Reviews by our members

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  29 out of 34 members found this review helpful

  Artistic_Lollipop

  2023-04-16

  I won't go into technical and construction details because others have already analyzed them. I work with the Sony A7III and decided to upgrade to the IV. I mainly use it for club work and I have to say that if the III was a beast, the IV is even better. I will definitely take many years to change my body. I use it with the Sigma 35mm f1.4 and Tamron 28-75 f2.8 lenses, which are quite heavy for one hand. With the III, my hand often struggled and hurt after extended use. On paper, the IV does not have a significant weight difference, but you have no idea how much more comfortable it is in your hand. Those who have worked in clubs know that most of the time you hold the camera up high to avoid hitting it, and you surely know the pain in your fingers and wrist. The AF even with a basic lens (e.g. 50mm f1.8) simply cuts the ground and has such a good sensor that in low light, while I was working with ISO 2500, f1.4, and 1/200 with flash 1/4, with the IV, I now have ISO 800 to avoid burning everything. Simply an incredible camera. It's worth every euro, even if it's very expensive. I will add a random photo taken with the III and IV respectively with the Sony 50mm f1.8 to show what happens with a basic lens. I don't know if they will appear in the correct order, but you will understand which is which immediately. I will give it four stars because the menu annoys me a bit, maybe because I was used to playing with the III's menu.

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• 5

  17 out of 17 members found this review helpful

  nikosmjtzano

  2023-01-16

  I do professional photography and videography, most of which everyone has already written about. What I want to add from my experience is the following:
  1. A much better screen than the A7iii, also in terms of color accuracy and ergonomics.
  2. It is faster in focusing in video than the A7siii.
  3. Unfortunately, it does not have two slots for cf express cards, but only one.
  4. With the update it made, you can take Raw photos with fewer megapixels.
  5. 1080p 10bit video, which is more than enough for many jobs and is not like the poor 8bit of the A7iii.

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  • Construction quality
  • Comfortable grip
  • Menu
  • Weight
  • Performance in low light conditions
  • Framing
  • Photo quality
  • Value for money
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• 4

  16 out of 25 members found this review helpful

  Sakis.p

  2022-11-19

  After a month, I can say the advantages of it..
  1... The active stabilization is good if you have a lens with IS.
  2... The autofocus cannot be compared to any other camera.
  3... The battery lasts about 1.5 hours.
  4... The ISO goes up to 12,800 and it's very clear.
  5... The custom keys allow you to set everything wherever you want.
  6... It is very lightweight and has a high-quality construction. It has not overheated even after continuous use for 1 hour in 4K.

  It works perfectly with an SD card V30, you can record in 4K without any problem. If you want to use the 4Ki, you need a V90 card, which is economically unattainable.

  Unfortunately, the negative points are that in 4K it crops x 1.5 at 50 fps. Also, it does not come with a power adapter for the battery, so you have to buy one if you don't want to charge it inside the camera.

  After 6 months, there have been no overheating issues. I used it in 41 degrees Celsius for 2 hours continuously. And the biggest test, I accidentally left it in my bag with the record button pressed for about 1 hour until I got home. The camera was boiling hot, but it continued to record without turning off.

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• 4

  21 out of 21 members found this review helpful

  oneclickaway

  2022-08-18

  The purchase was made in early July, so my experience is limited as I had never owned a Sony before.

  My review comes in two stages:
  1. For the camera itself and
  2. Comparison with the MFT system (GH5) that I have owned for years.

  Positives:
  - Exceptional autofocus, something that is significantly lacking in Panasonic (GHxx) cameras.
  - Many function buttons for a variety of shortcuts. Very important, especially for run and gun photographers/videographers.
  - Exceptional Picture Profiles. Especially the cinetone, with small adjustments to give you a greater range of color correction, combined with the 10-bit 4:2:2, I think there is nothing better. Especially for me, who is not familiar with Log profiles, and the work I undertake does not require such intensive color grading, the cinetone worked tremendously for me. (Important to learn the Dual ISO for each PP, so you can get the best result with the least possible "noise." For example, in cinetone it is ISO125 & ISO500).
  - Greater variety of lenses (especially the GM and Zeiss lenses are on another level), always in comparison to MFT.

  Negatives:
  - The camera is not marketed for urban/street photography, but I wanted it for that. (Especially with the 55mm Zeiss lens I got, I was very eager to use it.) Unfortunately, it did not help me there, as the mechanical shutter is as "loud" as it gets, making you easily noticeable. While the electronic shutter is literally silent, it creates motion distortion in moving objects.
  - The menu, although improved compared to earlier Sony models, is still confusing and "jumbled." Especially compared to the GH5, it is a real puzzle. Obviously, you get the hang of it in the end, but it is quite frustrating.
  - Although it is a hybrid model, I believe it has better "footing" in video than in photography. Of course, if you want 100% performance in photography, you go for the R model, or if you want video exclusively, you go for the S.
  - Overheating. Even in setting up the menu, which took me a while (as I mentioned above), I felt the body heating up significantly. The camera did not shut down or do anything strange, but compared to the GH5, which has been in the sun for hours and did not notice anything, it bothered me quite a bit.

  Overall, it is a 100% reliable solution. It couldn't be otherwise, given its price. However, if someone is on a previous model, such as the A7III, I don't know if upgrading is worth it.

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• 5

  88 out of 94 members found this review helpful

  kostas.nta

  2022-01-01

  Verified purchase

  After two weeks with the new SONY A7iv, I am sharing my first impressions...

  I would like to clarify that I was one of the first to acquire the Sony A7iv from a well-known Greek store and an official Sony partner. Therefore, I am sharing my first impressions, the advantages and disadvantages as an average user of the camera. I have not fully explored the camera, nor am I an expert in conducting specialized photographic tests (nor did I have the time). Moreover, there are dozens of videos available on the internet for this purpose. I also won't delve into specific technical characteristics, video encoding, etc., as these are already well-known and easily found online. Lastly, I want to mention that I was a former user of the very popular Sony A7iii, so any comparisons will inevitably be made only with the A7iii.

  Firstly, I would like to mention that the camera was carefully packaged in a box made entirely of recyclable materials. It included the usual accessories such as the power adapter with the power cable (with an American plug), a USB Type-C cable, a rechargeable battery, a shoulder strap, the body cap, and a quick start guide. It does not include a detailed user manual, neither in Greek nor in any other language, as it is now available electronically online in Greek on Sony's website since December. Of course, there is no battery charger included, so the battery is charged within the camera. Additionally, the packaging contained a coupon for online activation, which, upon product registration, provides an additional year of warranty, bringing Sony's total warranty period to 3 years (2+1). Finally, it also included a second coupon for online activation by Sony, offering three €100 discount codes for the purchase of Sony lenses, valid until the summer of 2022.

  Advantages:

  1) Ergonomics: It is slightly less compact - fortunately or unfortunately for some - than the A7iii, but it has a similar weight and a comfortable grip. It provides better grip with the palm when holding the camera from the profile and its handle.

  2) Image Quality: The new 33MP sensor and faster Exmor R, BSI-CMOS processor try to strike a balance between the highly video-oriented A7Siii and the highly photographic A7riii/A7riv, resulting in a significantly improved output. The Sony A1 operates in a different league and category, so there is no reason for comparison. Although I haven't taken many photos in various conditions, its overall performance as a hybrid camera seems promising. From the first photos I took, it appears to have more vibrant colors, better sharpness, and detail (using a Samyang 24mm f1.8 lens).

  3) Video: It excels in the ability to shoot videos in 4:2:2 10-bit/4K 60p resolution (Long GOP or All-Intra) with the help of the new Bionz XR processor borrowed from Sony's flagship models. I am not an expert in video and have not extensively explored this aspect yet. However, the camera is packed with a wide variety of high-end advanced video recording functions, including normal and fast/slow recording (Slow&Quick). I was impressed by the new customization options it offers, such as Shutter: A pleasant feature is the shutter with the protective "curtain" when changing lenses, so no more worries about dust and debris. However, I did notice a slight delay when activating/deactivating the camera when this new feature is selected from the menu. Connectivity: Seamless connection between the camera and smartphone via Bluetooth 4.1 and WiFi on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks with my router. The connection with Mac is also flawless, including bidirectional connectivity. Additionally, through the new (fully) HDMI port, I connected the A7iv to an OLED LG screen. The television recognized it immediately, and I was able to navigate through the camera's menu (a happy accident) using the smart remote control of the TV!

  Disadvantages:

  1) The well-known 1.5x crop in 4K 60p video mainly disappoints videographers.
  2) The LCD screen is inferior to competitors.
  3) RAW file processing is still not available in many editing programs (not Sony's fault).
  4) Reduced buffer in raw, unprocessed file shooting.
  5) To fully utilize the video's capabilities, you need Sony's fast cards - CFexpress Type-A (expensive).
  6) I assume that due to improved power-consuming features on the screens and the faster processor, the battery life is slightly shorter in some instances compared to the A7iii (they have the same type of battery).

  Conclusion: The Sony A7iv is a fully upgraded hybrid camera in all aspects compared to the A7iii. Of course, the A7iii remains an excellent camera despite its technological age of 3-4 years. It is well-known that when the A7iii was released in 2018, it caused a "quake" in the camera market. The A7iv's similar journey in an already saturated and competitive photography market will soon become apparent. Now, whether it's worth the additional 1000 euros to upgrade from the A7iii to the A7iv is a personal answer that you will give to yourself.
  I may come back with an update review in the future.

  PLUS + update review 29/10/2022

  After approximately 10 months of use, I am revisiting the A7IV in comparison to my previous camera, the Sony A7III.

  To summarize, the Sony A7IV has:

  Advantages:
  - Upgraded image quality with warmer colors
  - Better low-light shooting capabilities
  - Improved video with multiple options
  - Better JPG and RAW files for post-processing
  - Ergonomic, lightweight, and more compact
  - Better wired connectivity
  - Exceptional and advanced autofocus
  - Rotating screen
  - Improved menu (requires learning)

  Disadvantages:
  - Disappointed with the low resolution of the LCD screen
  - Crop in 4K 60p video
  - Relative overheating during long video shoots
  - Expensive memory cards required to fully utilize the camera's capabilities
  - Image and video stabilization not on par with the price
  - Battery life is relatively reduced but much better than other brands
  - Imaging Edge mobile/Desktop application is unstable and needs improvement

  Conclusion: A very nice camera with advanced features, worth upgrading to or choosing if you are a demanding amateur photographer or even a professional, without extremely high demands. Professional photographers may prefer the 7R series for photography and the 7S series for video. A slightly lower rating would be mainly for the low-resolution screen and less for the crop in 4K 60p video, personally, since I don't frequently shoot videos. It goes without saying that I do not regret purchasing it.

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• 5

  CHaralampos_Liontis

  2024-06-17

  Verified purchase

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• 5

  varnakiotis.jpg

  2023-09-27

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• 5

  kyriakos_pov

  2023-03-06

  • Construction quality
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• 5

  alexischerny

  2022-12-07

  • Construction quality
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• 5

  iTorontar

  2022-09-13

  • Comfortable grip
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  • Construction quality
• 5

  Arisntinos

  2022-05-18

  • Construction quality
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  • Weight
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