Sony A7R IV review - detailed, hands-on, not sponsored (2)

[@BenSussmanpro]

I have this camera with the 2 cheaper f/4 aperture versions. I’m still learning all the features and these 2 videos help (I don’t shoot video much). Coming from Canon the focus system is much better but there’s a learning curve. Thanks for the tutorials!

[@MaartenHeilbron]

It's always my pleasure, and it's great to read that my videos are appreciated. Thanks!!

[@skakdosmer]

The port on the lens hood is to enable the turning of a filter, like a polariser. Featured on several high-end Canon lenses as well. (Which are too expensive for me, I'm afraid).

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Ah, that's the explanation. I'm not usually in this price grade.

[@nerdMike]

@@MaartenHeilbron also the "cheaper" 50-140 and 100-400 Fuji tele lens bring this features on their lens hood ;) cheaper than sony 70-200 of course.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

@@nerdMike I learn something every day, thanks.

[@lunasol8043]

@@MaartenHeilbron standard on nearly every Pentax lens hood

[@MaartenHeilbron]

@@lunasol8043 nice to know

[@rolandrickphotography]

1:22 is for dialling a CPol filter. Saw it the first time on Fujinon XF100-400

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Cool! Thanks for clarifying that for me. Makes sense now.

[@rolandrickphotography]

Maarten Heilbron , you’re welcome 😊

[@monealex6191]

I just love my 7r4 but now I love it more, this is a lovely lovely review!!!

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Thanks so much! A pleasure to read your kind words.

[@farisalfaris8120]

At 1:22 The door on the lens hood is for filters, diffusers, and polarizors, to put any of them without removing the hood.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

OH! Thanks!

[@DmitryBrodsky007]

outstanding review, Maarten. I'd say maybe your best one so far

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Thanks, always nice to know viewers appreciate my videos.

[@georgesmith6086]

Your reviews are the best! Well done and thanks! 🙂👍

[@MaartenHeilbron]

That's appreciated, thanks for the kind words.

[@TecnoguiaCol]

Amazing and very detailed review!! Greetings from Colombia!!

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Thanks, I appreciate your kind words. Please say hello to all my friends in Colombia.

[@LiquidTurbo]

Incredibly wonderful and detailed videos. I’m enjoying the work you put into these videos as well as your presentation style!

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Awesome, thank you for posting your kind words, appreciated!

[@markrigg6623]

To the best of my knowledge the selected recall custom hold button can be set to activate autofocus as well while its being held down. I do this on my Riii.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Thanks for sharing that note.

[@StephenStarkman]

Great videos Maarten! The Aperture Drive in AF - Focus Priority changes how the lens aperture behaves during autofocus. It's not very intuitive to see what's happening, because you have to look into the lens from the front while autofocusing to see what's happening! Unlike SLR and DSLR cameras which evolved to use open aperture metering (the aperture stays wide open while the light meter takes it's reading, only stopping down when you trip the shutter), Sony meters *and* autofocuses partially stopped down - depending on the lens, camera body and a few other variables. Aperture Drive in AF - Focus Priority is the closest setting to open aperture that I can figure - opening the lens aperture wider than standard to allow better AF in low light at small apertures. This is an A7rIV feature - it's not present in the rIII nor, as you mentioned, are all the options available unless the lens supports it. Confusing.... :)

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Thanks, that's some insight into this feature - I wish I'd been able to borrow it longer to try to figure it out.

[@paultolenaar7228]

I am waiting for my A9 mark II and I am really looking forward for this feature because I don't like focussing with closed aperture . And nobody could ever explain to me why some Sony lenses behave differently in their aperture behavior ( the 2.8's 24-70 and 70-200 only open up in live view off mode)

[@MaartenHeilbron]

@@paultolenaar7228 Hmmmm. Nobody. Ever. Hmmmm.

[@paultolenaar7228]

@@MaartenHeilbron Maybe you did , but then I missed it...:-) Thanks for your videos BTW, they are great.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

@@paultolenaar7228 Oh, no, it wasn't me - but it's just hard to think about nobody and ever.

[@Rollergold4]

The Focus ring for the 70-200 f/2.8 is actually connected directly to the motor as if you look at front of the lens while turning the focus ring or turn the focus ring while in AF mode you will see focus element move.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Thanks for the tip.

[@IanWilkinson]

Although I only have an a7R III, finally I now understand how AF in Focus Mag. operates! Thank you.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Always my pleasure, thanks for the kind words.

[@LeoInterHyenaem]

I believe, the lens port is for spinning a circular polariser to the desired orientation.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Cool! Thanks for the tip, that makes sense.

[@guitarsan]

Wow, I’ve never seen that specific focus workflow suggested before, cool! 08:36

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Always nice to know I've provided useful information, thanks for the kind words.

[@hukchone4521]

Excellent Video Thank you very much I like to buy this camera Should I buy now or wait for a newer one

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Thanks for your kind words. Buy now.

[@j16m02]

I suspect the Recall Custom Hold can be toggled unless that option has been changed from the A6400 and A7RIII. After registering your AF area go to custom key set up, select the button you want, and select either Regist AF Area hold, or Regist AF Area toggle.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Ah, I must have missed that. Thanks for the correction.

[@insighteins1317]

Does the A7RIV have the anti flicker option for the electronic shutter?

[@MaartenHeilbron]

I didn't try that - I wasn't in an environment where anti-clicker seeming necessary. The manual does not mention a shutter mode as an exclusion.

[@AsheshRajbansh]

Port under lens hood is for using circular polarizer screwed on lens

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Brilliant! Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[@AsheshRajbansh]

@@MaartenHeilbron Very great hearing you, so wonderful.

[@scb2scb2]

for sports and action shoot in crop mode, 1.5x range and still 27 megapixels and buffer becomes much much bigger.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Didn't get bigger for me.

[@scb2scb2]

@@MaartenHeilbron Well i can't confirm don't have the R4 yet but on the R3 it was 578 shots. So i asked in my and a few other facebook group. One tested for me and i also hope he will do a compressed test but here are the results of the R4 in crop mode (at least one test) : Crop mode Raw ( Uncompressed) - buffer filled in 135 seconds - buffer flushed in about 38 seconds - got 861 frames This fits with what i expected to happen given it only has to handle 18megapixels (R3) or 27mp (r4).. And also why the R3/R4 are great 'balanced' option since the R3 and R4 are probably sony's best APS-C cameras hidden inside a FF body :) ...

[@scb2scb2]

Oher user test (compressed): FULL Frame HI mode not HI+) : Fill - 14 seconds Empty - 27 seconds Images - 93 APC (reduced Frame): Fill - 43 seconds Empty - 65 seconds Images - 337

[@MaartenHeilbron]

@@scb2scb2 Thanks. Somehow I was not able to duplicate that.

[@scb2scb2]

@@MaartenHeilbron Guess you don't have access to it anymore? Anyway i checked to make sure since its a very useful element of the crop mode. Not sure why it didn't work for you maybe (never tested that you did raw+jpeg ?)

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

Getting to know 7ARIV has become a project. Will I live long enough to complete it?

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Time will tell. In the meantime, keep creating and trying new features.

[@AhBeeDoi]

The lens hood port allows access to a CPL.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Of course! Thanks for the info.

[@chaitanyakiranh]

Nice review sir....upgrading from my Sony a6400 to full frame....torn between Sony 7III and Nikon z6.... I rented Z6 and loved the body /feel and pics that came out of it...feels more satisfied holding Nikon (first time Nikon user here). However the Sony technologies and AF seems to market leading...any suggestions? Go with heart or mind lol 😆

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Go with your heart, or you'll be disappointed. Always buy a camera you love over one you think does a better job - between these it's really a small difference. Thanks for the kind words, always appreciated.

[@Jeetphotographie]

That little port on the lens mount help rotate the variable ND /polarized filter if attached to the lens.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

Of course! Thanks for unravelling the puzzle, appreciated.

[@jj4996]

Looking to move from a old Canon 7D. Stumped on the Sony a7R IV or the D850. What would you suggest for someone picking back up photography who takes landscape, wildlife, and some sports?

[@MaartenHeilbron]

There is no camera that exceeds the stills capability of the A7R IV. Stop thinking, go buy it! bhpho.to/2B2xNkW (affilliate link)

[@soniad3241]

My biggest disappointment with this camera is that it lacks automatic focus bracketing. This is a useful feature for macro photographers. I would have bought a Nikon mirrorless if I had known about this deficiency. Come on Sony bring out a software update please.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

I suggest that if there is a feature which is important to you that you verify that a camera has it before you make your purchase. This does not feel like a reasonable request.

[@graphguy]

I love my Sony’s ....but, but... Nearly $4,000 for body(with tax) I just don’t see the virtues for a non-pro. .... but then again I get people asking if I really needed a $80,000 truck! To each his own I guess.

[@MaartenHeilbron]

The only thing that stands between me and the A7R IV is my credit card limit.

[@rolandrickphotography]

Graph Guy , for me the card limit like Marten and the slooooooow buffer clearing in comparison to D500/D5. Also on a9. But the a9 rolling free electronic shutter for silent shooting, oh guys I want this (a7 doesn’t have it as far as I could yet figure out)

[@MaartenHeilbron]

@@rolandrickphotography I should have tested that, although I suppose it's difficult to find the real world situation that illustrates this behaviour.

[@sh8736]

Maarten Heilbron The panning with the cyclists might have shown rolling shutter, also birds in flight. The latter would be useful to know as you have already mentioned being able to crop would be a great feature 😀. Great video by the way

[@rolandrickphotography]

Maarten Heilbron , the original Sony example (Sony video on a9 release, sorry, don‘t have the link right now) shows a Golf player demonstrating very well the difference.