mp, i imagine it, but how big is the difference? how many mb in size? it's very hard to find these information

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

The files are all 14-bit 😀 I believe you only get 12-bit in compressed raw with "Hi+" shooting (i.e. maximum frames per second). In terms of difference, I can't say I have tons of photos but the medium raw files are great -- they look a bit better than a typical 26mp photo and you can only see a noticeable difference when cropping significantly, or maybe printing huge, vs. the 61mp. The white paper says Lossless Compressed Raw file sizes are: Large 83.1 MB, Medium 51.9 MB, Small 40.7 MB -- my experience has been closer to: Large 75 MB, Medium 45 MB, Small 30 MB. Hope it helps, thanks for watching!

[@strippedlist]

@@TheOtherSamMallory thank you so much for the detailed info, I just wanted to know the 26mp file bit in maximum 5/6 fps, not more, GLAD THAT THEY ARE 14 BIT

[@martin_wood]

That hummingbird shot was epic! Great review. I do a lot of video so the autofocus intrigued me but the crop and rolling shutter isn’t video ready enough for my work. Wish they would drop the a7siv with that screen and autofocus!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Thanks for watching! And interesting to hear, what kind of work do you shoot? I think the next A7S (if there is one) will have both but I am curious to see what happens now that there is the FX3/30 line!

[@michaelchan1081]

these new cameras are like a Swiss army knife. so many features packed into on body. easy to find little faults in any of them if you look hard enough. whether a particular body suits your needs or desires depends on what you are trying to shoot most of the time. this is why the a7r5 is my main camera now (over the A1 which is the backup now). I shoot wildlife (many times at extremes distances). that extreme shot is less forgiving than many types of subjects. post processing can fix most minor flaws except resolution and focusing. what I find most useful in the a7r5 is the high resolution eyepiece. in harsh light, it is better than the LCD. frame and shoot without losing sight of the subject. the autofocus is way better than the old a7r4 and the A9 that I had. the extra megapixels allows you to crop a well focused subject to get extra distance. yes, the files are larger, but that is only on the upload. after post and cropping it is about the same size as the a7IV but much more printable. keepers over the A7r4 and A9 are huge. the A1 is mounted with the 100-400 when extreme distance is not an issue or shooting in lower light conditions. shooting for 6 months now. very happy with the results and that's what's important.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

I completely agree with the viewfinder being a big jump and have the same strategy when it comes to cropping! I still have a bit too much data because of the high megapixel but that’s okay 👍🏼

[@seoulrydr]

i think i should wait for the a7r6 to see if they improve the sensor - not add pixels, just improve upon what's already there. the a7r3 isn't obsolete, but it's coming. i'll suffer for want of a dippy screen, but in the meantime, i need to upgrade my computer to keep up with the file sizes. thanks for the vid.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

It is a bummer to see a whole new generation with the same sensor. For my use, full use of video and photo, it’s a noteable improvement but your absolutely right the A7R3 is a perfectly capable photography camera! Thanks for watching😀

[@njsarn]

If the hardware is the same for the next generation 7R6, then all that's needed is a firmware upgrade. 😅

[@echoauxgen]

The only bad thing is the 900 page book I got for it, like formatting your SD you now can press the trash can to get a full complete format but remember to resave you settings to the cards if so ever want to download, I just put them on a spare card. A long list of things not saved also. You need a card to remember what you got set where like APS-C is always 1. A trip to the zoo to practice the AF. This is a keeper!! It will keep your memory sharp also! or else. Oh and no need for back button focus it does things automatically, so can if you want to old school!!!! AH!!! Now you have auto focus bracketing, a PS edit still and not a in camera process like may old A7S and A7RM2 apps, nothing is really perfect.....

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

And just like that you are teaching me something new! I didn't know the trash can formatting trick - thanks. I also still have to stick with back-button focus, the camera is impossible to beat but I like feeling a bit in control😂

[@JohnnyMcPro]

Dude. Great video. I’m a long-time Canon shooter with the R5 - I’ve never been more tempted than now to switch! Any experience using Canon EF glass with an adapter?

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Oof, a long long time ago, yes. I switched from the Canon 70D to the Sony A7R II and used the Sigma EF-E mount adapter and at the time it seemed to work great... I'd say it was 80-90% as good as native glass at the time. I will say, if you're invested in much glass it's hard to make the switch as cameras seem to consistently evolve. I am sure Canon will have something far more compelling than this soon enough. All of that said, I am quite happy with the Sony ecosystem 👍 Hope it helps!

[@NicollasVerneck]

subbed, great video, I loved the earthy tones. Coming from a a7RIII I can see amazing new features but sony still seems to holding back on stuff. I wish sony released a software update for the A1 , I prefer the video features and 30fps shooting from the A1 but the tracking auto focus is also a big deal for me.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Thanks for the comment! I think we are all with you on wishing Sony would release updates for existing top-end cameras! The A1 would see massive improvement with the AI Autofocus.

[@cameragyanlelo]

lut preset plz

[@gurugamer8632]

The A7S iii does better video than A7RV in 4K?

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Yes, I think so. The things I notice most are the noise level/floor and the rolling shutter. The A7RV is super handy for then AI autofocus though… I’ve used it for animal eye tracking which you simply cannot do on the A7SIII. Thanks for watching 😀

[@gurugamer8632]

This camera is huge like a medium format. Why does each iteration of this camera series keep getting larger.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Only a few more years and we’ll be at large format 😂

[@astromoosie]

I guess pixel binning isn't as bad as I thought it was. Although I understand that downsampling from a larger resolution is preferred, you're the 3rd person who hasn't made a big fuss about it. I recently purchased an A7RV to replace my A7IV and to be honest was a bit let down initially about the binning especially in 4k 60fps. Guess I oughta go out and test it myself before complaining. As for the terrible rolling shutter, fortunately with the type of content I create, it doesn't hinder me in anyway. Great review, btw!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Thanks, James! I think having a 10-bit codec is such a big step-up that the pixel binning just doesn't bother me... I can see a difference between the 6K downsampled and the 8K but its small; especially once uploaded anywhere! In terms of detail, I have a hard time seeing much difference between the binned A7R V footage and the A7SIII footage. I've been worried about the same and think my concerns are now more on the limited ISO range and rolling shutter, but it also is extremely easy to access and use video features with outrageously good autofocus. I'm always curious though, so let me know your thoughts as you test it out!

[@gbwalther3198]

LOL, for a "humble photographer-videographer," u have quite the setups, Sony a7siii and a7RV, plus many lenses! My question which might inspire others? Were u able to acquire all of this gear by wedding videos, etc. If so, please explain. 😎😎

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Ha! Well nobody says I haven’t spent too much on equipment 🤣 This has been a long-long process of funding a hobby which did include several seasons as a wedding photographer/filmmaker, lots of small advertising projects for small business, and frankly working full time at the day job! Basically lots of me going out and asking people to let me create some work for them, and them being kind enough to say, “yes.”

[@gbwalther3198]

@@TheOtherSamMallory Thanks Sam. Your reply certainly gives me & I'm certain others hope!😎😎

[@veselinvasilev9362]

Thanks!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Thanks for watching!

[@stkuj]

I was in-between the a7iv and a7rv. I finally choose the a7iv not because of price, but because of the megapixels. I think many people don't think about how their computer is going to manage 61 mp files in post processing. I've been shooting the a7riii for the past year as a portrait shooter and my 2020 M1 with 16gb + 1TB is hitting a wall and slowing down. I can fill up a 2TB SSD with 5 shoots. Additionally, I've filled up a 10TB backup and moved to a 2nd 18TB backup. I can only imagine with another 20mb per file would do. * I agree with you in every aspect, I tried the a7rv for a month and loved it. Personally, I think 45 is sort of the sweet spot, I wish Sony offered a "M+" compression ~ 45 mp; instead of L or M.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Wow, 2TB in 5 shoot is a ton! And I fully agree, I wish there was a compression that was just a bit bigger but still a noticeable drop in file size… I guess in my case I just don’t take quite enough photos for it to be an issue. Out of curiosity, do you print lots of work? Do lots of cropping and retouching? Where does the extra resolution come in as valuable for you?

[@stkuj]

@@TheOtherSamMallory No, I do not do much print work and mostly crop in-camera. However, I do quite a bit of retouching as a portrait photographer. The added resolution beyond even 24mp (seemed to be a standard for years) in 80% of the cases aren't needed. IMHO, I think many have this mindset do to the camera companies marketing that they need all this resolution. They market resolution and "nice" to have features or "just in case" features; when camera cos really should be constantly improving overall usability & upgradability. TBH, 61 MP is not needed for 95% of the people.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Thanks! It’s interesting to hear the perspective and I fully agree, 61 MP can be overkill… and as you mentioned a pain to manage the data 😂

[@JoshStreetDesign]

​@@stkuj as someone who shoots thousands of headshots a year in my studio, I need every bit of those megapixels for high end retouching. And I don't understand why you're saving all these high size raw files. Once I convert to JPEG and export to Google photos and specific gallery for clients I delete all raw files. I've literally never had to go back and re edit raw files. If I ever had to I would just tell the clients to come back in and retake photos so I can make more money. Ha ha

[@ghas4151]

I really hope Sony can release a high megapixel stacked sensor camera to compete with the Nikon Z8.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

I get a bit confused about some of the stacked sensor camera’s since I usually don’t need high frame rates, isn’t the A1 pretty comparable to the Z8? Also, out of curiosity what are you using the stacked sensor for?

[@ghas4151]

@@TheOtherSamMallory the A1 costs $6.5k. It’s not really competing with the Z8. Tracking birds with a camera that has no black out and no lag through the viewfinder is so nice. Its such a quality of life improvement that I just cannot go back from. This is possible because of the stacked sensor. You’re also able to use shutter speed up to 32000th sec with no rolling shutter in electronic shutter. Shooting an f1.2 lens in daylight without having to use an ND filter is really nice and because you’re using electronic shutter, the camera is silent and has zero shutter shock. There are just so many benefits to a stacked sensor. People don’t realise how good it is without experiencing it. You also have video benefits I haven’t mentioned, but there are many.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Yeah if you’re tracking birds I completely get the need… I have no idea how people captured in focus photos even ten years ago without some of these improvements!

[@AquariusVlog]

Ridiculous, if u spend 500 more getting the r5c is like having a7s3 AND a7r5

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Ooof, starting fresh, might be a great idea! With all my lenses, no hope 😂

[@AquariusVlog]

@@TheOtherSamMallory I know so sad 🥲

[@j.kimmer1509]

Save your money folks, buy the A7Riv (4) and use that money to buy better lens from the 3rd party ...

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

A good call, especially if you’re not in need of the improved video quality!

[@BucNas7y]

I’ve come from the A7r4 and the improvements are significant. The a7r5 is far superior. Spend the money and future proof yourself. Not missing my a7r4 one bit.