The Best Camera I've Ever Owned | Sony A7RV Long Term Review

[@goodwolf152]

I can't say enough good things about my a7rV. Count me among those who thinks the "high megapixel hate" has gone too far, lately. Very rare is the photo that actually needs 61mp, but the fact that this sensor basically takes an entire lens (or two) out of your bag is super underrated. Really makes it a monster travel camera...you can legit get away with taking just one super fast prime or one standard zoom for a whole day or even a whole trip, and not really be hurting for reach. IMO, that's kind of this camera's "killer app" that no one ever talks about. Give me a camera that saves me having to take extra lenses or make extra lens changes...speaking only for myself, that is infinitely more valuable than a crazy-high burst rate.

[@flordr]

I don’t really get it. You save on those lenses because you just crop in at the end or what do you mean? You are still losing the look of those lenses

[@goodwolf152]

@@flordr yes, crop in either in-camera while you're shooting or after-the-fact in post-processing. Hi-res sensors allow you to crop in significantly without losing much image quality. The a7r5 lets you crop in to APS-C in-camera and still get 26mp of resolution. This essentially turns your 24-70 standard zoom into a 24-105 (or even more given 26mp still has some resolution to give). Now, you don't get EXACTLY the same effects of a 105mm lens (compression, DoF, etc. depending on your distance-to-subject), but the difference in those areas is often negligible (to taste, of course), and in terms of reach and field of view, you get essentially a 1:1 effect. Some people will still want to carry longer lenses, but depending on your preferences and how you like to work/travel, the ability to crop that much does indeed allow you to take a lens or two out of your bag, or at least reduce the number of lens changes you need to make in the field. There are a lot of FF cameras out there that let you take a ton of pictures really quickly...very few actually give you the option to travel with less kit or make fewer lens changes.

[@markrigg6623]

Just remember when you crop the noise becomes enlarged along with the image. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

[@Goodmanperson55]

​​​@@markrigg6623 Why do you think this is being talked about in regards to the A7R V? It's at a high enough resolution that it starts performing like an actual crop sensor camera so noise is a non-issue. There's an A6700 hidden under the A7R V. Also, cropped output doesn't enlarge anything. The full frame output is still gonna have around 1.5× the number of pixels of the cropped output. This difference in resolution might be a problem with some workflows but you can still set the camera to output 26 MP for both full frame and cropped mode.

[@markrigg6623]

@Goodmanperson55 Yes there is a 26 megapixel cropped sensor contained within this full frame sensor. And it will have more noise just like all crop sensors in relation to the full sensor.

[@RandumbTech]

It’s the only camera that I bought, sold, and then bought AGAIN! I didn’t appreciate how good it was until I sold it. I agree - it’s the best overall hybrid camera I’ve ever used.

[@auxsom]

Curious, what do you use to backup your files on this camera?

[@A1000Truths]

Man the Sony A7RV is a workhorse. Took it to Iceland and a few other places for landscape photography. Recently picked up the Sony A7cii to pair with it as a more everyday camera.

[@stkuj]

I did exactly the same LOL

[@A1000Truths]

@@stkuj great minds think alike 🤣

[@andreathode3782]

I‘ve been a lifelong Nikon shooter since the 80s. Due to doing more video stuff I bought the FX3 and because I liked it so much, I fully switched and bought the A7RV. I pait it with my RX1Rmk2 and its just soo good. In the studio it’s a tethered beast and on location its flexibel as hell. It does everything and the AF is state of the art.

[@travissmarion]

Your stock immediately went up an extra 100% in my mind when I saw you had the SmallRig baseplate on as well. IMO this makes the camera feel perfect.

[@Reportageandart]

Does it add a lot of weight?

[@benjhaisch]

@Reportageandart gotta be under 100g

[@GLphoto]

I have used the A7RV since release and also still have A7IVs on hand and can confirm there is no fluff or exaggeration in this video, it very accurately explains the same feelings I have about these bodies. I have used a lot of Sony mirrorless bodies over the years and the A7RV is the most enjoyable to shoot with in my experience. The best way that I have been able to explain it is that the camera just gets out of my way more than any other so that I can focus my attention on the subject rather than the camera.

[@TrevorMcGrathPhotography]

My son showed me your video and I agree 100%. I've been shooting live music forever and this is the best camera I've held in my hand. My favorite feature is the eye-tracking, I don't use the A1 anymore. The only point I would add is that I shoot with two bodies and fit battery grips to make it easier to shoot portraits.

[@terorvlad]

7:14 This is due to the anti flicker funtion. If you turn it off, the EVF will no longer drop in resolution when focusing/tracking. It is shitty of sony to not make it more well known as it is one of the biggest "flaws" people attribute to the camera when in fact it's just a setting

[@benjhaisch]

Unfortunately that’s not a full solution. I’ve tested them both and yes, it’s better, but it doesn’t fix the issue.

[@libertyvilleguy2903]

Good tip, thank you. I shoot with the back focus button pushed in, looking through the viewfinder all the time while shooting volleyball. I wouldn’t buy this camera if there is no workaround to the degradation to the scene coming through the viewfinder.

[@MRGphotos3]

I am a beginner and I chose the a7r v . It was on sale a few weeks ago , and I grabbed it. 😊😊😊😊

[@johnbragg2014]

I back pack I'm sometimes in for 12 days and while I've always done my best to protect the back screen, I did have to replace it on a D5 mark II once. So the feature to completely flip the view side screen inward for protection while its in my back pack and not worry that I've got it protected against a possible shifting load is welcome.

[@patrickjclarke]

One of the things I've noticed with all the camera's I've owned (Leica, Olympus, Canon, Ricoh, Sony) is that DxO DeepPrime XD LOVES Sony files. It's shocking how well it cleans up high ISO files for my A7ii and A99 compared to my other camera files. And DeepPrime kills LR's new Noise Reduction on the Sony. Another good option for your A7RV files...DeepPrime XD is that good.

[@cameraprepper7938]

This week I took the jump and switched one of my Sony A7RIV Cameras to a Sony A7RV, yes I agree with you this is also the best Camera that I have owned for 45 years of Photographer, I have used nearly all sorts of Cameras, Canon, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus SLR, Canon DSLR, Hasselblad 6x6 Cameras, Sinar and Linhof 4x5", Sinar 5x7" and many more Cameras, but the Sony A7RV is the best Camera I have ever worked with. I like te 61 megapixels, the EVF, the IBIS and the eye detection for Birds and Animals. The Sony A7RV is very easy to use when you have set your own menu settings and customized buttons, I like the fn settings a lot ! I can very highly recommend the Sony A7RV ! I can also recommend the Sony A7RIIIA and Sony A7RIVA.

[@DavidStella]

I use both the A7IV and A7RV. It might be petty of me, but I much prefer the shutter sound of the A7RV. The A7IV sounds so loud in comparison.

[@doogieham]

Totally agree!

[@Jeo-What]

Though the A7IV's mechanical shutter timing "SYNCS" better with me, it is definitely a lot louder than the A7RV.

[@DavidStella]

@@Jeo-Whatwhat do you mean?

[@Jeo-What]

The timing from the moment my mind giving command to pressing the shutter, physically pressing the shutter, camera acquires a perfectly sharp photo. This "in sync" process works better on the A7IV (& A1) for me than the A7RV. Not sure why but on A7RV it does not provide me the same "in sync" feedback/confidence or hit rate for me.

[@DavidStella]

@@Jeo-What ah, gotcha. Yeah, I think I know what you mean now. It’s really odd why that is, but it’s almost like it needs a faster processor to keep up. At first I thought that maybe the higher megapixel made imperfections more noticeable, but now that you mention it, it could be a camera limitation.

[@wk278]

Great to see someone from Tacoma making such killer content. Congrats on 60k! I love your work dude! Keep it up 👊🍻

[@lewcehjitl3282]

The image quality is superb! I have the center dial button customized for aps-c crop quick and easy great for extra reach 😁.

[@ameleh61]

I have it on my trash button because it's not used during shooting and it's ironic.

[@rickbiessman6084]

Thanks for pointing out that the EVF downscales in photo mode during tracking! That’s a HUGE bummer. Tracking is how I use AF almost exclusively, so that kind of defeats the purpose of the high res EVF. Combined with the awesome screen mechanism that’s actually the most attractive thing about the A7RV to me personally.

[@Romenet310]

I think I read something about if you turn off flicker reduction it fixes this issues. Don’t quote me on that.

[@benjhaisch]

@Romenet310 it adjusts it a bit for sure, but doesn’t fully solve it

[@dirkziegler9580]

I absolutley agree with you regarding the new monitor-tilting-mechanism. For photographers this is the best mechanism you can dream about. I also don't like the screens that can only folded.

[@JasonLawrenceNoel]

I love my a7rv and Man the crazy color noise at 3200 is wild! You notice that? Like really wild! LR fixes it instantly but my apsc xt5 crushes it in iso performance when not compensated for in Lightroom. Ok ok sorry to go off on a tangent 😅 just super surprised no one talks about this. Love you videos! Big fan 🙏

[@cohoonatube]

I'm looking at both the A7RV or the X-H2 (same sensor as the X-T5)... does it perform that well in high ISO environments? SOOC Jpegs is something I'm interested in. Thanks!

[@JasonLawrenceNoel]

@@cohoonatube if you want straight out of camera JPEG I definitely would go with the Fuji camera just leave ISO noise reduction as it comes out of the box. I found sometimes my Sony created a cleaner image at night but the Fuji still created a more pleasing image I preferred.

[@melmaciandissenter2324]

The XT5 sensor uses the X-trans color matrix (a 6x6 pattern), while the a7r5 uses the traditional Bayer color matrix (a 4x4 pattern). When opened in Lightroom, Raws are "de-bayered" to attribute a color to each pixel. In the case of Fuji X-trans sensors, the "de-X-transing" acts a bit like a color denoiser. You can find much more in-depth info about Bayer and X-trans here on KZbin or the general web. but in short, this is the reason for the difference you see.

[@JasonLawrenceNoel]

@@melmaciandissenter2324 very cool! Thanks for the info! Will check it out

[@Kliffot]

@@JasonLawrenceNoel Yeah that color noise is called the moiré, usually sensor with Bayer matrix have a low pass filter to avoid that but it it reduce sharpness. X Trans sensor don't have that moiré problem so they don't have low pass filter, that's why they have superior sharpness. But nowadays moiré is well corrected by softwares, so some manufacturer just get rid off the low pass filter on high mpx cameras.

[@obayedh]

Much thanks, Benj for sharing your experience. A wonderful camera indeed.

[@thenateblack]

Love my A7RV - just picked one up!

[@CoastGuy09]

I have an A1 and A7R V. The A7R V is the camera I prefer. I tend to crop heavily especially when shooting wildlife. The new autofocus is amazing especially when photographing wildlife. It is an amazing camera. I would be happy to trade my A1 for another A7E V.

[@sgpork]

The R series always attract my attention the most. Its basically a upgrade version of the balance camera a7 series. Highest megapixel but not so much for video and not so much of speed. But good enough for all uses with most megapixel since its R. Upgraded my Rii to RV. Cant be happier.

[@nomimidzu8984]

Thanks for this review! A comparison with the medium format would be interesting. Is 60 megapixels already comparable in quality to the medium format?

[@kidnoble]

When talking about the low light, what exactly are you meaning by downscaling the image?

[@Keenonhang]

I was wondering the same?!!

[@cohoonatube]

Update... Just bought it! Yes Sir, it is perhaps the first Sony body that to me feels... well, just complete. I smile every time I pick it up... even the shutter sound works for me lol. Would have been great to have 15fps (even in MRAW mode), but I'll trade that for this amazing sensor, color science, 4D screen mech, improved menus/AF/IBIS/etc . etc.

[@flordr]

I am also a wedding photographer right now shooting on two XT3s. Thinking of getting rid of one and get this beast. Just wondering if it is good idea to shoot a wedding with an XT3 and the A7RV on the other hand - thinking of the the image quality, color and resolution difference. Do you think this will be a big deal at the end?

[@benjhaisch]

They’re very different cameras. I think choosing one system is always the best choice event though I never take my own advice

[@Jeo-What]

To avoid my mistakes of upgrading, you may want to compare the mechanical shutter sound first and see if you are OK with the "SLAP" sound if you do shooting indoor weddings/events under artificial lighting conditions that needs Anti-Flicker feature enabled. Coming from X-T1/2/H1 to A7IV, A7RV and now using A1 (FF 50MP/APS-C 21 MP) for 100% silent & blackout free EVF with electronic shutter firing flash/strobe @ FF 1/200s, APS-C 1/250s, HSS 1/32000s or mechanical shutter (as quiet as Fuji X-H1) @ FF 1/400s, APS-C 1/500s, HSS 1/8000s with 120/s AF/AE recalculation.

[@Kliffot]

Better idea would be a Fuji GFX 100S, same films sim, it will match at 100% and it's the same sensor as the A7RV, just bigger and better ! (except AF of course XD )

[@bondgabebond4907]

If I had a real professional use for the A7R5, I would have bought it without questions. But, thankfully, the R5 has a little brother, the A7CR, and I bought it. It's taking a while to appreciate that sensor, I did love my A7R3 with its 42mp sensor, but this is another level. Still have the R3, still love it. Great camera. But the advances in the R5 make the R3 seem like an oldie but goodie. This is a new generation if functionality.

[@cohoonatube]

Great review, thanks! I'm looking seriously at upgrading from my A7iv... also looking at the X-H2. The crop mode capabilities of the A7R5 (and several other features) have me leaning toward the Sony. The 4D variable tilt screen is one of the primary features... I might be considering the Z8 but it only has a tilt-up... and I'm not a Vlogger. Most of my photography style incorporates extreme perspectives which require the variable rotating style of rear LCD... I even chose the Nikon D5600 simply because it had that. My point being that the variable tilt style of screen is not a "Vlogger thing" only. I do see the benefits of the tilt-only screen... thankful Sony devised a great solution for both needs! Thanks for the upload, I've enjoyed a couple of your other videos researching the Fuji system as well. Edit: Saw in another post that you are in Tacoma! I lived there for several years as a wee lad (My Dad was at McCord AFB)... I still have nightmares from those enormous ant hills! :D. Beautiful area.

[@Jeo-What]

One major thing effects me most coming from Fuji X-series to Sony A-series as a indoor event/newborn/family wedding flash/strobe photographer is the mechanical shutter sound. Fuji's shutter sound is soooo sweet & quiet especially on the X-H1. I switched to A7IV for it's AF system that is more superior than Fuji (even the new X-H2/H2s) & 3rd party lenses availability; however, the mechanical shutter "SLAP!!!" was so "LOUD" for indoor events especially for baptisms & weddings or waking up the babies during newborn sessions! A7RV was a quieter camera but nowhere close to the Fuji mechanical shutter sound and still loud enough that at an city art painting event the participants actually complained to the organizer which was very embarrassing to say the least In order to shoot with flash/strobe under artificial lighting conditions without sensor bending with Anti-Flickering feature enabled there is no options but to go with A1 or A9 III. I finally got a used A1 at the same price as a new A7RV after tax which is able to shoot with flash/strobe in both mechanical shutter with FF 1/400s, APS-C 1/500s x-sync speed and silent Blackout Free EVF electronic silent with FF 1/200s, APS-C 1/250s x-sync speed and HSS at 1/8000 mechanical and 1/32000s electronic shutter that makes the world of difference. The mechanical shutter on the A1 is just as or quieter than the Fuji system; however, with the capability of the electronic shutter I don't see myself using it much at all. The AI AF on the A7RV recognize/stick with subject faster and longer; however, the A1's 120/s AF/AE calculation is also exceptionally great with the 50MP/21MP image sensor that can shoot 30 FPS without filling up the buffer quickly even after 100 shots. As I only shoot EVF 99% of the time the amazing LCD on the A7RV is mostly in closed position except when I first setup the camera and when I really needed to show someone the photos so no big deal and not missed by my need. If the A7RV would came with the same ultrasonic dual motor mechanic shutter system as the A1 vs the regular spring shutter mechanism it would been the perfect camera for my need for sure. Good thing that the Small Rig plate is fully compatible for A7IV, A7RV & A1 without the need of spending extra $$$!

[@artmaltman]

Do you like having 61mp other than cropping? Does it give a more special look vs 33mp of A74? Thank you.

[@MRGphotos3]

I am an amateur and I feel like it’s worth it .. sometimes or most of the times you like zoom in into your photos and with this a7r v is just amazing

[@bondgabebond4907]

OMG, it is worth it. I have been shooting with the A7R3 with a 42mp sensor and cropping with that is great. We shoot objects from a distance, like small birds, animals, and cropping in still gives us a brilliant image. I think 33mp is good, but 42 is better for full frame. I tested my a6700 images against my A74, which I sold, and I could not tell much of a difference. But there is a difference against a 42mp sensor. So, those extra pixels give you more image to crop and still maintain excellent image. That is my way of saying you can make an excellent 20x24 print.

[@yanicmb]

ok im now convinced to get the a7CR as my small photo camera

[@j5daniel182]

In my case, I do think Back Button focusing is not essential with Sony's advanced AF. You can just touch the subject on the screen to and press the shutter when its time to capture the moment. Plus there's also eye/face detect. I Used BBF before wth the Canon 5Dii coz had to do more of a focus recompose with just one central af point that is reliable.

[@jean-philippeperetti8463]

I've owned the A7RV since it was released. I absolutely love it. The only negative thing I have to say is that it made me a lazy photographer. I often shoot in Auto mode and the pictures straight out of camera are really good. All I have to do, sometimes, is play with contrast and shadows. On another subject, I use PhotoScape X Pro for editing but the software doesn't resolve Sony's *ARW files. Any suggestions?

[@brambleandvine]

Trying to figure out if I should upgrade to A7rV or A9iii from A7iii. I’m tired of banding and very Interested in the global shutter. I love the idea of having high dynamic range but not the huge megapixel size in A7rV. I shoot weddings, lifestyle, portraits, and maybe some sports (tennis) in the future. What would you recommend?

[@j5daniel182]

You might wanna skip the a9iii if you want high dynamic range. That is the waterloo of the new global shutter sensor.

[@dimaphotographer90]

These three cameras are completely different. I would exclude A7III because is an old camera, if you’re not interested in high resolution then exclude A7R V as well (even though it has a very good dynamic range and the picture quality is just insane), perhaps A7 IV? It sits right in between all of these cameras. A9III is mainly a sport camera, way too fast for weddings, but perfect for tennis and other kind of sports. So I would go with A7IV for what you’re looking for, for the rest of the money you can buy some good lenses. :)

[@brambleandvine]

Leaning now towards the a7rV, but if I use APSC crop mode or medium raw-- will I still get the same dynamic range?

[@benjhaisch]

I think using the A7RV in an M-RAW & APS-C crop combo would be awesome for sports. (And the rest as well)

[@NT_1]

@@brambleandvine Like mentioned above, the A9III is strictly for professional sport photographers. I'm sure it can do a lot more than just sports. My first camera was A74 and I loved it. 33 Megapixels is a sweet sweet spot if you dont need 61. Video quality was great as well. I sold it and upgraded to the A7RV. I am not a pro yet so it was an overkill. Love my new camera more now. Everything great about the A74 was magnified in the A7RV. I've paired it with the 50 1.2 GM and its just crazy good. Only thing annoying for me is the huge file sizes. Your cards will fill up fast. You can always crop to 25mp But then whats the point of having 61MP if I'm going to use apsc mode? I'd say if you have the budget for it go for the A9III. Or get the A74 and invest in lenses

[@MRG-Photos3]

Question why is my focus unfocusing of my subject face or not sharp .. do you think I need a cleaning

[@brandonburridge]

My Leica Q original finally gave out. Going to turn my Sony into the best Q alternative I can. Do you think it would be wiser to get a high quality 24 like the GM or sigma art or should I just make the easy decision and get the Viltrox 28?

[@cborel83]

I just got the a7cii and love it with my leica lenses. I had to send back the M11 due to Orange flashing light that just wouldnt stop. I also shoot canon but am thinking of getting rid of the r6mkii and shooting with this as well. Did you give up with canon?

[@brugj03]

I have the A1 and a7CII it`s amazing how close they are, the A1 is faster and has better video but the pictures are very much alike. I often prefer the CII for it`s much leighter weight and better autofocus. The A7CII autofocus is one of a kind.

[@benjhaisch]

Sorry I missed this, but yeah I made a video about switching a couple of years ago. Mainly based on value and being able to build a full kit as Canon still has their RF mount closed in full frame. I also am not going to lie that Sony being willing to send me loaner gear to try out while Canon won’t answer my emails/DMs/etc didn’t play at least a little role in it as well. Since switching Sony has started inviting me to things as well, but that didn’t start until after I switched.

[@benjhaisch]

But yeah, I love the A7CR and can imagine how good the A7CII is as well.

[@HeyThisIsAndrew]

My combo is the A7C R and A7IV. Definitely not picking this up since the A7C R is basically a baby version of it, but your video is just great quality and wanted to throw some support with a comment. I had actually hoped you would do a comparison between the A7C R and A7RV though. Just for your thoughts. To my knowledge the only difference is that the A7C R does not shoot in 8K

[@timothysteenwyk2978]

Outside of handling and the screens, the other key differences are with the shutter and card slots. The a7RV has a full mechanical shutter which tops out at 1/8000 (compared to the EFCS at 1/4000 on the a7CR). The RV also has a second card slot, and both slots are compatible with CFE Type A.

[@NT_1]

@@timothysteenwyk2978 viewfinder, better video performance, I'd say even image quality. Of course the A7RV just looks stunning. I get compliments on how fancy it looks when I'M out doing street. I guess that might not a big deal but its fun to have

[@lauravadi]

What do you think what the main advantages are over Sony A7IV besides the megapixels. Looking to upgrade, but can't decide which one to get 😀

[@knowwork9]

Iv is the beast one for me i will get it soon

[@avidr3ader635]

I been thinking about getting the Sony A7RV vs canon R5 VS R5M2. Would you consider R5M2 at all? Why or Why Not? Appreciate your thoughts and feedback in advance...Sincerely

[@benjhaisch]

I haven’t tried the R5II but I’ve heard mixed things tbh. I made the switch from Canon to Sony a few years ago and am happy with that change, but Canon is finally getting their lens lineup together and some of their recent cinema camera offering look good as well.

[@tobiahtayo5149]

I've enjoyed mine however the shutter failed on one after the third wedding. My last wedding also failed to save any images from a burst to either card... No explanation why - just full 5 mins of wedding missing. Very odd.

[@neddamette]

😯

[@benjhaisch]

Whaaaaaaat that’s nuts!

[@Jeo-What]

Maybe it's the memory card brand/speed or the cards needs to perform "Full Format" in the camera to prep them correctly solely for this camera.

[@tobiahtayo5149]

@@Jeo-What yeah it was cf express a so fast enough. Formatted in camera

[@Jeo-What]

@@tobiahtayo5149 any particular brand so we can all avoid it?

[@abeham5720]

Considered ditching my canon R5/R6 for this. So I rented it, Tried it, the downscale of evf during tracking really turned me off. Cant stand it. Decided to stick with my Canon gears.

[@Jeo-What]

As a leading manufacture of LCD screens, Sony should be able to do better on both the EVF and LCD on these expansive cameras.

[@JasonLawrenceNoel]

You end up going with the 50 1.2 or 1.4 ?

[@KrzysPalacz]

Im wondering about to switch my killer body which is a9 mk1 info Sony a1 to do the same things with resolution and in a1 you have silient shutter

[@Garbid]

Does silent shutter costs the price difference?

[@Jeo-What]

If the non-silent shutter is disturbing the subjects you are shooting than A1 is the only currently solution with high Megapixel. Upgrade once and never think about it if you can afford it instead of upgrading many times until you ended up with the same one you originally want the first time and cost a lot more in the end!

[@JeffreyMcPheeters]

I really enjoy using the Sony A7RV along side my primary cameras all m43 OM-1 bodies and OM pro lenses. I bought the RV and 200-600 new for half what it was going to cost me to buy just the OM 150-400/4.5 Pro lens. Having shot both the 200-600 on an A9Ii along side the OM E-M1 X with the Olympus 150-400 I found the slightly sharper image of the Olympus was not going to overcome the better reach of the Sony, and for the money I liked the 200-600 as much if not more. But there was not enough benefit in the A9ll over the OM-1 camera with ProCapture and faster AF and frame rates; and the A1 was more money again and didn’t have procapture and any higher keeper rate than what I get on OM. But the A7RV has 10fps and is good enough for when I need 600mm reach as those birds are large and I don’t need 50 or 120 fps anyway. What I found however is that suddenly primes were really handy and crop mode is like having a built in teleconverter with a twist: I don’t give up a stop of light but do give up some resolution. Well 26mp is still more than 20 on the Olympus so I think it’s a handy apples and oranges comparison and it’s very nice to have both apples and oranges to put it metaphorically. MyOMis great for the unexpected due to the pro f/2.8 zooms and computational features. The Sony is great addition. Handling is similar, noise footprint very similar, is okay as an additional body in astrophotography, and when doing events with large groups it has potential to have more resolution if needed. I’m using the APSC11mm, 20/1.8, 55/1.8, 135/2.8 and that covers most of travel needs. Great camera! Hope it lasts me years! (Turning 69 soon)

[@tonyhayes9827]

I use Nikon and the ZF AF is supposed to be good and it is. But, the AF box is simply more jittery than the Sony. The Sony experience looks smoother to me and therefore nicer to use. If I was a wedding photographer I would take the financial `hit' and change systems to Sony I think. Great vid.

[@j5daniel182]

yeah the M10s had like Fuji XPro 2 sensor level dynamic range. For the A7RC, I shoot the them at medium raw 26mp. If I switch it to 1.5x crop mode, the camera still would use 26mp! So its consistent 26mp all the way FF or APSC mode. It's perfect. So i just stick a 24 1.4 on 1 body and a 50 1.2 on the other body (giving me 36mm and 75mm in the crop modes).

[@chuckfralick6456]

M11 on the other hand has the same sensor as the A7RV - big jump in dynamic range and overall IQ compared to the M10. I can’t live with a rangefinder alone though. I love my M’s, but gotta have a MILC also.

[@RandumbTech]

Just an FYI when you shoot in M RAW you lose the ability to use the DeNoise feature in LR. Not sure if you use that feature, but I know a lot of people do.

[@AaronStoneVLOGS]

It is such a good camera. I use it and the A7iv for all paid work. So hard to beat their cameras for daily work horse machines.

[@danielgormanphoto]

Best Camera I've ever owned!

[@lenhister]

Great vid! Just curious, why do you (and other photographers) cover the Sony logo on the camera?

[@benjhaisch]

I cover the logos on most of my cameras just because I don’t want another thing distracting a subject from engaging in the moment.

[@mamumonkan]

... and how do you handle silent shooting under LED lighting .... still have to use 1/30- 1/60 and pray for a sharp image while trying to avoid banding !!!!!!

[@benjhaisch]

I don’t use silent shooting on this camera

[@mamumonkan]

@@benjhaisch Ok I understand (although it has variable speeds); so any camera you use silent shooting with ?

[@julienajarry]

I don’t have that image drop issue in I’m VF it must be a setting. There are some ‘high quality’ VF settings and 120fps refresh rate settings in there if I recall. Let us know if you find them.

[@benjhaisch]

In photo mode while continuously holding down the focus button in AF-C? That’s where the issue hits. And yes, I have it on the high quality modes, standard fps.

[@FranciscoAlvarezTV]

I actually just sat down with Sony and told them how badly I wanted to test this thing. Lifelong Canon shooter but if I like it, I'll switch. Such a beast.

[@KillerTacos54]

Planning to pick one up at some point for sure!

[@ABarrera]

Love this set up! Paired with the a7CR 🙌🏼

[@jakeman0x0]

I love my Olympus Pen F...My opinion..still best made camera. Unfortunately it's Micro4/3 sensor but I don't need a best image ...I just need a best camera to shoot an image.

[@ingolfmann]

Thanks for another great video. Can you comprehend the youtuber experience that shows that it doesn't focus when you use longer focal lengths?

[@benjhaisch]

Hmmm I haven’t heard of that at all. I’ve used lenses up to 600mm on this without issue

[@ingolfmann]

@@benjhaisch i saw it in a video from a wildlife photohrapher and there are some blogs around that. But thanks for your take on that benj!

[@libertyvilleguy2903]

So if I understand your review correctly - if I use the button on the back for focusing, while looking through the viewfinder, there will be significant degradation in what I’m seeing through the viewfinder? That’s a very big deal to me. I shoot volleyball, and that’s how I take pretty much every photo. So should I not purchase this camera?

[@benjhaisch]

correct. no it's not a deal breaker, but for whatever reason, when that specific active tracking AF is used, the camera has to use more of it's CPU on actually focusing and computing that, which then leaves less available CPU for the viewfinder. it's the same thing even on the A9III.

[@libertyvilleguy2903]

@@benjhaisch Thank you very much for answering my question. Good to know - I'll try to check this out in a camera store before buying, so I can see how big a deal it is. I have a Sony A7III, and while I read online that the problem exists on it as well (must be a Sony thing), I haven't really ever noticed it. Enjoyed your review - hope I can get past the degradation in EVF quality.

[@jameiealehandro]

other reviewers have pointed out a massive green color shift taking place starting from about iso 3200, is that the case ? how to remove it ?

[@benjhaisch]

Interesting, it’s not something I’ve ever noticed. I just went though a set of files in the same scene from iso 100-104200 and didn’t see it either

[@stkuj]

I've been shooting the A7RV for close to a year. It's been a great camera, except for video it's a B cam. I just got the a7Cii for video (A cam) and travel. I hope Sony drops a firmware update with some of the new features that the A7CR received. TBH, I shoot mostly with medium lossless. I'm anxious to see wha the a7v delivers later this year.

[@NT_1]

Problem with video is that the quality is just way too good and clear. Shows every little detail you might not want to be included

[@onestepbeyond3171]

If you put the camera on a rock to have it high - how do you check the picture without turning the display in "VLOG"-Mode? You don't do such? Well - I do! I can't climb everywhere, but I can put the camera everywhere above me: on walls, rocks, other places. I cant't get behind the camera at that time. The guessing is over. Now I can define the direction a lot better.

[@nithinvadlamudi8363]

Hi - I have an A7RV and it’s a beast. I’m thinking about the second body. What do you suggest? I want to use the second body on the other shoulder with 50mm 1.4 for both photo and video handheld. Handheld videos are good in A7RV, but I’m not sure about A74. So, just thinking what to choose in between two. Thank you for proving great content.

[@lewcehjitl3282]

A74 has more of a yellow tint to Image quality. And a tad bit less dynamic range. Check out dxo mark sensor to see the scores.

[@cvzphotography]

Hey, had my wedding in basically the same place near the Tetons as your samples. The wedding tree.

[@TheMomentExposure]

dose this display has quality issue? i also have the same camera , it has display quality issue it has small lines all over the display

[@benjhaisch]

Thankfully I have no issues with the display

[@TheMomentExposure]

@@benjhaisch but i visited sony service center they told me all the bodies have same issue

[@kimw994]

...had the same viewfinder problem with my a7rIII : had something to do with a menu-setting.. (didn't remember wich-maybe flicker....) - now is gone...

[@benjhaisch]

Flickr reduction does make it worse for sure, but even without that, it’s still pretty bad.

[@kimw994]

...it was flicker reduction- just find out...still a problem on rV without? best, t@@benjhaisch

[@Marcopereira]

@@benjhaisch no turn off anti flirk and it dont drop the resolution on the EVF....

[@andreathode3782]

EVF needs to be in standard mode not high resolution and you are good to go!

[@jaymills1720]

Like Sony over Panasonic ?

[@SLuelmo]

Mine gets warm at touch in lower and back part after a fee minutes of mild photo use. Does anybody has this problem?

[@Equilion]

Thought about the screen regarding Portrait Mode? wouldn't be so much annoying anymore, but extremely useful. I wouldn't have bought the cam without it. ;)

[@benjhaisch]

Yeah, it takes a bit of an extra flip depending on how you need it to be, but you can always get it to the right angle, which is fantastic

[@gregbphotography]

Great video Benj. On the EVF resolution drop, every Sony camera has been doing that for quite a while now. It feels like a dumb compromise Sony makes for arguably no reason. Some people say to save battery life, but I strongly disagree. Why pay so much only to have one of the best EVF’s seem like a muddy mess? If they want to compromise on battery, they should give consumers the option to use a constant Boost/Power mode like Fujifilm vertical grip’s offer, which I always use on my Fuji cameras.

[@Marcopereira]

just turn off anti flirk...

[@benjhaisch]

@Marcopereira still doesn’t solve it.

[@robbie154]

The resolution drop is the reason I got out of the Sony system (well one of them), they are the only company that does this. Supposedly this is fixed with the A9iii so hopefully future Sonys all no longer have it. But there is no point in such a nice VF if I can't use it when I am focusing, which is literally all the time.

[@drthompson65]

Agree. I love mine!

[@writenamehere0000]

We all have big megapixels today, and then after the shooting day is over, we all reduce those photos to smaller size.. So much work for nothing. :) It is just a selling point. Or people stretching photographs over the huge signs on the side of the roads...

[@benjhaisch]

It’s all about the flexibility for me.

[@AaronCarr]

Why did you stick tape over the logo?

[@pedjagavrilovic6787]

cause of reflections, its much more easier to remove anything dark than white

[@MRGphotos3]

I believe people do that because they’re not possible

[@OliverCooper-qg6yc]

My A7RV when the dial its on movie and preset 1,2 or 3 its on auto exposure, i havent been able to put it all manual, its so annoying.

[@benjhaisch]

The 1-3 custom modes are setup when using one of the PASM modes and then saved through the menu. Once you do that on I believe it’s memory recall, you’re good to go.

[@OliverCooper-qg6yc]

@@benjhaisch OHHH WOW!! hahha you are right! so dumb, the A7iv and A7Siii are easier to set up in this case, thanks man!

[@Leo-jd2ny]

Why did you stick the SONY-Label on it?

[@benjhaisch]

I generally cover the logos on my cameras. Have for over a decade now

[@jbivphotography]

🤔🤔🤔

[@benjhaisch]

Yerp. ;)

[@ElReySupr3me]

The resolution drop on the EVF is for sure the worst about it. Everything else it’s quite amazing.

[@AT1754]

I think I really sucks they wait so long to release the non r versions. I get it, but it sucks. They want to gobble up as many “R” sales before they release another, cheaper version of it. I really hope the A7V is released soon. I am in the market for a new camera and was leaning toward the IV, but now I don’t want to buy that and holding out. So I’m impatiently waiting now

[@benjhaisch]

I dunno, didn’t they release the A7IV with the first of this generation of cameras between the two of them?

[@AT1754]

@@benjhaisch no idea honestly. I guess I’m just annoyed I’m not getting what I wanted with this release and have to wait lol

[@phoenixvette]

Once Bitcoin break 71k I'll hop out and buy this and an A9iii. Perfect combo!

[@germancreatives88]

I think for the price and performance Z8 is better..camera if the year beat the a9iii

[@5000Helme]

Still with the A7R III. 42MP sweetspot and no flippy hippie screen. A74 has the flippy hippie and the R5 has 60 or 26 Megapixels 🙄

[@firehorseweddingphotograph3995]

Only one gripe/issue with the A7RV and that is none of the batch editing de-noise software options are compatible with medium raw. DXO Pure Raw or Topaz? Nope! So if you shoot a lot in lower light without flash, such as I do, good luck with that! How do I know? Yup… That’s my only criticism of the thing and it’s not actually a camera/Sony issue.

[@benjhaisch]

Yeah I found that out the hard way with some AI culling software I had used as well.

[@firehorseweddingphotograph3995]

@@benjhaisch I used mine for the first time this last weekend at a wedding and had C1 set for uncompressed raw for; landscapes, couple stuff, groups and then C2 with medium raw for everything else. But doh, DXO rejected 85% of the files. I hadn't even considered that as a possibility, so back to full uncompressed files this weekend!

[@zverinafilip]

Oh man..the flip up screen and the lens selection always kept me on fence but wow, the fact that they didn't fix the resolution drop in the af-c mode, that's crazy. I had sony a7iii for couple years, my first mirrorless camera, but this was the ONE thing that made me switch back to Canon (R6) and honestly I now am sure I wouldn't want to switch to Sony again although I would really love to but this issue was taking so much fun and also safety away that I wouldn't want to put myself in the same situation again. BUT..I'm really happy that it does the great job for you and that you found your perfect camera. Plus btw really do enjoy the stuff you're putting out there lately, kind of compassionate with other fellow photographers. Take care

[@ggivensjr]

You said @ :50 that you sold A7R4 and used $$$ to buy A7R5. Then, @ about 4:40 you said "... I Still use the A7R4 ..." so which is it 😊

[@benjhaisch]

A7IV and I mentioned that I “used” the A7IV for all last wedding season.

[@kiv9431]

I’ll get a7rv in 5 years from now when the price drops enough, similarly to how I just got a7riv. More value for money 😅

[@heliscat]

Why tape over the sony name?

[@thewiseoldbird]

Probably for a cage. I do this if there is rubbing from the cage

[@C0n4rt]

U sold a7iv for an a7cr, but then u say u use an a7iv as your second camera to your a7rv. So did u sell your a7iv or are u lying

[@benjhaisch]

Huh? I did use my A7IV as my secondary camera to the A7RV, I sold it at the end of the 2023 season, and now have the A7RV & A7CR. Feel free to tell me timestamps where I messed this up if I did.

[@ProbeRoket]

Why cover the Sony logo?

[@benjhaisch]

I like to cover giant logos on my cameras. I’ve done this for years and years now

[@SimeonKolev]

7:40 it is not about the processing power, the sensor is the slowest on the market. It can't read fast enough to give you a smooth live view if it is not skipping many lines - that is why the IQ of the live view goes away. Try the A1 or A9III with the same viewfinder and you will see much better image while shooting. Actually the sensor was the thing that made me skip this camera because it is the worst... I love the tilt/flip screen, I love the AF, ... great body, but the sensor is a disappointment. Also I am a hybrid shooter and A7rV is not capable of shooting decent video. The noise is the worst, the line skipping is the worst, the rolling shutter is the worst... For stills and video the noise is the worst from all of the current models. The older 42mp sensor from the A7rIII was a better choice if you ask me, it is slightly faster, much better in low light... yes less megapixels but 42 is plenty. It just needed some new chipset and software. For the same price as the A7rV Nikon is selling the Z8 which has a 45mp stacked one... MUCH BETTER stuff.

[@benjhaisch]

Interesting, the camera is fine while continuously focusing in video and is great otherwise, so I’d be surprised to hear it’s the sensor. The A7IV did the same thing. I also noticed it when using the A9III ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@dimaphotographer90]

The worst sensor? Wow, that sounds like an over exaggeration, the sensor is absolutely beautiful, and the image quality is out of this world. Videos is more than just decent, not the best low light capabilities but still wonderful video quality. I simply can’t imagine switching to another brand because Sony offers so much and so convenient, not speaking about the lens selection.

[@lewcehjitl3282]

To be honest Nikon is light years behind in there Mirrorless system. The Nikon Z8 has the worst battery of all time not to mention a very low resolution view finder. It’s also huge and heavy, overall the Sony a7R5 is a better system to get into. Who shoots 20fps anyways? 😅. Sony, Canon, Panasonic. The top three best autofocus system in the market atm.

[@SimeonKolev]

@@dimaphotographer90 well I am a Sony shooter for years and this sensor is not my favorite. Reasons - it is not a hybrid camera. The video performance is the worst from the lineup.

[@SimeonKolev]

@@lewcehjitl3282 have you tried the Z8 :)? With the latest updates the AF is pretty close to the Sony. The battery is normal for a mirrorless camera, the display is better than the one on the Sony (the Sony tilt/flip thing is better, but the screen itself...). It has better ergonomics but yes it is not compact as the Sony. The viewfinder can be better but the A7rV lowers the resolution in the EVF so much (because of the slow sensor) that it does not matter that it has more pixels...

[@TomLally]

So its a better upgrade than the A7R3? hahaha

[@klarion]

"Whatever they're doing in processing it". ... they are processing a lot ...

[@CocoKoi321]

screens work for everything, i hate the pop up screen, wtf are you on about dude... people have been using flip outs for way longer then popup screens and the flip out screen works far more better then the other in ever scenario especially low to the ground vertical photo, get a grip dude. the flip out does everything and more by itself the pop up screen was literally originally designed for vloggers in mind NOT THE FLIP OUT SCREEN WHICH IS A PHOTOGRAPHERS SCCREEN

[@POVwithRC]

@@CocoKoi321 blah blah blah

[@AECH_CH]

The whole low light = bad noise is such a hoax it's really insane how this was planted into the brains of the community. Photographers are no technicians and "water bucket" metaphors don't really work for light either... There are a ton of debunking videos about this. This together with noise reduction AI basically tell us what was kind of obvious: More MP are just better (at least in terms of immage quality). Sure more MP = more Data and more expensive lenses and stuff, but ISO/low light performance doesn't have anything to do with pixel size on the sensor or anything.

[@Peterogen]

❤❤

[@m4rcin847]

5:45 - that's bullshit. Vlogging stuff is just one use for it. You can flip it with screen side to camera and have it perfectly safe while using viewfinder. You can also open it and use as a touch focus crosshair while looking at viewfinder. Flipping it 90degree up or down is obvious. You can also choose options to put your camera to sleep while closing the screen. I was always photography guy, didnt give a shit about dumb selfies or vlogging, but flip out screen is just better.

[@benjhaisch]

Bullshit? No, but I’m fine with people having differing opinions and use cases, this is just mine.

[@Simon-qt9nz]

🙌 Promo-SM

[@_o__o_]

can you make a short term review?

[@PhotoTrekr]

I agree. The A7RV is one of the best cameras out there. That's why I have two of them. I also have an A7RIVa, an A7CR and A7CII, and an a6600. If I was a professional photographer, the A7RV is definitely the camera I would use. I love Sony cameras and lenses. But, I'm not a professional. So, I'm selling mine. They are just more than I need. Which in all my years as a photographer (over 40) this is the first time I can say that about a camera.

[@Chris-w9m8e]

So you are using the smaller cii and cR? I’m trying to justify the A7RV (I own a A7c) as I don’t think the cR is worth the price. The RV gives so much more at a slightly higher price (compared to cR). I am a hobbyist lurking for high quality (I own high quality primes and a 70-200GMii) - not a pro. Your comment makes me think - maybe stick to the c … :/

[@PhotoTrekr]

@@Chris-w9m8e I always say, use what works for you. Unfortunately sometimes there's no way to know that without getting your hands on a piece of gear. And sometimes circumstances change. What worked best for you last year might not be the best for you this year. I'm getting older and looking to downsize my gear as much as possible without sacrificing image quality. You might have different requirements.

[@NT_1]

@@Chris-w9m8e I'm working on to get the 70-200GMII. I have the A7RV and 50 1.2GM. Love them so muvh the lens has never left the camera. Now all I need is that zoom beast.

[@astrostl]

Seems perfect. No soul. Not for me.