5 things I HATE: Sony a7R IV

UPDATE IN DESCRIPTION BELOW. The Sony a7R IV (sdp.io/a7R4) is, for me, the greatest camera ever made... but it's also DEEPLY flawed. In this video I count through my 5 biggest complaints so you can decide for yourself whether you can live with the problems BEFORE you spend thousands on a new camera.
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UPDATE: You CAN program the back dial to do exposure compensation - Camera 2, page 9, first Custom Key, set 1 to Exposure Comp. Then, just lock the EC dial at 0.
The reason I thought you couldn't do it is that Camera 2 , page 10, “Dial Ev Comp” lets you pick the front dial or the rear dial to act as exposure compensation, but not the d-pad rear dial, so I assumed it wasn’t an option. It's another example of poor design in the menu system: there are two menu items in different places that do almost, but not exactly, the same thing.

[@tinderbox218]

So you always complained about not having a locking exposure compensation dial, but now you're complaining that you have one? And now you want them to.... add a second unlocked dial next to it to do the same thing? 🤔❓

[@CharlieVN]

Tinderbox it's totally ridiculous. And the Canon shutter curtain doesn't block sensor dust, Tony is mistaken, it's made to block light for decay, not dust. I don't buy his complaint at all, DSLRs had tons of dust, try using a magnifying LED loupe that technicians use to clean sensors, your DSLR will have dust.

[@thestevewood]

I think what he means is that they should change it to a hold and turn mechanism. So you have to keep the button pressed down while turning it. That way it's fast but still protected.

[@BrianIrwin]

I think the problem is that many of these buttons move easily when you bump the camera. Like my Canon body, I can have it powered on at my hip all day and the shutter/aperture/Exposure Compensation stay set. After 5 mins of walking with the Sony, anything set to a wheel will likely have changed. I look forward to the lock button, but I think requiring a bit more pressure to turn the buttons would help too.

[@Reinisable]

@@CharlieVN Where do I buy this magnifying LED loupe? I need to assess my sensor's hygiene

[@CharlieVN]

@@thestevewood Sony got it right, press and hold is annoying, but it works well for some things, not with others. For event photographers where light conditions can change minute to minute, having it fully unlocked to change on the fly is crucial. The only time it really has trouble with accidental movement is when you put in or take out of your camera bag, those are the times it should be locked, especially with a tight bag. To claim it it normally wanders around is laughable.

[@aussie8114]

Sony please put a locking button on the exposure compensation dial. Sony why did you put an annoying locking button on the exposure compensation dial 😂

[@thetanbrahmavinashak5268]

These reviewers are really just here to put up a show.

[@toddbristol707]

I think the point here is, "Fix the ex comp so that it doesn't accidentally change, but (at the same time) keep the process of shooting natural". Perhaps a solution like, depressing the knob to twist would have been a better way to address it. Yeah, his response sounded a bit ... crazy lol, but I get what he's saying. The request was actually "fix the problems, but don't break up any natural flows that happen during creativity". Now, there will be trollers who say, "I have no problem pushing a button and then twisting, and then re-pushing the button..." (and for tech guys, we can always figure it out...) but i don't believe that's what he was trying to suggest. Just my thoughts...

[@rghurst]

I have a button assigned to Exposure Comp. I keep the dial locked and use the button/software to change setting. I can see what I'm doing in the viewfinder ... I very seldom us the rear LCD.

[@wmurnahan]

I must not be the only one that keeps hitting it (I have a a7ii). Caused more bad shots than any other tech problem.

[@noezzi]

It is VERY annoying when on a strap I have to check my A7iii to see if I accidentally adjusted my exposure compensation. Thank God for the dynamic range or I wouldve lost a lot of photos.

[@yianisarvanitis9115]

Tony : Why don't you put a locking button in exposure compensation dial in order not to change it accidentally? Also Tony : Why did you put a locking button in exposure compensation dial, now i have to unlock it first and i missed my shot.

[@foveacreative]

Yep. Waiting for him to complain that it can't drive his car for him.

[@foveacreative]

Also, the lock is a switch, you can put it in either locked or unlocked positions.

[@jimroby2k]

Hi Tony, I really appreciate you detailed reviews like this where you gnaw on the flaws even though you love the camera. Gives us the info necessary to make the informed decision re: purchasing new equipment. FYI, many of us live with somewhat flawed equipment because we can only afford new equipment every 4 or 5 years. For me now, eye AF and 5 axis stabilization are big deals. I will give up time in preparation (sensor cleaning, menu setup, etc) for a smoother shoot with use of those desired features. I really, really appreciate your reviews. Keep them coming.

[@ison5622]

2019, they should have a tiny little reservoir of isopropyl alcohol and a teeny tiny windscreen wiper in there to keep the sensor clean.

[@wikrap1]

Or air compressor with HEPA filter inside to repell the dust when the lens is off. :D

[@JohnSmith-gs4zv]

The camera should cremate the dirty sensor and then a teeny tiny sensor factory inside the camera will produce a new image sensor that replaces the old one. Problem solved!

[@the_black_douglas9041]

Wiktor Nowak maybe that’s what the speculated fan on the upcoming a7siii will be for?!!

[@evenhandedcommentor6102]

Dust eating amoeba's chained to the sensor.

[@ZeldagigafanMatthew]

@@wikrap1 Compressed air isn't a good idea with photographic equipment.

[@JoseMatutina1964]

For an expensive camera, why can't Sony add streaming capabilities. Not be able to watch my favorite Netflix shows on it is a deal breaker.

[@lyricsguy4645]

😂

[@robertslade3847]

You would at least think they could build a camera I can blow up Canada with.

[@OldMoneyAudition09]

This made me laugh

[@gcnphilly]

🤣

[@reggiehil]

Right! Ridiculous.. He wants another cellular monthly bill for his camera! 😂

[@user-gl4en4qr1y]

the sensor dust thing is driving me nuts........ so true.......

[@colhutchins]

Thankyou!! Finally someone addresses the dust issue. It's the number one and only reason stopping me from getting a sony. I do mainly nature based video where I change lenses outdoors, and pretty much every review I see of a sony camera done with a sony, has dust on it. That would do my head in coming from a DSLR. I hope that sony can fix it, because I otherwise love the specs and lenses.

[@solanum7359]

nice ignore the negative post ....

[@couchgaming5577]

1 thing I hate about it : I can’t afford it

[@bigmaxcc]

Admiral Akbar that’s the dumbest excuse I heard unless you know how to use the camera you might as well stick to a budget DSLR

[@Reise_Welt]

I hate you too

[@nevakee716]

problem is not really the price of the body, it's more the price of the lens in my opinion with nikon you have more cheap used option

[@bobceffo]

@@nevakee716 I just underwent that painful proces... if you don't do video Nikon has much more affordable lenses. the problem is that the ztf adapter make the lenses sooooo noisy. unusable for video. I hate that. I had to go sony

[@nevakee716]

@@bobceffo ah ok, didn't really do video, I plan to buy dji ronin sc and start a little bit, I mainly plan to use the 24-70S

[@rofljao]

You hate your camera because it doesnt backup raw files to the cloud? lol if you thought the buffering to memory cards was bad... I'd like to see it buffer 50 100MB raw files over cellular.

[@MerveDemirci]

:D :D :D :D

[@emko333]

@@MerveDemirci or the poor batter having to power wifi/cell signals ......... no thanks i can deal with HOOKING up a usb C cable to my computer i dont know why he must take out his "floppy cards"

[@DeadLead]

@@MerveDemirci Aha :). Özür dilerim ama bir pop şarkıcısının burada olmasını beklemezdim. Saygı duydum ve tüm şarkılarını büyük bir bekleti ile dinleyeceğim (progressive rock dinleyicisiyim).

[@audigex]

rofljao write to a built in SSD, then sync to the cloud at your leisure...

[@MerveDemirci]

@@DeadLead Selam :) Pop şarkıcısıyım ama yıllarca rock da söyledim, progresif olmasa da :) yakında pop ama biraz da rock bir şarkım çıkacak, teşekkürler destek için :)

[@TheSmartWoodshop]

Tony, all good points and Sony can and should address all of them. The one that surprised me was sensor dust. My wife and I have been shooting the Sony a7r since, well the a7r. We have purchased a pair of each version and currently, both have and shoot the a7rIV. We get sensor dust, but no more than when shot Canon up to and including the 1DX. I have all of the fancy sensor cleaning tools and have always kept our sensors clean since there were sensors to clean. We are not particularly careful other than turning the camera off and pointing the body opening down when switching lenses which we did with our Canon digital lineup as well. I have a lighted loop that I use to inspect our cameras, but no more than every 3 or 4 months. Sensor dust just has not been a problem in our experience, but we only have about 200,000 Sony shots between us.😎

[@Muchtoobizy]

I have commented before on one of Tony's videos about sensor dust on A7* cameras. I swap lenses regularly on my Sony bodies and dust is a minor issue for me. I have to clean the sensor sometimes; say once every three or four months when I notice a dust spot on my images. I wonder whether this is due to different atmospheric conditions, centrally heated homes (which dries the environment) or different materials used in camera bags that are more or less prone to static charge.

[@BrentODell]

I've only just switched to Sony, but already got dust in my A7Riii. I'm actually going to clean it tonight, so I'll have to see if it gets any more dust than I saw on previous brands(Fuji, Olympus, Nikon)

[@AJ-on-youtube]

I've also personally noticed that I somehow end up with sensor or lens dust more often with the a7r iv than I did with my old Canon DSLR.

[@moritzzoellner]

I even get sensor dust on my A7 IV, which has a sensor protection. It’s not as bad as it was in my old A73 and A7R3, but i still have to clean the sensor every few weeks

[@millerviz]

You're reminding me why I love film. Aperture, shutter speed, manual focus, auto exposure if I'm lucky, and only one exposure mode. So simple.

[@chowhar]

The Sony menu is a work of art.....abstract art!

[@icytropics8358]

Alan Ho-Yee 🤣

[@andrewgarcia940]

It’s such low hanging fruit. You could give this to a high school design student and it would be improved

[@java_bean]

Oh man that certainly is an appropriate description of it.

[@CharlieVN]

LMAO

[@JohnScaneArt]

That's not fair to abstract art - A Jackson Pollock painting makes more sense than the Sony Menu...

[@oddsman01]

Tony, can your next video be about not overusing a shallow depth of field?

[@matthewames792]

That was soooo annoying!

[@MrAtzula]

Tooo much

[@Gmon750]

I love that the Canon R body closes the shutter when the lens is removed to prevent dust from getting in. I'm surprised Sony doesn't do anything like that.

[@chrnaf]

Just pull the battery out before you swap the lens, and dont turn off the camera with the switch. The shutter will be down. ;)

[@pattespattes]

@@chrnaf that isn't convenient on wedding shooting 🤣

[@user-ym7kq8bd8k]

And what a beautiful colours Canon R creats right out of the camera in video that recorded this review

[@Mark-ig2hz]

Is this person using reverse psychology to sell me a Sony camera?

[@svg223]

LOL!!

[@AJ-em2rb]

He's incredibly smart, but equally stubborn/impatient.

[@pracquet]

Yeah, if these are the 'worst' issues with this high spec camera, it must be very good!

[@sharpskilz]

Did he just call an sd card a floppy disk?

[@TOPSPEEDRIDER]

may be this guy don't know about modern technology!!!!!! watch his go pro fusion video, he uses an under powered slim hp laptop that doesn't even have graphic card to render 5k video files

[@godsinbox]

may as well be, every other device has gone microSD card format but good ol' camera tech still has the 5.25" floppy disk equivalent.

[@sharpskilz]

@Nature Photography Show Should be sinch with the new DNA altering 5G :D

[@sergiollag1]

If one of the meanings of "floppy" is "flexible", then an sd card is a floppy disk.

[@morbo3000]

He was obviously being facetious. He was comparing smartphones where you don't even see how files are managed to the camera that has physical things that you have to move between the phone and your computer. The difference is comparable to going back to floppies.

[@prhayz1]

Mr. Northrup, you have a love/hate relationship with your subscribers. Sometimes they love you, others times they hate your guts. But that's because you are honest. I know, you are not perfect, but one can rest assured that you are going to call things as you see them. And if it turned out that you were wrong about something, you never hesitate to own it. Kudos to you, my friend.

[@NickCouryphoto]

Thank you for such an honest report. Totally agree that these should be simple fixes as firmware update!

[@garygrimes9846]

Absolutely the best and most useful review I have ever seen of anything! Thanks Tony! Your discussion of the sensor dust was especially eye opening! If Canon has the sensor shutter when the lens is off in their coming high megapixel camera like they have in the ESO R that will be the camera for me no matter what else Canon screws up. Sensor dust is by far the biggest problem with digital and to me it's more important than everything else put together. Thanks again Tony!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

You may have accidentally hit the sensor dust switch to ON. They should put a lock on this.

[@christianjackson]

The exposure compensation lock makes sense to me! I’m assuming you can leave it unlocked by just not locking it right?

[@CharlieVN]

Rocket science.... I came from cameras that this dial didn't exist...

[@thestevewood]

@@CockpitScenes maybe he means a lock button that you have to hold down while turning it. Quick and safe!

[@CarlBergsdorf]

Didn't Tony say his problem with the dial was that one could accidentaly turn it if not locked and when locked it took an extra second or so to change it. Maybe the solution here would be that Sony made the dial a bit less sensitive to turn?

[@CharlieVN]

Carl Bergsdorf the dial is already recessed and not sensitive.

[@cristibaluta]

@@CockpitScenes I was expecting the dial will work only as long as you keep the lock button pressed for example. Don't really know if will be worse though, don't have this problem with the normal dial.

[@cooloox]

Thanks for this video, Tony. Always good to hear the bad as well as the good. That sensor cleaning issue would drive me insane, but fortunately I don't shoot Sony. I'll be interested to hear what you think about the EOS R's face and eye-detection AF after the soon-to-be-released firmware update. It looks amazing from what Canon shows in its ad. If you test it side-by-side with the A7R4, please check image sharpness, not the face/eye-detection AF box on the screen. That is no guarantee of focus, it simply confirms the camera detected a face or an eye.

[@jaezryl]

When I started learning about photography I looked up to you but now I feel different. The capabilities of this camera are unimaginable 5 to 10 years ago. What else do you need for a product which has excessive specs for what it is intended for? Yes,to take photographs and video.

[@JohnRichardsonAuthor]

As someone who has used a Sony camera extensively for the past three years, I can say that going to a used Nikon DSLR system for surf photography has been just as bad if not worse than you describe Tony. The Nikon menus are crazy compared to the Sony. Thankfully, I can reference one of your time-stamped videos for help, but they initially made little sense to me. After a few weeks, I got used to them. As far as sensor dust, I've had to clean my Sony twice in three years. I always turn the camera off when changing lenses, and it may be helpful to remove the battery to remove any static charge from the sensor. My Nikon gets dust on the sensor too. It's just harder to clean with the mirror setup. My Sony has a nice wireless remote for off-camera triggering, while my Nikon uses a cable. For time exposures, I have to remember to lift the mirror and close the viewfinder; otherwise, I get blur and light leaks. Mirrorless doesn't have that problem. For street photography and shooting in churches, the ability to use a silent shutter on the Sony is terrific. My D800 shutter is so loud, it's embarrassing. Definitely not a street camera. Sony has a tilt screen, the D800 doesn't. My back appreciates that. But the most significant difference is the weight. Carrying a backpack with my Sony and a couple of lenses is nothing. Carrying my Nikon and some big glass is a whole lot heavier. Bottom line, a used Nikon is a great option when you want to use more expensive lenses as there are many more used lenses to choose from. Sony is a great all-around camera. It's perfect for street, fantastic for weddings, and gives excellent results in low light. It really comes down to what you get familiar with. Just create a time-stamped video on the A7R4, and you'll get fantastic traffic.

[@migueldelnorte]

You're comparing a Sony last generation camera VS a 2012 dslr...

[@tommilam1654]

I don't know how you can say that. My D750 is WAY easier.....

[@ArthurPJohnson]

You’ve made the great mistake of giving Tony’s very reasonable video a very reasonable answer. I share your feelings about Nikon menus, which I find just as frustrating as Sony’s. The saving grace for Sony is its configurability. Taking into account the TWO quick-menus (one for video, one for stills), the many configurable buttons, the my-dial and the my-menu, I hardly even need to use the “regular” menu during a session-and I love being able to switch between crop-mode and full-frame with the press of a button. My only real complaint is that I’d like 3-5 more configurable buttons or an extra dial, which would be the equivalent of 5 more buttons.

[@cooloox]

That's weird, I've always shot SLRs/DSLRs (Canon in my case) and I've literally never had dust on a sensor. On the mirror, a couple of times, on the sensor, never! You mentioned surf. If I was shooting surfers everyday then I'm sure dust would become an issue. I'm super careful to change lenses quickly (one in my hand ready to go on before the other comes off) and to have my back to the wind.

[@m.maclean8911]

If you compared this Sony to a D850 and not a dinosaur you wouldn’t have those complaints. Pressing 1 button to lock the mirror up (which protects the sensor) makes it harder to clean? The one time in 2 years you need to do it? I had a wireless trigger even back when I owned the D800. D850 shoots silent, has a tilting touchscreen, automatically sends your photos & videos to your phone, has dual cards, backlit buttons, fast and accurate focus tracking, huge buffer that doesn’t cripple the camera, long battery life, etc. You said carrying a “Sony with a couple of lenses is nothing” yet carrying a “Nikon with Big Glass is a whole lot heavier’. Since the glass is the heavy part of your gear, of course if you take Big Glass for the Nikon and small glass for the Sony it will be heavier, and you will get way better results with the big glass. LOL - try comparing the same things. When you carry Big Glass the difference in the weight of the body is meaningless. In fact the smaller mirrorless bodies do not balance as well when using Big Glass, and are much harder to hold and operate unless you have small hands. I don’t have small hands. I always have the grip on my D850 bodies. That’s one of the reasons why I bought the D850 after trying out the Z7 ... but there are a lot of advantages that made it an easy decision. One day Nikon will release a mirrorless that is geared for pros, capable of matching the performance of the D850. Hopefully it will be the same pro size as the D850.

[@Reise_Welt]

send me your Sony a7R IV, i will love it

[@vladepast4936]

As an iPhone user of course you love it!

[@abearah9255]

r/choosingbeggers

[@smaakjeks]

He loves it, too. Just not unconditionally.

[@speedbird737]

yep that won't happen !

[@michaels8597]

exactly..send it to me and watch me make it work well...

[@donaldkelley5785]

Excellent Review, Tony... Thank You !!!

[@DavidSkok1]

You are SO RIGHT. These are major frustrations. I hope Sony listens to you. Sony in case you are reading this, I own the A7r IV, A7r III, A9, A6400, (with A6600 on order), and RX100 Mk VII. There is much to love about what you are doing, and in many instances you are listening to your users. But this list of complaints has been around for a while, and has not yet been fixed. One of my top complaints, covered by Tony, is the poor way in which you handle the switch between stills and video. I far prefer what Nikon has done on the Z7 and Z6, where you have a switch to move between the two modes, and all the settings for each mode can be different. Of course as a video shooter, I want to fix my shutter speed at 1/50th or 1/60th of a second, but when I am shooting stills, I want to use Aperture priority mode. Trying to use the 1,2, and 3 settings on the mode dial is only a partial solution, and drives me mad. Despite all of this, I still love your products, - but PLEASE fix these issues. Thank you!

[@HesselFolkertsma]

That buffer-complaint is hilarious. You’re shooting off 40+ 61 megapixel photographs in RAW+JPEG to 2 cards! In a camera that fits easily in regular bags. Of course it buffers! What planet are you on?

[@wikrap1]

It's not the issue that it buffers but that it locks of some functionality which it could not to. For example when Canon DSLR is cleaning buffer You can change ANYTHING like AF mode, point, exposure parameters etc. As opposite Canon M5 was not able to even take another photograph. You need to wait for the full buffer clean until You could take another image which was ridiculous. Normal camera let you take a picture as soon as there is any place in buffer and let you change settings normally.

[@craiggagnon8407]

@@wikrap1 GTFOOH, normal camera's, which the a7riv kill, don't do even close to what this thing does, so who cares if they allow you to shoot while buffering. Tony is nitpicking for the purpose of making a video.

[@wikrap1]

@@craiggagnon8407 But he is mostly right - there is no ideal camera system at the moment. Anything has some flaws even if it's the best on the market. I care if I can shoot while buffering cause I'm a reporter and it was holding me back.

[@kevchallis2371]

I found this complaint ridiculous... if you shoot sports properly you don’t even fill the buffer. Tony literally just filled the biofeedback on purpose, what is this 10fps or something? He shot for 5 seconds lol, what sports do you shoot for 5 seconds haha... crazy complaint

[@wikrap1]

@@kevchallis2371 I write again it's not the matter of fully filling the buffer but that some options are unavailable if anything is in the buffer so if You shoot a 5 shots seriers You are freezed for a couple of seconds before You can for example switch to APS-C or change AF mode and there is no reason for it because it's technically possible to handle it. It's a software weakness and it is serious in some situations.

[@stevekdigitalworx]

I appreciate the video, but a lot of these felt like an old man yelling from the porch (and I think I'm older than Tony, so I'm familiar with the practice). And for those who want the TL;DR version: #5 Buffering - 1:40 #4 Lack of Connectivity - 4:13 #3 Controls are bad, mmmk - 8:57 #2 Sensor dust - 12:11 #1 Menu system - 15:15

[@cooloox]

All valid criticisms. It just depends on what you're used to how much it would annoy you. Having never had sensor dust on any camera, that would put me off instantly. I think the rest I could live with.

[@MichelSchmitt]

@@cooloox Thats impossible with digital camera's unless you never changed a lens in the wild. I never noticed much difference with Canon, Nikon and Sony. I got dust with all of them.

[@richard5005]

Tony Yes! I agree; Menus really need to be improved. Dust can be a problem especially if one makes a living with their photography. Post process take time and time is money. With your evaluation of the Sony system ,hopefully,Sony will make the necessary changes to improve work flow. After all these Sony camera aren’t cheap. I shot Nikon and Canon in the past so much easier to navigate and understand the menu system. I’m locked 🔒 into Sony , so I have to make the best of it and hopefully Sony will address some of the issues you pointed out with software or next model updates. Meanwhile let’s keep doing what we love , photography. Good job 👍

[@garymanning4578]

Interesting, my X-T4 gets dust on the sensor regularly compared to my previous XT models. Perhaps the ibis system is generating some form of static, attracting dust aggressively. Just a thought. Bit of a pain whatever the answer. However like your love of the Sony I feel the same about the T4 that the fantastic qualities outweigh some of the frustrations.

[@jasonpalmer2497]

Well that's something to think about. 🤔 But that aside what's it like on the 200-600mm 😁

[@davva360]

I get so tired of hearing about the Sony Menu. Yes there are a ton of options on it, but if one option was missing boy would people complain. I use a custom Function menu, custom buttons, and use the My Menu feature and hardly ever have to go digging through the remaining menu. I really don't get the constant complaints about it. My only complaint is some of the options are a bit cryptic as to what they actually do. If you shoot Sony for a while and set up My Menu with the options you use it really should not be an issue anymore.

[@Gigchip]

I feel that the "Sony menu" hate comes from people not wanting to learn how to work the menus. I feel the same frustration when I got a Panasonic camera and even Canon. Hated the menu system from them when I first opened them. Then I still used it, and got used to them, learned where to find what I needed. This is coming from me having used Sony since the NEX period. So I've been accustomed to their menus, and find them easy to navigate.

[@nazukeoya]

There's a self-cleaning vibration feature in the alpha cameras that you can use before and after shoots, that might take care of most of your dust issues on the sensor.

[@davidmonro-jones4191]

Great review, as always. Out of curiosity, if you could only choose one camera between the A7r iv and the D850 (with relevant 200-600 or 200-500 lens), what would you choose? I love the specs of the A7R ivA but the ergonomics are not as good as the D850. Your thoughts would be very welcome. Thanks, David

[@TakeNoteMusic]

Had some thoughts after watching: 1) Yeah, sure, the buffer fills up. But consider you took at least 45 continuous shots at 61 megapixels and it doesn't seem so crazy. I shoot sports and RARELY, EVER shoot more than 15-20 continuous frames. You just don't need to hold that button down like that. And if you are, that's another issue entirely. 2) You made a lot of comparisons to the fact that your phone wireless backs up pics to the cloud. Again, going back to 61 megapixels, and it doesn't seem so crazy that the camera is missing that wireless feature. iPhones, for all of their photographic power, are not professional cameras. They don't have the settings, functions, pixels, and overall customization that is housed in a pro body. I'll admit they should have GPS on a camera like this, but comparing the A7R IV to your Apple Watch -- which I don't think takes pictures -- is a bit of a stretch. 3) 360 flip touchscreen should be universal at this point. People don't mind the extra heft on a camera body if it means they don't have to lay on the ground and navigating menus is easier. Trust me. 4) Yeah, that menu sucks. UNTIL you set it up yourself. The best camera is the one you know how to use. But, it's important to remember pro cameras are complex computers. They take time to get used to. When I switched from my little Rebel T3i to the 5D lineup, there was a learning curve. Even in the same camera ecosystem. Flipping back and forth between different camera manufacturers means you won't ever have everything you want in a camera.

[@s87343jim]

For some, and for me that are really annoying though. I can live with small buffer, but not able to change a lot of function while it is clearing the buffer just doesn't make sense. Also as for menu and how deep it is just doesn't make sense. Sure, it will be only if you are the only user for the camera but it doesn't happen if it is in company and shared between different videographers/photographer. What he said about it is a pain to change MSAP in menu for movie doesn't make sense neither.

[@BluesImprov]

Hey Matt. . .I'm an older photographer (started out in the film days) and I absolutely LOVE the advancements in camera tech . . .You're comments are some of the best I've read, but I must say that many of the others really sound almost silly. The ability to take fantastic photos with almost any camera these days is terrific. But the complaining and nit-picking that I read in many comments sounds like a spoiled child stamping his feet because he didn't get everything he wanted for Christmas. If someone considers themselves a good photographer they should be able to take an "older" DSLR out and still come back with some amazing photos. Yes, the newer "higher-tech" cameras will make it easier to do that, but it almost sounds like people aren't going to be happy until their camera damn near does everything for them. Don't get me wrong, I really love all the new advancements, I just think people should really appreciate how great cameras are these days, and quit complaining so much. Technology will continue to evolve, cameras will keep getting even more amazing, but in the meantime just get out there and get some great shots with the cameras you already have (or can afford). I have a young neighbor who is just getting into photography. She cannot afford the latest and greatest equipment and she's wondering if maybe this just isn't something she should pursue. She showed me her camera and some of her photos. . .No, she doesn't have the latest and greatest camera and lenses. . .BUT what she does have is a great eye and visual talent. I've encouraged her and told her NOT to listen to the people who have told her she can't get great shots because her camera isn't the latest or as good as theirs. I told her to just continue to develop as a visual artist with the camera she has, and when she can afford the latest tech she'll really be ready for it. It just seems the obsession with specs and tech these days has kind of gone over the top. I work with a guy who constantly talks about the specs of his camera. He showed me some of his photos and believe me they were NOT special in any way. He laughed when I told him the camera I was using at the time. . .and he NEVER asked to see any of my work. He just assumed my photos couldn't be any good and he wasn't interested in seeing them. . .And he then started spouting the specs of the newest camera he was going to buy next. I'm just getting tired of that kind of attitude that I'm running into more often these days. But you made some good points, especially that the best camera is the one you know how to use. . .You're so right!

[@wikrap1]

@@BluesImprov It's just that the tech is so amazing but there are some limitations which are not the tech limitations but kind of a bad design and could not exist. That's the frustration. I don't know the solution to get additional 5EV of dynamic range but can imagine that fully articulating screen would be helpful and can't imagine why it's not there as it's not a rocket science. Just a simple hinges and flexible signal tape. That's the source of frustration.

[@drwalka10]

Great breakdown !

[@m.maclean8911]

BluesImprov - When you go from a DSLR that has a huge buffer that doesn’t cripple the camera, to a newer model that does, you obviously miss the feature. Could be nit-picking but only if you don’t care about the feature. For many it is a deal breaker.

[@AstroLaVista]

I think you need a board meeting with Sony about these issues. I mean a real board meeting, not a Camera Conspiracies board meeting.

[@anoophcl]

Lol right

[@ACDGibson]

Have a real board meeting and show them a camera conspiracies board meeting 😂 Board meeting inception! 😂😂

[@cloudiow]

HAHAHAHah good one man also Sony should bring Camera conspiracies on the board meeting aswell

[@alexmilesg3]

Oh man, you really hit the nail straight on its head. Thanks!

[@christopherfugle6592]

100% agreed. Even as a hobbyist I go crazy with the complicated menus. My OMD-EM5II now feels clear and simple after Sony's mismatch menus.But you nailed it on the head with the compressed font and iconography issues. They need to reprogram the entire system for a clearer icon based menu option or at least a check box on the existing menu items when you hit the back dial (right click) to add all needed preferred items to an icon based system with touch screen ability. Then allow one to flip back and forth between scrolling old menus and touch based icons. Memory chips are cheap and available and compact enough to have onboard storage for the buffer to flush faster and then slow write to sd card afterwards. Imagine a 1 gig memory chip with fast access to the sensor output, that then frees up shooting and camera operations, as it then buffers from internal memory to slower storage (sd cards). Olympus' sensor shake tech is excellent to Sony PAY Olympus big bucks for access to it (thus helping Olympus bottom line) but tell me why a reverse drop down protection cannot be made to work to protect the innards from dust when ever the lens release button is used. Make it tacky enough to trap dust and dirt then on lens attachment snap back up out of the way. It's not like there is an optical pathway being used on a mirrorless system. Jeez even a Pentax K1000 slr had flocking inside to trap dust. And move that release to the other side of the camera to prevent accidental lens removal please. I have large hands and 3 times now have pressed the shallow button only to have my left hand grab a falling lens in a panic. And lastly make the flip screen OLED based for a brighter (but not washed out) low energy use display matching the viewfinder resolution... How is it they can create a miniature super high rez finder monitor but still use a 2K low rez back screen? It's like buying a Porsche but it only comes with Civic eco tires. Let's hope Sony is listening.

[@viperstinger77]

Too late canon about to take it away from sony..sony had a good run while it lasted.

[@Mtj622]

I don’t get how you have such an issue with sensor dust, I’ve owned these Sony cameras for a long time and only once had to clean my sensor after a windy day at the beach. Just be more careful when switching lens and get an air blower.

[@sthalxndr]

When you do these types of videos, can you put the “list” in the description with time stamps? That would be helpful!

[@siamak1246]

Thanks for picking these issues. I am actually suffering these sony's issues for long years, especially the ancient menu which is exactly the same as 20 years old camcorder.

[@eastonchang]

Another great video Tony! Do you know what the maximum SD card speed the camera can write to? I am looking at grabbing a pair of UHS-II SD cards but they can be had for up to 300mb/s variants which I'm not sure the 7R4 can actually handle.

[@dandonovan1]

The exposure compensation dial seems ideal to me. You can have it locked OR unlocked with a simple button push of a button.

[@adampoll4977]

Exactly. Why would you want to reprogram it to another, NON-lockable dial? His argument made no sense at all.

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

I never use it. It's on the back dial as it was on my 7AIII.

[@Hazard4Tactical]

We're product designers and we hate to hear people defending products by saying the user should adapt; The point of a product is to make work better and every criticism is valid. Otherwise we'd still be using flip phones in 2019.

[@peterlemke3468]

Spot on where were the UX/UI designers and beta testers for this camera? Not just the menus but the whole body ergonomics are sub optimal.

[@mikldude9376]

@@peterlemke3468 Agreed , and coming back to the wifi functions , Bluetooth and interconnectivity and user friendliness with other devices , it really is just bad .

[@CharlieVN]

what in blazes is this nonsense? Apple does things differently than Android and vice versa. Surely, both have flaws, but complaining about certain issues like the expo comp or youtuber screen without context is bonkers. I'de love to have the S1H screen, but pick between articulating screen vs tilt is fairly easy for me, tilt all day. Panasonic recognizes this issue very well, the tilt screen is MUCH faster for dynamic shooters. it also lowers your footprint, but it also has flaws. Pick your poison or the S1H, best of both worlds. Even canon doesnt do articulating screens all the time, their M cameras offer tilt screens..... so Canon must be doing it wrong......

[@carlraetzsch]

Coincidentally, the a7r iv uses the flip phone keyboard

[@stacybehrens7152]

W N You actually make phone calls with your smartphone? How... quaint I’ll take a computer that happens to also make phone calls over a dedicated phone that can’t do much else any day of the week.

[@Direkin]

How does it get so much dust on the sensor even when leaving the lens on?

[@LadyFairChildVideo]

hes a vlogger , he constantly has those cameras without lenses, for show purposes. then blames every day use. i have several A7R cameras, and none of them have sensor dust.

[@JeahnLaffitteAdventures]

Thanks for this helpful rant Tony! I’m glad I don’t have to do it now. Very thorough. Let’s hope Sony really works on these things.

[@mtpicasso1982]

Thank you Tony, now am sure to be very amazed when i pick it up friday :) Coming from the A7r II

[@Crystalix007]

CameraConspiracies hate incoming with that constant raising things to the camera.

[@michaellundphotography]

Crystalix007 I was thinking that too 😂😂

[@ACDGibson]

And that's why Tony is going do this more often 😂

[@carmenragas5365]

Camera Conspiracies the only real camera review

[@bianchirider....neverendin8532]

Fantastic and informative review. If only everyone could highlight such issues in products that we just want to use and love. Many thanks. Great work.

[@mandohuerta73]

Hi Tony. Love your videos. Question: I’m having a tough time deciding what Sony camera to buy. I already have the a7iii and I mostly shoot weddings. I’m happy with 24 mp, but would love to have additional reach with my lenses (Super 35 mode) with a good amount of MP. I can’t decide between the A7riii and the A7Riv. I would appreciate your input. Also does the A7Riv allow us to switch how many MP we can shoot with in RAW? Thank you.

[@town3]

Tony, all I want is a PREFECT CAMERA lol.

[@joejoe4games]

A good UX designer could fix most of those issues... the sensor dust one is the real dealbreaker here...

[@israelgroves]

It’ll never happen! I’m pretty sure that the camera companies work together to make sure. In fact, there was a board meeting about that… * fade to black *

[@bobceffo]

winner :)

[@TexMex421]

Tony seems to want to make a living from his videos rather than making them to make me personally happy! Bastard!

[@israelgroves]

TexMex, the comments on this post are referencing the ultra-hilarious Camera Conspiracies KZbin channel.

[@gasparole]

Sony, will you please snap a 5G modem, a Sony Xperia phone as a display, get rid of the card slots and put a second battery there instead. Thanks

[@noname0858]

Great video. I appreciate the critical and nuanced evaluation. Distinguishes your content from that of many others!

[@paullevesque3543]

Argh...sensor dust. Thank you for mentioning this. When I switched to Sony I thought I was going crazy with the constant sensor dust. It is so much! I’ve come to just expect to be removing a few dust spots from every photo I put through my editing workflow. I hardly ever had this problem with my Olympus em-1.

[@markcowart6887]

I spent 7 hours at an air show Saturday in windy conditions using an A9 and 4 different lenses. No noticeable sensor dust. I have yet to use more than air on my A9 and A7RIII after almost a year using them for outdoor weddings and portraits. But I don’t shoot video.

[@JeremySmith23]

mark cowart if you have dust you will only see it if you stop down your lenses. Best way to tell if you do is to shoot a blue sky at f8 or higher.

[@OlegKorsak]

never cleaned a sensor and dust is not an issue with my A7RIII , being on the street, Iceland, beach and events.

[@_rhapsodist]

you might have to visit an optician

[@OlegKorsak]

@@_rhapsodist u might go and f urself

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Well that escalated quickly

[@rogerfleming1121]

I have only occasionally had a problem. But I am paranoid when I change lenses. Always turn the camera off (if I remember) and have the replacement lens ready and in hand. There is a sensor cleaning function. Just shakes the sensor. But I think you can only configure it to automatically work when you turn it off. Would be better to have it operate when you turn the camera on; after changing lenses. But I worry that shaking the lens only moves the dirt around. Maybe off the sensor, but still in the camera. Same with the shutter closed of course. The dust lands on the curtain, but then what?

[@MikeVanGorkom]

Wow, this video is so spot on! I’m so glad to hear someone discuss the connectivity, app/software, and menu issues with Sony Alpha cameras. Sony could be light years ahead if they spent as much time on software as they do on hardware. Just look at how software is propelling mobile phone cameras. Computational photography is the future, and Sony’s software and connectivity are stuck in 2010. Thanks for such a a great video!!

[@daltonrandall4348]

All of these things are so, so true. This is one of my favorite videos of yours. Thank you for saying what needs to be said... most KZbinrs are way too scared of offending companies and won't be straight up with their audiences. A+

[@jimmyqballs]

I agree on the dust issue. They should have made some mechanism that closes when you go to change lenses. But the exposure wheel lock is fine, I accidentally hit my A9's exposure wheel constantly lol

[@cooloox]

I've never understood how anyone can accidentally turn a dial. Is this when using the camera, or when pulling it out of (or putting it into) your camera bag?

[@jimmyqballs]

@@cooloox It's not while using the camera, it's while taking it out of the bag, walking around with it on my hip, etc etc. It happens literally every time I use either of my A9's lol

[@LucasPetersWriter]

Heck yes. I mostly shoot with an A7iii and often click the exposure wheel taking it in/out of a bag or walking around while it’s resting on my hip.

[@marcdaniele5305]

I almost never get sensor dust on my A7Riii or a6500 so I'm surprised I hear it's an issue for you and others.

[@Pochi1]

It is a big issue. I am always blowing out the dust before a paid shoot. The one time I forgot there was like 5 areas on the sensor with dust.

[@gregriegler5778]

These are many of the same reasons keeping me from going back to Sony. I've been a canon shooter forever, moved over to Sony for a while, but got aggravated with the system and having to change things on the fly is not fun. I can easily get to the base settings I need all the time with my 5DmkIV, but I do miss the megapixels from the Sony side.

[@romcomomg]

Ihr könnt sie einfach nicht bedienen

[@gerardosanchezvigil4683]

Thank you for your comments, really helpful to me.

[@jaynjacksonfan]

You are so right about their confusing menu and settings naming my god

[@rusparmesan]

I hate sensor dust on my A7 III. I only have one lens, always on the body, still sometimes get new dust on the sensor. The hack with closed shutter like on EOS R should be possible with the firmware update, but will Sony do it?

[@CharlieVN]

Максим Бакулин it wasn't designed for sensor dust.... Where does dust on the shutter blades go with the lens mounted?

[@1lifeonearth]

Dam I dont ever change my lens on my a7iii, only 1 week of extreme shooting but haven't seen dust yet. I hope I dont.

[@CharlieVN]

@@1lifeonearth dust gets in everything, even fixed lens cameras.

[@Soundwave857]

I would rather have a bit of dust on the protection glass in front of my sensor then dust in the shutter mechanism

[@rusparmesan]

@@Soundwave857 is shutter mechanism really that delicate?

[@ScottJWaldron]

Interesting video, thanks for the details. Haven't been able to try a mark IV out yet. I did know Sony's app is rough from trying it with an A7iii. They really need to work on that. Canon's app is actually really nice with recent cameras. Pretty much full control of photo and video remotely on a cheap Canon EOS M50 that I use. Though, I think Panasonic is the leader in their app functionality from what I've seen (haven't tried it personally).

[@JonniArmani]

Nailed it- A lot of the older cameras actually used to have built-in memory I’m not sure why we got away from that and you’re right the app is kind of clumsy which is why I’ve kept my A7Rii

[@croasdail]

Ok...... the menu thing... I've been shooting Sony now for about three years. I hardly ever need to go into them. I have my setup, and it works for majority of conditions. The exposure compensation know complaint is a bit odd - you decide if it is locked or not... not a camera problem. That said, dust is a bonafide issue. Its one that almost had me leave Sony. Dust in images is such a time waster. And sometimes is to the level that it damages the images to the point of not being worth fixing. I've kinda solved the problem by using anti-static air spray to clean the sensor. Works every time, and sensors stay clean for a lot longer. But I also know it isn't advised to spray concentrated air directly on the sensor.... but it works so I keep doing it.

[@AndySomething]

I'm looking forward to you reviewing the new eye af firmware update for the eos r and how it compares to the sony's now!

[@marcellives]

Andy Mckay I did and the Canon EOS R with firmware 1.4.0 beats Sony’s eye autofocus by a mile. Canon is seriously stepping it up!

[@AndySomething]

@@marcellives That's really interesting. I was looking at picking up the a7iii but I might look at canon again now that they have made a big improvement like this.

[@PentaconSixExpert]

Tony, THANK YOU so much for producing this review. I hope that it will motivate Sony to get these things right. I have an A7R ii, but won't be changing to the A7R iv because of its many defects. Sony should recruit you as a consultant, and then implement your recommendations!

[@benjaminfunder]

Hi, most relevant review video ever. I totally agree on your “connectivity” & “menu” critics. Thanks!

[@miket.1933]

Tony I'm still waiting for a full review. Is that asked too much?

[@waltervanlille2263]

For me, the connectivity complaints are valid, as well as the functionality lock on buffering, and flip-screen limitations. The exposure lock complaint sounds like complaining for the sake of complaining. Ditto with the menu system. I learnt the Sony menus, and between the customisable quick menus and just learning where my most used items are kept, I really have no issue with Sony menus. In fact, if I had to choose between Sony menus and Olympus menus, I much prefer the Sony. Sensor dust issue? I don't know if you're just unlucky or if I'm lucky (or more careful), but I've only had to clean my sensor twice in a year's worth of use of my Alpha cam.

[@jimbass2127]

I've had my A73 for a year and only cleaned the sensor once, and I've taken 9234 shots (per LR). Never had an issue with the menus after I created my custom star menu. It can get tricky moving between this and my Canon 7DII, which I use for bird photography, but I think I will live.

[@iancselwood]

Hi Tony, thanks for this detailed appraisal, is the regular sensor cleaning you have needed to do a quick session with the blower brush, or more involved cleaning?

[@phillgriffith]

You speak my language here. I have the A7RIII and A9 - all of these issues are so prevalent on these bodies as well - in particular sensor dust and hitting that exposure adjustment dial - I had thought the lock on the IV would have fixed it, but clearly has just introduced new issues. All of the other issues are so true for the older bodies as well - and it is a shame Sony has not addressed these. BUT, I love the cameras. I was a dedicated full-frame Nikon user and I loved those cameras, until I switched to Sony. Design wise, terrible, but as a basic photographic tool ,they are great. Finally, I cannot agree more about binary reviews - thanks for being so pragmatic and "human". Good stuff.

[@TheTonny1310]

I can live with most of what is mentioned. But I can't live with dust on the sensor as a "normal" thing.

[@chompystraws6838]

I really appreciate this video. I've been debating on getting the Sony a7riii and the nikon d850. I currently have a nikon d810 and I've used sony 6000 in the past. I was leaning towards mirrorless, but maybe I should wait a bit to see how more further they go.

[@cotomaznaczyc]

I'm really surprised to hear about the sensor dust issue. I've owned three sony bodies now (a6300, A7R2 and A7R3) and despite being a serial lens changer I've never had sensor dust issues on them (although I've only owned my A7R3 for a month now so it might be too early to make conclusions). In fact, the only camera I constantly have had sensor dust issues with was my Nikon D800.

[@mvpro2k8]

The average ISP uplink in United States is 3Mbps-10Mbps. It will take 1 week to upload 1 x 128Gb RAW file photo session into a cloud without an SD card.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

You don't have to eliminate a feature because the worst case scenario isn't ideal. 5G upload speed is 1,250 MB/s. a7R IV JPG files are 28 MB. So, you could upload 45 JPG files per second across cellular. My home WiFi does 500 Mbps (62 MB/s) so I could still do 2 JPGs per second. You could choose to upload more compressed JPGs while storing raws locally, or they could upgrade to a more modern compressed image format, like HEIC, which would greatly reduce the bandwidth requirements.

[@siyangqiu1]

@@TonyAndChelsea that 5G speed is a theoretical limit and even then only on the wide band mode which basically requires line of sight to the tower (you can block it with your hand!).

[@JeremySmith23]

Tony & Chelsea Northrup when 5g becomes ubiquitous that would be great. As it is however, 5g only exists in a few US cities and isn’t even supported by the iPhone 11 pro.

[@iforgotmyusername0]

@@siyangqiu1 true.. ISPs wont even give average consumers even a fraction near that. lol!

[@valdemarcaballero5298]

@@TonyAndChelsea what happens when you are in a desert? come on....

[@bernios3446]

After shooting away dozens of 61MP images in machine gun style, the buffer has to clear. What about only shoot as much as you need? I mean even in sports? Who wants to wade through hundreds of nearly identical photos to find out the 3 or 4 perfect ones? Those are ridiculous expectations. Probably it is a KZbinrs job to complain for the sake of complaining. Nothing to do with good or less: with professional photography. A pro shooter does not have hours of time to transfer and select in hundreds or thousands of photos what he hasn't got right at the time of shooting. If this goes on, in a few years people will shoot 20fps for 2 minutes to cover an entire race or whatever, they will then have 2400 shots. Then they will complain that after 2:01min the new Sony will start to stutter whereas the Nikon (if they are still around) will go on shooting at slow 6fps till the card is full. Then they complain that they cannot let the camera select the best pic via A.I. and automatically get it edited in- camera and uploaded to the web. Then why can the camera not simultaneously shoot stills at 20fps and record video at 4k 120p??? What a lamer. By the way 4k is so 2016, I expected 6k by now, what is Sony thinking? "Deeply flawed"? Honestly, I think this kind of apoproach to photography is "deeply flawed". But this is - of course - only my personal opinion, and yet have a nice Christmas. Those are only first world problems.

[@rdavidmarks1184]

Well said.

[@sergiogonzalez618]

He rapid fired like 30 shots 😂 it seems like he is a perfect customer for the A1

[@nathanmoore7120]

@@sergiogonzalez618 😂🤣😂

[@home.insiders]

I do Motorsports and Airshows. Not unusual to do 5,000 plus images in a week. Buffering is a huge deal to me. This is why i use Nikon D5 and D500 bodies. Yes the buffers fill but they right quickly and I can still access menus and shoot during the coping to cards. With Nikon now support CF express cards buffering has become a thing of the past.

[@renatocustodio1000]

Please, review the new eye AF from Canon that was released this week for the EOS R.

[@m1kel]

but no dslr can switch to cropped mode so... buffering?

[@enzopianelli6081]

Tony you're freaking awesome. Love the no bullshit review. The dust killed it for me. I can live with the buffering and the PlayStation Japanese Logic menu system but dust...no way. Wow! Thanks man. Keep them coming!👍

[@ryansatterlee1278]

I agree I can't live with having to clean my sensor once or twice a day that would get on my nerves real quick

[@b3lievenhopephotography578]

@@ryansatterlee1278 it can also get expensive as the good swabs to clean em aren't cheap either. sometimes u need to use multiple sensor swabs to get it completely clean because after one use its contaminated

[@BucNasty32]

Oh you poor bastard thinking this was a legit review. Lol. The sensor dust thing is complete garbage. Shoot landscapes and wildlife and never once had issues even chasing lenses while out. So many other shooters have the same dealing except for Tony mr KZbinr first photographer second. Lol.

[@PhullyNo1]

Nope been with Sony for 4 years and these are all legit. You may be slightly fussy about the exposure button, but the rest is true. Funny the menu used to be easier back with NEX series. Sony tech is great but it’s like the language used in the camera was translated like 6 times before it ended with English.

[@klarion]

it's only gotten more complex because they listen to huff'n'puff reviewers. I mean, they're Japanese... they have a totally different view of the world. "What do you mean you need an icon, you can't read?"

[@510BIGD]

For a person that used to be semi professional in photography, a long long time ago, this video really was helpful. Hade zerod in on the Sony brand, but you confirmed what I already had figured out. Sonys menu and settings will take the fun out of it. I don't mind learning new things, and don't want a point and shoot, (which I was looking at the Sony RX1007) but as you pointed out there menu setting need alot of work, And that's on pretty much most of the cameras, and since my memory is in the toilet these days I think another brand is in the running, what that is ....more research. Thanks

[@Astrovulcan]

I'm looking to upgrade significantly, and am stuck between the traditional Nikon D850, Canon 5D Mark IV, and the mirrorless Sony A7rIV. I've looked into comparisons, but now I'm seeking personal experience. Which one would users recommend?

[@retropixer]

8:16 there's your answer for why there isn't better "smartphone-like" connectivity options on the cameras. Better to use the stored amps to power the camera to take more pictures, than to be syncing with cloud services. That said, I agree that there's still room for overall improvement and the current state of the app is just embarrassing.

[@quite1enough]

And what about sensor dust issues on other systems, like Fuji (X-T3 etc) and Panasonic (GH5 etc)?

[@chcomes]

Not sure why, but years of m43 just seldom dust problems. And I change lenses all the f time.

[@JessDemant]

@@chcomes small sensor

[@chcomes]

@@JessDemant could be yeah

[@carlopixels7512]

I own an xt3 and in the near 12 month of owning it I haven’t had dust sensor issue

[@quite1enough]

@@carlopixels7512 if that's the case, then my wish to switch to fuji has some sense after all... I have a6400 with kit 16-50 and I had a sensor dust issue, but lens was never detached before lol Moreover, when I tried to clean, it was very hard to do so, I forced to do at least two wet cleanings

[@howardtiersky9596]

Hey Tony! Great Video. Many helpful points. Just want to throw in a few thoughts. .First, you definitely CAN set the back dial to adjust exposure compensation, that's one of the options on Camera 2 Page 9 that you can set for custom key #1 (which is the display dial even tho its not a key). Maybe since you have a review unit you are still on some pre-release firmware but in the production version I have this works 100%. Im not sure i understand your concern about the EV dial tho.. i dont think the risk of accidentally hitting it is very great when using the cameras-- no more so than the main rear dial for example which is used for aperture or shutter.. in fact its harder to turn than that. Isnt the idea of the lock that you can lock it when you for example put it in your bag? Furthermore the EV is shown prominently in the display so its easy to see if its off (not to mention you can tell by just looking at the image).. so not to diminish the validity of your own experience, but Im shooting with it and Im not seeing the problem. Second, yes the help system example you show is ridiculous HOWEVER Id not want to put people off hitting that garbage can help icon.. many of the descriptions ARE helpful. Yes they can be better.. but its a good system and Id give it at least a B+, far from worthless. Third, yes the menu system can be made better... BUT I do think that with all the ways to customize this camera, it is an overcome-able problem.. perhaps you could do a video about how to overcome it? Suggestions for taking advantage of custom buttons and the My Menu, best things to put in the function menu, etc. (tho Im sure you've covered some of those in your general overview of course). But I also keep wondering- when will we just be able to control cameras by voice anyway? Why cant i just SAY "Exposure Comp plus 1 stop" .. or "turn on DRO," etc.. so I dont have to take my eye away from the viewfinder or fumble with ANY buttons or menus. I think Sony has the opportunity to leapfrog all of this by embracing voice. Of course its not appropriate in all situations (wedding ceremony, noisy environment) but still, the camera is generally very close to the mouth when the eye is at the viewfinder, so you could prob enable it to work with even a low volume voice and even in moderately noisy environments. And of course voice "search" for on-screen settings. would also be the optimal way to get around the soft keyboard problems. To your point about the illogic of the exposure mode settings being "soft" for the video mode vs "hard" for the usual photo shooting situation... this is a tricky one.. My guess is that Sony has realized that there are many advantages to having "soft" exposure modes-- for example this enables the 1-2-3 modes on the hard dial to be assigned any combination of settings incl different exposure modes. But on the other hand, it would be too big a break from tradition to come out with a camera without a hard dial that gives you the usual S-A-P-M options, so they are in kind of a hybrid. I do agree that a separate video vs still mode where your other settings stay in place does kind of make sense, but on the other hand this gives you the ability to define standard settings for video (incl exposure mode) and go to those with one click. I'd also add two of my own pet peeves #1--for all the indicators and icons the camera has, there are 2 very important ones missing. Id like an indicator to show if I am in APSC-Crop mode or FF (otherwise the only way is to toggle and see what happens if the image gets bigger or smaller).. And #2 is kind of tiny but when you are registering a face you have to take a photo of that face right there when you are registering it... uh, is there a reason i cant just point to a photo ive already taken, zoom in to the face and then say- register face? Also it would be nice to be able to NAME your MyMenu menus. Sony names their menus (tho some poorly) so clearly they get the value. Why can't i name mine? Lastly, whats up with the whole area of downloadable apps for the cameras? I know they killed the prior generation (and it was clunky) but will this be replaced with anything? Huge oppty for cool stuff. Would love it if there was a simple scripting language so you could write a very simple sort of "macro" - for example for lightening, something that says that if the brightness increases by more then 3 stops within 1/25th of a second, or a script that brackets shutter speed if you are playing with long exposure and want to try to get a few different exposure lengths and then compare them, etc etc.... Think what the ability to write simple macros did for Excel, or for Maya.

[@oddsparrow8522]

this is really good video. Thanks ! this flauds really make me step back from buying it or the A9 or even A9II that I wait for One of reason for me to use pro SLR have been that menys in them always seems to be more intuitiv ..

[@OlafMunderlohFotografie]

A big issue for me is the missing top Display like the new Canons or Nikons have.

[@geribrn6453]

i'd rather have some extra buttons tbh

[@Funktrainer]

A top display is way too expensive for an obsolete camera like a SONY.

[@wikrap1]

Actually You have this info in viewfinder or on the screen so why it bothers You? I currently have it and use it but I had bodies without and it wasn't a pain.

[@cooloox]

I'm curious why you say that? You get all the shooting information you could ever want on the rear LCD (and in the viewfinder of a mirrorless camera), so I can't see any point whatsoever in wasting real estate on a second screen which only replicates what the rear LCD does, but with far less information.

[@TomBartol]

#4 i just push one button on camera to transfer a photo to my phone on a7iii

[@godsinbox]

care to share the setup? video? TIA

[@TomBartol]

@@godsinbox I don't remember how did i connect camera to phone when i bought it, but i can show it how it works now.

[@HesselFolkertsma]

Yeah, it’s really quick actually. I go to the image I want to share, hit the Fn-menu button. Grab phone, open the app, scan QR code.

[@TomBartol]

​@@HesselFolkertsma i do it differently i click fn, than on my phone-app i just click on the name of camera wifi, no scan needed, and even if i'm on home wifi, it just skip to this one and when image is transferred it goes back to my home wifi

[@EPKohler]

Exceptionally well done!! ✨ Let’s hope the Sony engineers are paying attention ! Thanks for your summary it applies to much of the A-9s as well.

[@wannamontana4130]

Thank you for a straight forward honest review. Goods and bads ... very direct! Thank you.

[@xxFusilado]

The sensor dust is the only real problem here.

[@Tsitris46]

Coming from a Sony, i understand what Tony says, but even with that-the Sony's are the best out there. The dust issue isn't as bad as he made it out to be, i always hold the sensor down when swapping lenses-never had a dust issue, yes the sensor is always exposed but hence the mirrorless. I also have a blower that i just blow it out every now and then between lens changes. Also the buffer issue, i think its not fair-you're asking a 61MP camera to do an A9's job. Sony is so good that its the favorite camera to hate on. Just my 2cents. Tony is hiting some good points and i agree with some of them.

[@godsinbox]

the dust is worse than both of you make out. im totally sick of it. my advice is exhaust all options on other cameras before purchase

[@commane21]

I have the rII - it’s a sometimes problem for me. And I’ve not experienced the phenomenon where I’ve cleaned the sensor and dust appears by the end of the shoot. Also, I’m assuming that by “cleaning” Tony refers to using a blower rather than wet cleaning. Which is rarely necessary.

[@midfidelity7180]

@@godsinbox yes, if you swap lenses in a dust air, the sensor will collect a whole bunch of dust. My personal tip is to find a point light source and check the air before taking off the lens at any time, but it might not be possible in certain conditions.

[@m.maclean8911]

The best - cripples your camera when the buffer is writing? OK.

[@DennisMoncla]

I like the video. I own the A7iii and have had it since it was released as I was on the pre order list. I switched from Canon and the menus did take some time to get used to. But I must point out the Canon menus took a lot of time to get used to when I first started using them. I went back to help a begining Canon shooter and could no longer remember the Canon menu as well. It was frustrating. Even with your vast experience I wonder if your position of using so many cameras to review and test makes it even more difficult to navigate? Don't get me wrong. I don't like the menu system I'm just saying with time it becomes the familiar thing. I too hate the sensor dust! To me it is the worst thing about the Sony mirrorless bodies. However they do everything else so damn good I would still NEVER contemplate switching back to Canon or even to Nikon. You also mentioned the Locking wheel which you praised when it came out. Now it's a problem? I guess I don't see it as I don't use it as much as it does not affect full manual images and I most often shoot that way. I can't relate on the buffering much as I really don't run into it ever on my A7iii with it's smaller file sizes. I can see where it could really be a pain. Also, I do understand the connectivity issues. I often fight to have it connect and stay connected just to get an image to my phone to post somewhere. I'm glad it's there as I've used it but man it sucks!! Great video even though it might seem I'm trying to play counter point. I hope Sony watches this and make adjustments like they have in the past!!!!

[@frankjones3073]

Tony do you think people would rather have a camera with a hard drive???